Luis Alejandro Mares Barajas

Alejandro Mares Barajas was born on Thursday July 10, 1986 in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. He was the beloved son of Elizabeth and Socrates Mares and beloved brother of older sister, Martha and younger, brother Pedro.

Luis spent his early childhood in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. He was best friends with his younger brother Pedro. They were both inseparable and spent their days climbing the large guava tree in their home's back yard. As a toddler, Luis was a fan of the singer Chayanne and loved to entertain his parents, siblings and aunts by imitating his famous dance moves. In early grade school, he was a favorite of his teachers and his first female friend Laurita, whom refused to participate in any school play or event if Luis didn't participate with her as her partner.

After a few years of moving to various cities including Tucson, Arizona; Tijuana, Baja California Norte; Empalme, Sonora, the family finally settled in Phoenix, Arizona where Luis spent the remainder of his childhood and adulthood.

Luis briefly attended Palm Lane Elementary before moving to the Osborn School District where he attended Clarendon Elementary and Osborn Middle School. At Osborn Middle School, he participated in the Study Work Program where he would tutor students in lower grades. After his middle school promotion, he attended Central High School. A couple of his of his favorite school experiences was going on a camping field trip to the Challenger Space Center during middle school and Unitown Camp in High School.

Camping was a favorite of Luis during his lifetime. The family often went on camping trips to Northern Arizona where Luis enjoyed exploring nature.

Just as he liked camping, Luis also enjoyed vacationing in the Los Angeles, California area, visiting various beaches during family vacations. He also enjoyed visiting Sedona and Slide Rock to escape the heat during the summer and Flagstaff to play in the snow during the winter. Luis also liked to spend the hot summer months at the community pool with his brother Pedro, sister Martha and step siblings Alma, Brian, Roxana, Victoria and Talia, and often acompanied by his favorite cousin Analisa, who along with Pedro, was also his best friend.

Luis was a bright, intelligent person. In his late teens and onto his 20's, Luis often worked with his father Socrates, an Electrician, learning the trade. In the same way he was quick to lean all about being an electrician, he was also quick to learn anything that intersted him.

One of his favorite pastimes was watching documentaries. He loved to learn about science and space, nature and foreign places, historical people and events, as well as current people and events. He always talked with such pasion about random facts or stories he had learned.

Another pastime of his was playing with his nieces and nephews. Luis was great with kids. He was a great and loving uncle, always playing with the children, keeping them entertained, chasing them around the back yard, and just leting them be kids. It was not unusual to hear his voice and laughter among the playful ones of the children as he was always with them. He will be greatly missed by his nieces Jazmine, Alexis and Alejandra, and nephews Enrique and Adrian.

Luis was also a great animal lover. His favorites where dogs and cats. Coquie was his favorite dog in early child hood. Maya and Sandie, both chihuahua mix, Rock a labrador mix, Sofie and Tiger-Rug, both cats, where his pets growing up. Elsa, a chihuahua dog and Fluffy, a cat, where his most recent pets. He loved lounging on the family room couch with his pets by his side.

Luis will be remembered by his easy going carisma, friendliness and compasion towards others. He was a noble, polite and gentle person. Always kind and warm-hearted, he always thought the best of every person he knew and met. Luis was the type of person who could strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone. Even the type of people most tend to shy away from or ignore. He would always listen attentively to their life stories and anything they had to say. He was always ready to help those in need or just give the words of comfort these people needed.

Luis was always a happy, loving and caring person. And he will be greatly missed by those he left behind. He is survived by his mother Elizabeth Mares Barajas, stepfather Christopher Gutierrez, his father Socrates Mares Galindo, his stepmother Maria Saucedo, paternal grandparents Pedro Mares and Antonia Galindo de Mares, Sisters Martha Mares Ponce de Leon, Alma Negrete, Roxana Saucedo, Victoria Lozano, and Talia Vega; and brothers Pedro Mares and Brian Gutierrez, various nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles and cousins.

His passing on Saturday May 21, 2016 was sad and unexpected but he will live on in the happy memories and the hearts of those who love him and whom he loved back. Our comfort is that he is forever now in the presence of our Lord and the family who have gone before us. Until we meet again, Rest In Peace.