Johnny C. Lopez

ELOY - Johnny C. Lopez, 81, of Eloy and a retired Pinal County constable, died at home on Nov. 4, 2013, surrounded by his family.
Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Friday at J. Warren Funeral Services, Valley Chapel, with rosary recited at 7. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Helen of the Cross Catholic Church by the Rev. Alonzo Garcia. Burial will be in Eloy Memorial Park.
Mr. Lopez was born on June 24, 1932, in the old mining town of Sonora in eastern Pinal County and was a son of Micaela "Mickey" Sierra and Reynaldo Cruz. He later had a stepfather, Michael Lopez. He was raised in Eloy and attended Santa Cruz Valley Union High School, where he excelled in sports. He also played American Legion softball and baseball and graduated in 1952. He attended the future Arizona State University for half a semester before he was drafted into the Army to fight in the Korean War.
After getting his honorable discharge he helped manage and co-owned Mickey’s Cafe and coached youth softball and baseball in Eloy. He first was elected constable in 1966 and served for 40 years. The cafe closed in 1996. He later managed Santa Cruz Village Apartments for more than 12 years before completely retiring in 2012. He was a hardworking, happy and easygoing man who loved his family very much. He was always willing to help friends, family and anyone in need.
Survivors include two daughters, Maricela "Chela" Guillen of Eloy and Maribel Diaz of Casa Grande; four sons, Johnny Lopez Jr. of California, John Lopez III and Michael Lopez of Tucson and Juan Pedro "Johnny" Lopez of Eloy; a brother, Manuel Gonzales of Phoenix; 18 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Pete, Xavier "Gabe" and George Gonzales.