LARA, Alfred A. (Al)

Alfred A. "Al" Lara, 57, of Casa Grande, died June 27, 2002, in Casa Grande. Visitation and Rosary Tuesday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday at St. James Catholic Church in Coolidge by the Rev. Kevin Clinch. Burial will be in Valley Memorial Park. Mr. Lara was born Sept. 29, 1944, in Barstow, Texas, to Ysabel G. and Francisca (Alvarado) Lara. He graduated from Coolidge High School and attended Arizona State University and the University of Colorado. He served in the National Guard. He was in the banking business for 40 years and with Valley National Bank for 25 years. He left Arizona to work for El Paso State Bank in Texas, where he was vice president of the International Trade Finance Group for 10 years. He then held a comparable position with First National Bank in San Diego before retiring in 2001. He was an avid ASU sports fan and held season tickets for more than 25 years, often attending games while living out of state. He enjoyed politics, loved family gatherings and enjoyed telling stories and giving advice. He also enjoyed listening to oldies and Mariachi music. He was known as "Nino." Survivors include a daughter, Alexi Lara of Casa Grande; a son, Mario Lara of Tucson; his mother, of Casa Grande; two sisters, Bertha Aguayo and Freda Salazar of Casa Grande; and four brothers, Chino, Ed, Oscar and Raymond Lara, all of Casa Grande. He was preceded in death by his father. Simes Mortuaries Coolidge Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Published Monday, July 1, 2002 in the Casa Grande Dispatch. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Alfred A. "Al" Lara, 57, of Casa Grande, Arizona, passed away June 27, 2002. Visitation and Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 219 N. Toltec St, Casa, Grande, AZ 85222. Services Wed., July 3, 2002, St. James Catholic Church, 410 W. Wilson Ave., Coolidge, AZ 85228. Published in the Arizona Republic June 30, 2002.