Xavier was born on Thursday, November 16, 1944, to Thomas Gatica and Amelia Cisneros in Oaxaca, Mexico. He lived with his father and aunts selling pottery at the family business until he was 12 years old.

In 1956, X moved to Chicago to be with his mother and sister Beatrice. He attended West Lane Tech College Prep High School, an all-boys school at that time. I am not sure what his dating life was like, but he survived.

After High School, Xavier joined the Air Force in 1965. He completed Basic Training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX. X was later transferred to McChord AFB in Lakewood, WA. He worked on the base as a telephone installer.

While in Lakewood, Xavier's life would make some changes. First, he met Albert Williams and his wife Marsha. They became fast friends and lifelong buddies. Through Albert and Marsha came Xavier's next big change. They introduced him to his future wife of 10 years, Barbara Neagle.

The four had a great time with each other and threw great parties! Along the way came changes three and four, his two daughters, Pamela and Theresa.

Xavier served our country for six years and was Honorably Discharged on July 28, 1971. When Sargent Gatica left the service, he entered his next chapter in the grocery business.

Xavier was a Produce Manager for Food King, Safeway (Puyallup) and QFC (Lakewood). He enjoyed his work and managed to sneak a little flair into his displays. He always had the character "Animal" somewhere among the fruit and vegetables.

In 1979 came the biggest change in Xavier's life. He met his next great love, Maria Kelly one night at The Summer Sands. A single mom with a daughter, Terri did not put up with any BS. Xavier and Maria were married on December 13, 1980.

That was a smart move because it happens to be Maria's birthday. X only had to remember one date! He and Maria have been inseparable ever since.

Growing restless after over 30 years in the grocery business, X retired in 2005. He was 60 years old and tried his hand at selling insurance, selling knives to businesses, and finally driving school buses for Steilacoom and Clover Park School Districts, as well as Durham bus service.

Xavier's lifelong passion was to play billiards, NOT POOL. X would travel to different competitions in and out of state. Mary would often accompany him to the matches.

Xavier was a longtime member of the Tacoma Elks Lodge #174. He loved drinking a Heidelberg or what else, shooting a game of billiards with his lodge brothers.

Xavier was a car guy. He liked fast cars. He owned a 1977 Datsun 208Z and a 2010 Ford Mustang to name a couple. He and Mary were known to hit more than a few cars shows. He also loved having her on the back seat and tooling around on

his red Honda motorcycle. He loved the road so much that he sold the "Big Red Motorcycle" so he and Albert could go on a long road trip.

Xavier liked to travel as well. He and Mary honeymooned in Acapulco. They traveled to California, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Cabo San Lucus and Las Vegas.

They also camped with the family in Vancouver, Orcas Island, Yellowstone and Mt. Rainier.

X loved his sports! He was a major Seahawks fan. GO HAWKS! He and Mary were on bowling leagues through the 90's. On Thursdays, you would find X on the golf course with his QFC cronies.

And he rooted on all three grandsons at their sporting events, whether it be Lacross, Baseball, Basketball or Karate.

As Xavier slowed down, he would still go out to lunch with his best friend Albert once a month. And he would get together with his QFC cronies and his lodge buddies on occasion. He liked to putter in the yard with his plants, and he took very good care of Mary after her knee surgeries.

X loved his family. He never missed a family event. And Xavier never met a party he did not like.

Xavier is survived by his wife of 44 years, Maria; two daughters, Pamela, her husband Doug Smith and two grandsons Quin Kohler and Talon Kohler, Theresa and her husband Brad Johnson, and stepdaughter Terri, her husband Ron Spangler and grandson Kaden Spangler; sister Beatrice and niece Jennifer; and numerous in-laws and outlaws!