Mario T. (Coach) Olivarez 69, passed away at his home on December 26, 2020, after a long fought battle with cancer. Mario was born in Premont, Texas to Marcelino Sr and Lillie Tarango Olivarez. At age 5 he moved to Arizona and attended Globe schools graduating in 1971. He played football, basketball and baseball and did well in all sports he played. After high school he went to work in the mines.  At age 26 he joined the Army. He was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and later in Germany at USAG Darmstadt Army base in Cooperstrasse. When he returned from the Army it was back to work in the mines of San Manuel, Pinto Valley, Round Mountain-Nevada and Asarco where he served as a union steward and treasurer.

In 1988 he attended the Basic Reserve Peace Officers Academy which led to 25 years of Law Enforcement. He joined the Gila County Sheriff's Reserve, worked for a security company in Phoenix and the Miami Police Department. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.  He traveled throughout Arizona, Colorado, Texas and Alaska where he hunted deer, elk, bear, lion, javelina and turkey. In the summertime he was sure to be at the lake on his boat or at the river fishing for catfish.

He enjoyed traveling even if it wasn't to hunt and fish.  He visited New York, Florida, Alaska,California, New Mexico, Colorado, Germany, Canada, Paris, Mexico.  In July of 2020 he crossed off a bucket list dream trip to Montana and Yellowstone Park with his brother and son.  This was his last trip but was one he had always wanted to make.

Mario was also a rock hound, preferably turquoise and a wood hound. Always cutting wood to sell or just to give to his family, teaching the grandkids the difference between juniper and oak. Somewhere in between all of his accomplishments he found time to coach baseball for the Globe Tigers Baseball Team as the outfield coach.  He also coached Babe Ruth & Pinal Mountain Little League for his great grandkids. He loved being around the field and that's where he earned his nickname COACH or sometimes Coach O. He was not just a coach and if you gave him your time he was always ready to talk sports, ask how you had been and give you advice.  You definitely had to have time it was not going to be a short talk.  When he thought he was done coaching his grandkids and great grandkids started playing sports and he was happy to be able to watch them and give them pointers to improve their game, calling them over to the fence to let them know what they needed to work on. He loved coaching.

He will be missed so much by family & friends who loved him dearly. Mario is survived by his wife of 31 years Barbara Vigil Olivarez, his 4 children Robert (Kathleen) Olivarez of Crawford, Texas. Marlene (Ruben) Medina of Gilbert, Arizona. Danne (Rindy) Quiroz Sr., Doreen (Mike) Badilla of Globe, Arizona.  14 Grandchildren & 29 Great-Grandchildren. Brothers Marcelino Jr. (Nicki), Gilbert (Alicia) Olivarez of Globe. Sister Delia (John) Gravina of Tucson, Arizona.  Brother-in-law Fred Estrella of Phoenix, Arizona. Sister-in-law Annie Tarango of Globe, Arizona.

He is preceded in death by his parents Marcelino Sr. and Lillie Tarango Olivarez, sisters Irene Estrella, Barbara Garcia, and Linda Delgado, his brother Richie Tarango. Grandchildren Chad Quiroz and Lilly Dallas.