Obituary for John P Briggs John Patrick Briggs, age 76, of Las Cruces, died January 3, 2019, after a brief illness. He was born in Cork, Ireland, on March 15, 1942, the youngest child of John Joseph and Margaret (nee’ Courtney) Briggs. “Jack,” as he was called by his family of origin, was an outstanding student and athlete, excelling in tennis, rugby, and soccer.
After finishing secondary school early, he worked in his family’s printshop in Cork before leaving home for London, and, eventually, realizing his long-held dream of emigrating to the United States. John served two years in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, earning the Army Commendation Medal and his American citizenship. He lived in New York, first in Queens and then on Long Island, until 1976, when he moved to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, where he lived with his daughters until 1990.
John devoted many years to raising his daughters and to caring for his elderly mother and aunt. He was also active in the community, volunteering for the Sierra County Democratic Party, serving as a member of the Truth or Consequences School District board, and teaching national training courses for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. John loved nearly all sports, especially soccer and baseball.
John became a New York Yankees fan while listening to games on the shortwave radio with his father as a young child and remained a Yankees fan throughout his life. Although physical disabilities prevented him from playing sports beginning in his late 20s, he continued to avidly follow his favorite baseball, football, soccer, and hockey teams. He was also a voracious reader and a lifelong learner with an interest in a wide range of topics.
He loved a spirited debate. John is survived by his wife of 29 years, Shirley Briggs of Las Cruces; his daughters, Sharon Briggs (husband Michael Moe) of Phoenix, Arizona, and Valerie Briggs Solomon (husband Darren Solomon) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; grandchildren Tammy Riley, Pam Thaxton (husband Matt Thaxton), Bryan Riley (wife Chelsea Riley), Zachary Riley, Noah Riley, Rowan Solomon, Alex Moe, and Mason Moe; and great-grandchildren Riley Thaxton, Jacob Thaxton, Zoey Riley, and Tommy Riley; as well as numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins in Ireland and countless friends. John was preceded in death by his parents and by his older siblings, brother William (“Billy”) Briggs and sister Mary Frances (“Merette”) Sheehan.
John found great comfort in his Christian faith and was at peace in the knowledge of his salvation. He will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his independent spirit, his intelligence, his quick wit, his infectious laugh, his forbearance and strength in the face of challenges, and his excellent cooking. If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run- Yours is the Earth and everything in it.
– Rudyard Kipling Visitation will be held on Monday, January 7, 2018 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a Funeral Service to begin at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Calvary Baptist Church with Dr. Kevin D. Glenn presiding, followed by burial at Masonic Cemetery. Arrangements with Getz Funeral Home, 1410 E. Bowman Ave. Las Cruces, NM 88001.
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