Articles from the April 1, 2005 edition

Name: Christy Fields Your job: Student Your age (and Birth Date): 16; May 1, 1988. Your hometown: Portales Your family: Parents Philip and Janet, my brother Stephen, and a sister Janay. Your Hobbies and groups you are involved with, volunteer work: “I’m a Sunday school teacher for the 3 and 4 year olds at Trinity Family Center.” What do you think of Portales? “I like it. I think it is a great town to be raised in.” What do you visualize your life being like in 10 years? “Graduating from college with an opportunity...

Weddings Buzard Jennifer Harrer of Clovis and Dan Buzard of Portales were joined in marriage June 5, 2004 at The Landing. Father Tobin Hitt and R. L. Richards performed the double ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of John and Sally Harrer of Albuquerque. She is the granddaughter of Clarinda Harrer of Beloit, Wisc. The bridegroom is the son of the late Jerry Buzard and Wilma Buzard of Portales. Maid of honor was Brandi Thomas and the bridesmaids were: Jill Augustine, T’Mara Parker, M.J. Anderson and Emily Hill. M...

Freedom Newspapers

PORTALES — A former walk-on, Clovis’ Josh Kuchta has played his way through a painful back injury to become the starting shortstop at Eastern New Mexico University the last two seasons. ENMU coach Phil Clabaugh said Kuchta has been a steadying influence on the team. “Josh Kuchta is good people,” Clabaugh said Thursday as the Greyhounds (13-16) prepared for a four-game Lone Star Conference South Division-opening series against Texas A&M-Kingsville (21-10) this weekend at Greyhound Field. “He’s been in our program for four ye...

Dora Natalie Olmsted was a woman of precision that viewed life as being precious as she dedicated three decades of her career to the medical field caring for others as a nurse. According to family members, Olmsted was just as nurturing outside of her profession as she was to those within her care. She died March 9, 2005 in her home. Alice Gossett, Olmsted’s sister, said that Natalie had a way of taking care of people, in the community or at work, that encouraged them while lifting their spirit at the same time. “I adm...

CLUB NOTES: Altrusa International, Inc. Members of Altrusa International, Inc. of Clovis met at Muffley's Back Door for their regular business meeting March 22. The minutes were read and committee reports given. The slate of officers were read and a motion was made that the slate be approved by acclamation. The officers for next year will be president, Kathy Travis; vice president, Phyllis Davidson; treasurer, Glenda Hileman; recording secretary; Caroly Sherman, corresponding secretary, Jennifer Gomez, two year director, Joan...

John Nance Services: have been held. John B. Nance, 79, of Farwell, Texas, died Monday, March 28, 2005, at Muleshoe Area Medical Center. He was born on Feb. 17, 1926, in Jarrell, Texas, to Will and Helen Nance. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Velma Nance; and six brothers, Hanslee, Oleary, Larry, Marcellus, Augustus and Richard Nance. Survivors include two brothers, LeRoy Nance of Clovis and Jimmy Nance of Denver; two sisters, Faustine Jackson of Sacremento, Calif., and Beulah Sumpter of Denver; and...

Grace E. Simms Services: Have been held. Grace E. Simms, 82, of Clovis, died Saturday, March 26, 2005, at Laurel Ridge Nursing Home in Clovis. She was born on Oct. 5, 1922, in McAlister to Brodie and Estell Lewis Webb. She married Jack D. Simms Feb. 23, 1952, in Yuma, Ariz. She was a clerk at a drug store in San Diego. Family members said she love to crochet. She is preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; and seven sisters. Survivors include husband; a sister, Mildred Deshane of Tucumcari; four nieces, Betty Jean... Full story

Joe Pena Services:Have been held. Joe Pena, 95, of Fort Sumner, died Saturday, March 26, 2005, at Kaseman-Presbyterian Hospice in Albuquerque. He was born on June 1, 1909, in Sapello, to Nestor and Guadalupita Montoya Pena. He married Clara Bustos in 1933 at Las Vegas, N.M. He worked as a civilian inspector at the Fort Sumner Air Base during World War II. He worked as a mechanic with John Wood Ford in Fort Sumner and as shop foreman for Strong Chevrolet in Vaughn. He managed a theater in Fort Sumner for several years, which...

