43° and Sunny
Michael Robert Mirabal, of Tularosa, New Mexico passed away peacefully on Monday, December 15, 2025, at his home surrounded by his loving children. Michael is survived by his children, Monica, Michael and wife Myrna, Matthew and wife Amanda; grandchildren, Julianna, Galylea, Matthew, Domanick, Malya, Asher, Gabriella; great grandchildren, Danielle and Sofie.
Michael was born on July 30, 1949, to Liberato and Adelina Mirabal in Carrizozo, New Mexico and was the second of four children. The Mirabal family helped develop New Mexico since 1598 and was a direct descendant of Don Carlos Jose Perez Mirabal of Antequera, Andalucia, Spain and Dona Beatriz De Tafoya Altamirano.
Michael started his life in Carrizozo, New Mexico where he attended school. While attending school he also worked at the Four Winds Restaurant as a dishwasher which began a life of hard work and dedication to his family. When Michael would get paid, he would give the majority of his paycheck to his parents to help with any needs they may have had. Michael Graduated from Carrizozo High School in 1966. He went on to join the United States Marine Corps. During his time in the Marine Corps, he was deployed to the Vietnam War.
After his Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps, Michael moved to Alamogordo, New Mexico and met the love of his life, Diane Madril, at a dance in Dungan. Michael and Diane were married on September 29, 1973, and 9 short months later they had their first daughter, Monica. Their 2nd son, Michael, was born 4 years later in 1978, and their last son, Matthew, in 1981.
Michael started his career as a Police Officer in Vaughn, New Mexico in 1975. Michael eventually moved on to the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office. In 1979 Michael decided to move to Tularosa, New Mexico to be with his parents and became a Police officer for the Village of Tularosa. Michael eventually went on to work for the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety in 1981. Michael worked through the ranks until his retirement on October 31, 2004, as a Captain. Apparently, he didn’t enjoy retirement and went back to work with the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety the very next day as the Commander of the Otero County Narcotics Enforcement Unit until he finally had enough and retired in 2012. His retirement lasted about 2 weeks until he started working construction doing various projects to include pouring cement foundations for various fire departments including the Jack Rabbit Flats substation, the Dungan Fire Department Edition, the Burro Flats Fire Department, as well as the steps and flagpole foundation for the St. Josephs Apache Mission in Mescalero, New Mexico.
In 2019 Michael decided it was time to spend the rest of his retirement enjoying his life with his wife Diane until her untimely death in 2021. Michael pushed forward to live the rest of his life with and for his children and grandchildren.
Michael is preceded in death by his mother, Adelina; father, Liberato; sisters, Mary Ellen and Amy; brother, Ronnie; and finally, his wife, Diane.
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, December 20, 2025, at St. Francis de Paula Catholic Church in Tularosa, New Mexico. Viewing will be at held at 9:30 am with Rosary to be recited at 10:00 am. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am with Father Martin Cornejo, Celebrant.
