Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Feb. 1 Obituaries

Thomas E. Scott, 91

Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Central Christian Church in Portales.

Mr. Thomas Elmo Scott, 91, died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell.

He was born on Oct. 7, 1913, near Lafayette, Chamber County, Ala. At the age of 3, he moved with his family to Amber, Okla., where he attended school. His family moved again to a farm near Bovina, and at 15 he graduated high school as valedictorian. He received a scholarship to West Texas State University and enrolled there in 1929. He went there for two years, but because of the Depression, he didn’t graduate until 1935. For a period of 5 1/2 years he taught school in West Texas. On Aug. 14, 1941, he volunteered for service in World War II. He saw service in the European Theatre of Operations in the 12th Field Army Hospital unit. He was in five campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Germany for two years. During his wartime service, he met Lt. Gladys Detwiler, an Army nurse whom he married on Nov. 2, 1945. They moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a chemist. In October of 1946, they moved to Cactus, Texas, where he also worked as a chemist. In 1949, they purchased a farm near Portales. He was a member of Central Christian Church and had been a deacon, elder, and Sunday school teacher.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Scott; and a brother, Harry Scott.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jane Batson (and husband, Jack) of Roswell; and two grandchildren, Shannon Batson, of Portales and John Batson (Karen) of Temple, Texas.

Dean Overton, Kenneth Broad and Allen Conner will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Pallbearers are Walter “Cotton” Clark, Darrel Stroud, Charles Good, Corte Prude, Jay Ball and Sam Rigsby.

Memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Boys Ranch, P O Box 5000, Boys Ranch, NM 87002-5000.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Sally Rodriguez , 68

Services: Have been held.

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

She was born on Dec. 22, 1936, in Artesia, to Tanilado and Victoria Rodriguez. She grew up in the Artesia area and worked many jobs, including waiting tables in cafes. She moved to Morton, Texas, in 1965. In the mid-1970s she moved to Portales where she lived the remainder of her life and raised many of her grandchildren. She was a member of the St. Helen Catholic Church in Portales. She became a homemaker and family members said in her spare time she loved to sew, knit, cook, do puzzles and work in her garden.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a twin sister, Patricia Rodriguez; three brothers, Albert Sr., Rocky and Sam Rodriguez; two sons, Rey and David; and a great-grandchild, Sebastian Rodriguez.

Survivors include two sons, Jerry Rodriguez of Portales and Toby Rodriguez (and wife, Aracli) of Clovis; two daughters, Wanda Delgado (Antonio) and Lataine Ochoa and partner, Jackie, all of Portales; eight grandchildren, Crystal Ramos (Carlos), Natasha Lucero (Brian Sr.), Louis, Cheyenne, Rocky, Sergio, Edagar and Huego Rodriguez; five great-grandchildren, Brian James Lucero Jr., Soyla Flor, Juanita and Karla Ramos and Cloe Espinosa; a brother, Roy Rodriguez of Portales; a sister-in-law, Nellie Rodriguez; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Esteban Sigala, 20

Services: Have been held.

Esteban Sigala, 20, of Hobbs, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005, at the University Medical Center in Lubbock.

He was born on July 6, 1984, in Denver City, Texas, to Jessie and Diana Sigala. He was a longtime resident of Hobbs and attended school there. Family members said he loved fishing, rooster fighting, horse races, his dogs, and his pick-up truck. Family members also said he had a great sense of humor and his outlook on life was positive and uplifting.

He was preceded in death by a grandfather, Esteban Sigala.

Survivors include his parents; a sister, Asusena Coronel (and husband, Enrique) of Portales; two brothers, Josue Sigala of Hobbs and Gabriel Armijo (Kristanta) of Portales; two grandmothers, Eva Sigala of Chihuahua, Mexico, and Elia Gutierrez of Portales; a step-grandmother, Yolanda Munoz of Carlsbad; a grandfather, Ben Munoz of Carlsbad; a step-grandfather, Isabel Gutierrez of Portales; two nieces, Mireya Armijo and Andeana Perez; and a nephew, Juluis Perez.

Burial was at Prairie Haven Memorial Park in Hobbs.

Arrangements are by Griffin Funeral Home of Hobbs.