Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Jan. 25 Obituaries

Lenard Bigler, 72

Mr. Lenard Lee “Buck” Bigler, 72, of Portales, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2005, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales.

He was born on Dec. 13, 1932, in Bell County, Texas, to Ollie and Ed Bigler.

He grew up in Anton, Texas. In 1950 he entered the Air Force and was stationed at Selma, Ala. He married Nadean Jarrett on Aug. 20, 1952, in Selma. In 1953 they moved to Floyd where he farmed until 1965. From 1965 until 1969 he drove a fuel truck for C&S Oil. In 1969 he went to work at the local Farm Bureau Insurance office. In 1970 he and his family moved to Portales. In 1978, he moved to Grants Pass, Ore., where he continued working for Farm Bureau. In March of 1981 they returned to Portales and established the Roosevelt County Insurance Agency. Family members said he raised a huge garden each year, which not only produced vegetables for his family, but for many friends. He was a member of the Brazos Street Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Eddie Lee Bigler (and wife, Susan) of Denver; three daughters, Terry E. Dictson (Terry K.) of Ozark, Ark., Pam Wortham (Newell) of Sacramento, Calif., and Kathy Rementeria (Jose) of Hines, Ore.; six grandchildren, Blade and Allison Bigler, Khandra Faulkner, Mandy Blount, and Julie and Nick Rementeria; two brothers, Panny Bigler of Floyd, and Emil Bigler of Fort Sumner; five sisters, Ruby Stephenson of Floyd, Addie McGinnis of Lubbock, Ellen Bostwick of Melrose, Mary Vidlar of Floyd and Lydia “Babe” Earnest of Melrose.

Dee Teel will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Floyd Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Eugene Lee, Wendell Bostwick, Ernest Villanueva, Jon Skinner, Butch Vidlar, Don Bigler, Carl Alexander, and Steve Adkins.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Hugh Coslett, 92

Mr. Hugh Coslett, 92, of Portales, died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales.

He was born on Aug. 7, 1912, in Okmulgee, Okla., to Ollie and John Coslett.

He grew up in Oklahoma. He moved to Tucumcari and later to Carrizozo before coming to Portales in 1939. He married Claudine Dickenson in 1939. During World War II he served in the Army. After returning he went to work at Portales Hardware and later worked at Skinners where he helped in saddle and boot making, and eventually went to work for his uncle at Oscar’s Boot Shop. He bought the shop which he ran until 1999. After the death of his first wife, Claudine, he married Bernice Urton on May 10, 1976. He was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, the Roosevelt County Mounted Patrol and the Odd Fellows Lodge. He was a member of the Third and Kilgore Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Ray and Pat Coslett; four sisters, Maudie, Margie, Lavera and Daisy; and his first wife, Claudine.

Survivors include his wife, Bernice; two step-sons, Mike Urton (and wife, Lavada) of Amarillo and Gary Urton (Julia) of Boston; five grandchildren, Shelly Cree (Brian), Mark Urton (Joely), Todd Urton (Vickie), and Jason Urton (Noah); five great-grandchildren, Tatum , Bryce, and Ella Urton, and Elijah and John Michael Cree; a sister, Dolly Onsurd of Carrizozo.

David Bennett and Brian Cree will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Tommy Ray Gainer, Paul Newsom, Todd Urton, M.O. Bickley, San Skinner, and Carl Coslett.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Powell Foster, 65

Powell Hogan Foster, 65, of Clovis, died on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005.

He was born on Sept. 25, 1939, in Slaton, Texas, to Mark L. and Loda Foster.

He married Sallie Sue Harris on June 17, 1961, in Dumas, Texas. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern New Mexico University in 1962. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He moved back to Clovis in 1967, working as a certified public accountant. He established his own firm in 1975. He was an elder and served as treasurer of First Presbyterian Church in Clovis and was a youth baseball coach.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother-in-law, Jim Weaver.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Barry Foster (and wife, Stephanie) of Roswell; a daughter, Lori Gale (David) of Tucson, Ariz.; six grandchildren, Marshall Harris Foster, Geoffrey Foster Gale, Marcus Hogan Foster, Michael Hunter Foster, Sean Stanley Gale, and Carol Lorene Foster; a sister-in-law, Pat Weaver and her children and grandchildren; and an extended family in Texas.

The Rev. Lance Clemons will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Atwell Cemetery in Cross Plains, Texas.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Clovis, the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital, or any charity devoted to children.

Honorary pallbearers are his five grandsons, two nephews, the men of First Presbyterian Church, friends and associates, and fellow Masons of Clovis Lodge No. 40.

Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis.

David Graves

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday at the Elida Cemetary.

David Graves, 64, of Elida, died Nov. 24, 2004.

He was born on June 28, 1940, in Idalou, Texas, to G.W. “Jiggs” and Nathalie Graves. In 1943, the family moved to Carlsbad and then to Elida in 1947. He attended Elida schools until his high school graduation in 1958. During that time, he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, earning the top rank of Eagle Scout. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts’ honor society, the Order of the Arrow. After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and served for three years in Florida and aboard the U.S.S. Forrestal. After completion of his duty, he returned to Elida and worked for Wall’s Gocery Store in the meat market. In 1965, he married Delma Radcliff. He later started his own business, Elida Custom Beef Processing, which he operated until he sold it in the mid-1980s. He then operated a furniture refinishing and sales business for many years at the North Side Feed Store in Elida until bad health forced his retirement. Family members said he enjoyed his work, working his cattle, spending time with his family, gardening and watching television.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a stepson, Teddie Radcliff.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Jeff (and wife, Stacy) and thier children, Timber and Wyatt; two stepdaughters, Janie Mock of Clayton and Beverly Creighton (Donald) of Elida; two brothers, Donald (Juanita) of Elida and Kent of Odessa, Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Elida Cemetery.

A private family burial will follow the service.

Friends and family will gather at the Elida Senior Citizens Center after the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Elida Volunteer Fire Department.

Arrangements are by Agape Funeral Chapel of Lubbock.

Sally Rodriguez, 68

Sally Rodriguez, 68, of Portales, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005, at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock.

She was born on Dec. 22, 1936, in Artesia, to Victoria and Trinilado Rodriguez.

She grew up in the Artesia area. In 1965 she moved to Morton, Texas, and later to Lubbock. In the mid-1970s she moved to Portales where she lived the remainder of her life. She was a member of St. Helen Catholic Church in Portales. Family members said she enjoyed knitting and sewing.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Albert, Rocky and Sam Rodriguez; two sons, Jerry Rodriguez of Portales and Toby Rodriguez (and wife, Aracli) of Clovis; two daughters, Wanda Delgado (Antonio) and Lataine Ochoa (Jackie), both of Portales; eight grandchildren, including Max, Cheyenne and Nina Rodriguez; eight great-grandchildren; and a brother, Roy Rodriguez of Portales.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.