James M. Nibert, 70, of Roswell, died Friday, March 25, 2005. He was born on May 2, 1934, in Parkersburg, W.Va., to Charles Lewis and Rose Aippersbach Nibert. He married Elaine A. LeGrand on Nov. 3, 1956, in Roswell. He served in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Walker Air Force Base. He attended Eastern New Mexico University where he received a bachelor’s degee in 1961 and a master’s degree in 1969. He worked for the Internal Revnue Service and was a partner in the Nibert Woodard accounting firm in Clo...

Raymond Thomas Services: Have been held. Raymond Curtis Thomas, 92, of Clovis, died Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at his home. He was born on Nov. 9, 1912, in Crowell, Texas, to Ollie Thomas and Elsie Boren. In 1916, he and his family came to Clovis in a covered wagon on their way to Estancia Valley. In 1923, they moved back to Clovis. He was a foreman for the Railways Ice Plant. After World War II, he worked at Cannon Air Force Base as a heating and cooling superintendent until his retirement. He was a member of the Oak Street...

Keith Terry Services: Have been held. Keith Terry, 64, of Portales, died Thursday, March 24, 2005, at his home. He was born on Nov. 19, 1940, in Portales, to Musette and Bob Terry. He married Judy Cummingson on Aug. 27, 1958, in Farwell. He lived his entire life in and around Portales. He was a 1959 graduate of Portales High School. They farmed for about 12 years before trading their land for the home where they now live in Portales. In 1970 he began buying farm equipment and established a custom harvesting business. In 1984...

Lorado Servatius Services: Have been held. Lorado Nettie Servatius, 84, of Pleasant Hill, died Friday, March 25, 2005, at her home. She was born on April 20, 1920, in Paducah, Texas, to T.M. and Janie Fincher Anderson. She was raised in Anton, Texas. She married Bob Servatius on July 12, 1941, in Vernon, Texas. After living and farming in Anton they moved to Pleasant Hill in 1953. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Demonstration Club. Family members said she loved quilting, arts and crafts and sewing. She was a member of... Full story

Georgia Rizzuti Services: Have been held. Mrs. Georgia Carol Brock Rizzuti, 59, of Clovis, died Saturday, March 26, 2005, at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock. She was born on Sept. 29, 1945, in Denver, to Bob and Helen Fern Thurman. She was a graduate of Clovis High School and Eastern New Mexico University. She married James Rizzuti in June of 2004. She taught math at Texico Junior High from 1970 to 2004. The family will be at 472 State Road 523 in Clovis. She was preceded in death by her mother; and a brother, Larry Lynn... Full story

Brian McTommoney Services: Have been held. Brian McTommoney, 56, of Clovis, died Thursday, March 24, 2005, at his home. He was born June 12, 1948, in Philadelphia, to Joseph and Valentine Moore McTommoney. He married Kathleen Macrina on June 19, 1970, in Camden, N.J. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1970 until 1973. He was a stock broker at Quinn and Co. and a member of the Catholic Church. Family members said he was a “big” car enthusiast. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife; a dau...

Barbara Goddard Services: Have been held. Barbara Mae Goddard, 66, of Chandler, Texas, died Friday, March 25, 2005, at her home. She was born on Feb. 1, 1939, in Anson, Texas, to Holbert and Blanche Wallace Shirley. She was a member of the Baptist Church. She was employed as a manager in the fish market at Albertson’s. She was preceded in death by a step-daughter, Jo Eileen Goddard; and a brother, Ronnie Shirley. Survivors include her husband, Ray Goddard of Chandler, Texas; two sons, Bobby Carter of Oklahoma City and D...

Services: Have been held. The Rev. Robert A. English, 90, of Clovis, died Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis. He was born on April 2, 1914, in Tarrant County, Texas, to John Robert and Lydia Coomer English. He was a Methodist minister and served at Trinity Methodist in Clovis from 1957 to 1959. He also served at other Methodist Churches throughout New Mexico and Texas, including at Rosedale from 1943-1945, Ranchvale from 1947-1948, Melrose from 1968-1969, and Elida-Floyd from 1976-1978. He...

