Lebec resident Mauro ‘Junior’ Llanos, 38 lost his life to a sudden heart attack on Saturday, March 5.

His family said he told them Friday night that he was not feeling well. Early Saturday morning his wife Edelia Rodriguez Llanos was taking him to an emergency room when she had to call for paramedic assistance. They were unable to revive him.

“Junior’s loved ones have been left in a state of shock. There are no words to convey the pain and sadness of this tragedy,” said Mindy Stowell. Llanos worked construction on and off the hill for over 10 years, most recently with R.M. Stowell Construction.

“He is the patriarch of his family, leaving behind a wife and five children,” Mindy Stowell said on Monday.

“Mauro worked hard every day of his life for his wife and kids, always putting their needs first. He was the glue that held his family together and was the one everyone could depend on,” Stowell explained.

She has created a ‘Go Fund Me’ page to try to help. Watch for donation jars around the mountain.
“This unexpected loss will place a huge financial burden on his wife, who has devoted her life to raising their five children: Melanie Grace is 2; David is 7 and is in karate; Angela, 14 plays softball at Frazier Mountain High School; Jasmine, 16 is a junior at FMHS; Evelyn graduated with honors from FMHS in 2015. Her father was proud she recently received her medical assistant’s certification from Brightwood College.

“Please find it in your hearts to donate, no matter how small, and say a prayer that his family may find the strength to carry on,” Stowell asked.

To donate, go to the Mauro ‘Junior’ Llanos Memorial Fund at https://www.gofundme.com/wmssu6mk

—P. Hedlund

This is part of the March 11, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you.