Luis Gaytan-Ortega

GAYTAN-ORTEGA, LUIS JAVIER, 67, died November 21st, 2022, at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC, while undergoing a cardiac procedure. He was born on August 22nd, 1955, in Mexico City, Mexico, to Luis Gaytan Medel and Maria del Carmen Ortega-Silva. Luis was the oldest sibling of three. He attended the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México where he obtained a B.S. degree and worked as a chemist specializing in pharmacology. He worked for several laboratories around Mexico City for 14 years before moving to the United States, where he worked for Glenoit Corporation in North Carolina ]for seven years as an industrial chemist. Luis was passionate about education and enjoyed working as a high school physics,

math, and chemistry teacher for the South Mexican Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He ended his career serving the Church at AdventHealth in Hendersonville, NC, in the Environmental Services Department, where he worked for 12 years before retiring. In retirement, Luis enjoyed spending time outdoors, visiting waterfalls, hiking in Cherokee,

painting on canvas, gardening, discovering new places, and spreading God’s love. Luis was most proud of his children and his beloved wife, Elisa Laura Mercado, who constantly supported him. They were married for over 30 years. Luis is survived by his wife, Elisa Laura Mercado; his son, Luis Carlos Gaytan-Mercado; his daughter, Monica Gaytan Mercado; his brother, Ruben Gaytan-Ortega; his sister, Myriam Gaytan-Ortega; and numerous nephews,

nieces, and cousins.