Feliz Salaz Services: Have been held. Feliz Salaz, 82, of Portales, died Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at her home. She was born on Nov. 25, 1922, in Chaperito, to Juanita and Miguel Lucero. She married Ernesto Salaz on Dec. 8, 1945, in Chaperito. They made their home in Trementina, until 1947 when they moved to Las Vegas, N.M. In 1963 they moved to Portales. She was a member of St. Helen Catholic Church. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters, Ladies’ Auxiliary, was a Guadelupana and a communion minister. Family members s...

Daniel Keslar Services: Have been held. Daniel Gene "Danny" Keslar, 43, of Clovis, died Sunday, March 20, 2005, at University Medical Center in Lubbock. He was born on Sept. 26, 1961, in Clovis, to Gene and Jewell Keslar. He was a cable technician, and a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Family members said he loved hunting for arrow heads, raising bird dogs, hunting, storm chasing, and was an avid gun and antiques collector. Survivors include his companion, Patty Neff, and her children, Stewart and Stephanie, all of Clovis;... Full story

Gary Watkins Services: Have been held. The Rev. Gary W. Watkins, 55, of East Peoria, Ill., died Saturday, March 19, 2005, at his home. He was born on March 14, 1950, in Clovis, to William and Dorothy Canipe Watkins. He married Saundra Culberth on June 6, 1970, in Clovis. He was preceded in death by his father. Survivors include his wife; his mother of Clovis; a daughter, Trina G. Watkins of East Peoria, Ill.; a son, Kyle W. Watkins (and wife, Kelly) of East Peoria, Ill. The Rev. Larry H. Griswold will officiate the services....

Bailee Tivis Services: Have been held. Bailee Tivis, 3, of Portales, died Sunday, March 20, 2005, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales. He was born on Jan. 28, 2002, in Clovis, to Kristy and Kie Tivis. In November 2003, he was well enough that he and his mother were able to move to Virginia to join his father who was stationed there in the U.S. Navy. Late in the fall of 2004 the family returned to Portales. He was a student in the pre-kindergarten class at L.L. Brown Elementary. Family members said he loved to laugh and...

Margie Hammond Services: Have been held. Mrs. Margie Prather Hammond, 77, of Mount Pleasant, Texas, died Saturday, March 19, 2005, at her home. She was born on May 5, 1927, in Crowell, Texas, to Jack and Bonnie Prather. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Mildred Cornelious; and two brothers, “Pecos” and “Red” Prather. Survivors include her husband, Ed Hammond of Mount Pleasant; a son, Michael (and wife, Linda) of Mount Pleasant; a grandson, Josh Hammond (Christy) of Cedar Hill, Texas; a grandda...

Annie Robinson Services:Have been held. Annie Robinson, 89, of Artesia, died Thursday, March 17, 2005 at Laurel Ridge Care Center in Clovis. She was born June 21, 1915 in Hayworth, Okla. to Marion West and the former Mary Elizabeth Martin. She attended school at Clarksville, Texas. She married Charles Robinson in 1936. During WWII, Annie worked in the Naval Shipyard as a riveter. Robinson and her husband moved to Arkansas for several years before moving to Artesia in 1952 where she worked more than 20 years at Moore’s B...

Lee Loflin Services: Have been held. Lee Loflin, 82, of Lubbock, died Friday, March 11, 2005, in Lamesa, Texas. He was born on May 24, 1922, in Portales, to John and Vada Loflin. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He worked for Yellow Freight Systems for many years before retiring in 1985, and was a member of the VFW in Lubbock. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Loflin; a daughter, Joyce Loflin; two sisters, Mary Gross and Oma Hunt; and a brother, Burnnard Loflin. Survivors include a son, John Loflin... Full story

Wilda King Services: Have been held. Wilda Nell “Todd” King, 79, of Clovis, died Saturday, March 19, 2005, at her home. She was born on May 22, 1925, in Nowata, Okla., to Byrd and Bessie Nell Wiggins. She married Weldon King on May 24, 1955, in San Antonio Texas. They have been the owners of Claiborne Refrigeration Co. since April 1, 1974. She was a member of 16th and Pile Church of Christ. Family members said she loved to fish, camp and spend time with her family. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; two si...