Sheilah Purcell Garcia Sheilah Purcell Garcia was born on

Sheilah Purcell Garcia Sheilah Purcell Garcia was born on August 5, 1937 in Two Rivers, WI and left us for her eternal home on April 30, 2025 after a sudden illness. Sheilah left Chicago and crossed the Mississippi River for the first time in 1955 (solo at age 18) to attend the University of New Mexico, where she earned both bachelor's and master's degrees. She was a proud and loyal Kappa Alpha Theta sorority member for the rest of her life. While at UNM, Sheilah met her husband, Julian Garcia, and they were married in Mexico City in the fall of 1960. Sheilah became a teacher and guidance counselor at Duranes Elementary School and St. Mary's Catholic School, and in 1967 she and Julian opened their first Toyota dealership in Albuquerque, on Rio Grande Blvd, NW. Sheilah and Julian were pioneers in dependable, inexpensively-priced and fuel efficient imported-auto retailing, at a time when imports were then mostly a transportation afterthought. After Julian's unexpected passing in 1984, Sheilah took over daily operations of what had by then become a multi-import auto group. She became an innovator and had remarkable success, for which she was recognized nationally several times, including as Time Magazine's National Dealer of the Year in 1992 (the industry's highest honor). She was the first woman and only New Mexican ever to win this award. Sheilah was also the first woman president of the New Mexico Automotive Dealers Association, and served on many local boards, receiving numerous awards for her community work. Sheilah's love of and dedication to the arts, education, New Mexico and her family were her hallmarks. She supported educational initiatives and many visual and performing arts groups here for decades. An avid opera and classical music enthusiast, Sheilah also traveled extensively to see brilliant artistic performances outside of New Mexico. Later in life, Sheilah explored her Irish heritage and was granted dual citizenship. She was pleased to discover her rich Celtic lineage, even that she possessed a title, "Lady Whitton." Sheilah is survived by her five children, Garrett, Toby, Edward, Carlos and Pilar, and their families, as well as her companion, Michael Freccia. Private services have already been held, per her direction. Her family is sincerely grateful for so many kind remembrances friends have already sent. If you wish to remember Sheilah in some way, please consider a small donation in her name to the New Mexico Performing Arts Society (at NMPAS.org), or to a favorite artistic or educational charity of your own choice.