Obits June 22

Mary Hallford, 96

Mary Hallford, 96, of Portales, died Friday, June 21, 2003, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales.

She was born on July 7, 1906, in Hall County, Texas, to Ollie and Alexander Cooper. She was the oldest of her family. She lived her early life in the area where she was born. On July 17, 1924, in Clarendon, Texas, she married Andy B. Hallford. They farmed in various places in Texas and New Mexico before settling in Portales in 1943. She helped her husband with running the farm, and also did seamstress work for a number of local women. Later she was employed as a seamstress for C.R. Anthony’s. After her husband’s death in 1983, she moved to Golden Acres. Since October 1993, she had been a resident at the local rest home in Portales. Family members said she enjoyed going to the Portales Senior Citizens for lunch and the weekly dances; and playing Skip Bo and dominoes, which she generally won. She was a member of the Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Buford and Doc Cooper; a sister, Lorene Brantley; a son, Garland Hallford, who died Dec. 11, 1999; a grandchild and a great-grandchild; and by her husband, Andy, who died Dec. 5, 1983.

Survivors include a son, Lavon Hallford of Portales; a daughter, Wanda Sweatt of Artesia; and eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Portales Cemetery. The Rev. Farrell Odom will officiate.

Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Wheeler Mortuary of Portales is handling arrangements.

Casey Kennedy, 46

Casey “Cal” Kennedy, 46, died Friday, June 20, 2003, at his home in Portales.

He was born on Dec. 16, 1956, in Portales to Dell and Nolan Luce. He attended the Portales Public Schools. He was raised in the Arch community by his grandparents, H.B. and Ina Mae Kennedy. Family members said he was a very outgoing and friendly person, and never knew a stranger. He drank coffee at several local cafes and always enjoyed visiting with other patrons. A highlight of his year were the annual Kennedy family and the Luce family reunions. He also enjoyed camping and going to the lake. He was a member of the Arch Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Dell Meadows, in 1990, as well as other family members.

Survivors include his father, Nolan Luce of Phoenix; a brother, Max Kennedy of Portales; a sister, Brenda Strickland of Bridgeport, Texas; and a half-sister, Belinda Luce of Phoenix.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. today at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Tony Reynolds will officiate.

Burial was in Floyd Cemetery prior to the service.

Honorary pallbearers were all friends and neighbors.

Wheeler Mortuary of Portales is handling arrangements.

Bill Wall, 62

Bill Wall, 62, of Dora and formerly of Lazbuddie, Texas, died Friday, June 20, 2003, at his home in Dora.

He was born on Feb. 27, 1941, in Cass County, Texas, near Atlanta, to Ivy and Earl Wall.

He lived in Cass County, Texas, until the age of 9 when the family moved to Maple. He attended school at Three Way. As a young man, he enlisted in the Navy. After his enlistment, he settled in the Lazbuddie area where he farmed until his retirement. Recently, he made his home with his mother in the Dora community.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Survivors include a son, Rick Wall of Dora; two daughters, Connie Roberts of Coleman, Texas, and Tammy Mardis of Canyon, Texas; his mother, Ivy Orene Wall Hays of Dora; one brother, Jim Wall of Dora; two sisters, Elizabeth Oglesby of Goldsmith, Texas, and Juanita Woolam of Lubbock; and eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at p.m. Monday at Dora Baptist Church. The Revs. Eddy Mardis and Phil Shelton will officiate.

Burial will be at Mt. Zion Cemetery near Dora.

Pallbearers will be Jim Bob Wall, Houston Wall, Gene Richards, Ruben Baeza, Monty Oglesby and Terry Oglesby.

Honorary bearers will be Rex Minshew and Stan Woolam.

Wheeler Mortuary of Portales is handling arrangements.