Jan. 2 Obituaries

Essie Baker, 90

Essie Baker, 90, of Portales, died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2005, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales.

She was born Aug. 2, 1914, to Nancy and Chester Lee Dement.

She graduated from Portales High School. She married Arlon Baker on Aug. 5, 1933. She raised her children in Portales. She spent her life as a devoted wife and mother, family members said.

She was a member of the Third and Kilgore Church of Christ in Portales. Her hobbies included sewing, embroidery and quilting.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Eugene Dement; a great-grandson, Bobby Givens; and by her husband.

She is survived by her son, Edgar Lee Baker of Portales; a daughter, Mary Taylor (and husband, Bob) of Ramah; two grandchildren, Mary Kaye Maloney (Bert) of Portales and Cindy Givens (Tim) of Happy, Texas; five great-grandchildren, Julie Pena, Jack Maloney, Melissa Maloney, Valerie Struve and Jeremy Givens.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Monday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales. David Bennett will officiate the services. Burial will take place at Portales Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Bert Maloney, Tim Givens, Jack Maloney, Jeremy Givens, Pablo Pena and Tullie Struve.

Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of Third and Kilgore Church of Christ.

Arrangements by Wheeler Mortuary in Portales.

J.W. Helmer, 82

J. W. Helmer, 82, of Clovis, died Friday, Dec. 31, 2004, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.

He was born Sept. 26, 1922, in Walters, Okla., to Bessie Pearl and Lewis Edward Helmer.

His family moved to the Richland, Texas, community when he was 2 years old. He graduated from high school at Rogers in 1940. He served in the Navy during World War II. Following the war, he returned to Portales and farmed for several years.

He married Maudine Singleton on Feb. 1, 1948. In 1954 they moved their family to the Los Angeles area where he was employed by Pacific Press. In 1964 they returned to Portales. In the late 1970s he went to work in the maintenance department at Eastern New Mexico University as a grounds supervisor. He retired in 1988. He enjoyed working outdoors, gardening, reading and welding, family members said.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Wayland and Maurice Helmer; and by a daughter, Cheryl.

He is survived by his wife; a son Gary Helmer (and wife, Nel) of Rich Square, N.C.; two daughters, Linda Shainwald (Bob) of Albuquerque and Rhonda Walker (Dave) of Portales; four grandchildren, Tina and Tyler Walker, Amanda Helmer and Sky Shainwald; and a sister, Maxine Levacy of Portales.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Tuesday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales. George Brumfield will officiate the services. Burial will take place at Portales Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Ralph Allison, Larry Bickham, Sam Skinner, Danny Woodward, Benny Carty and David Flen.

Arrangements by Wheeler Mortuary in Portales.