Jay Taylor Tourtel

Jay T. Tourtel, age 65, a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, since 1999, died the 9th day of August 2022. He is survived by his spouse, Aurora Manapao Tourtel, originally from General Santos City, Philippines; a son, Tyler J. Tourtel, age 24 from Albuquerque; and a brother, Jeff Tourtel, residing in Denver, Colorado. Through the marriage to his wife, Aurora, in 2008, he became the stepfather to five grown children and the great-grandfather and grandfather to 12 children, all of whom currently reside in the Philippines. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, and friends in the United States. Jay was a member of the Shrine of St. Bernadette since 2006, where he participated in the Couples for Christ, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is a Fourth Degree Knight and held the role as Grand Knight for the parish council, #16201, since 2016. Separately, Jay was a member of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), actively participating in the New Mexico Wing as a Public Affair's Officer. He began his career in CAP at age 16, in which he earned the highest cadet achievement, the Spaatz Award. Over the course of nearly 50 years with the Civil Air Patrol, Tourtel held a variety of duties and roles as well as earned the Southwest Region Colonel Robert 'Bud' V. Payton Award, for his effort as a Unit PAO, in 2012; and the New Mexico Wing Public Affairs Officer of the Year in 2015. He worked as a Customer Service Representative at Bank of America since 2004. Visiting hours will be Monday, August 15, 2022, from 4 - 8 PM at FRENCH-Lomas. A Rosary will be recited on Thursday, September 1, 2022, at 6:30 PM, at the Shrine of St. Bernadette, 11509 Indian School Rd NE, Albuquerque with Deacon Joe Santana reciting. Mass will be celebrated at the Shrine of St. Bernadette, with Reverend Rick Zerwas as Celebrant, on Friday, September 2, at 10 AM. There will be no internment following the Mass. Cremains will be reserved by his wife, Aurora. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to assist with funeral expenses. Contact FRENCH-Lomas, 505-275-3500, or in person, to make a donation.