Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

4/5 Obituaries

Montie Cochrain

Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at Elida Methodist Church

Montie Cochrain, 82, of Elida, died Sunday, April 3, 2005, at his home.

He was born on Oct. 15, 1922, in Elida, to Cecil May and Steve B. Cochrain.

He lived nearly his entire lifetime on the same ranch. He attended school in Elida and was a member of the class of 1941. For several years he lived in Alamogordo where he drove trucks for his uncle. He married to Fern Campbell on Dec. 9, 1942, in Portales. He and his wife ranched and farmed and in addition ran a dairy operation for 22 years. In 1964 he sold off the dairy cattle and began doing custom harvesting. He retired from the harvesting business in 1996.

Family members said he had a great wit and sense of humor, and loved playing jokes and pranks. He also enjoyed camping out, fishing and hunting.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, two daughters, LaVerne Standifer of Lovington and Lovita Frusher (and husband, David) of Clovis; five grandchildren, Leslie Addison (Wesley), Steve Standifer (Angela), Cade Standifer (Cherise), Montie Nickels (Michelle) and Austin Hale (Jolene); 11 great-grandchildren, Katie and Corbin Fruchey, Lauren, Gunner and Harlea Standifer, Hailey and Lynsie Nickels, Jordan Hale and Janae Hale and Colton and Clayton Addison.

The Rev. Mary Sue Hull will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Elida Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Montie Nickels, Cade and Steve Standifer, Austin Hale, Wes Addison and Travis Johnson.

Honorary pallbearers are Billy Bob Harris, Joe Smith, Ben and Donald Creighton, Jim Bob Nuckols, Donald Creighton and Delbert Ledbetter as well as all of his many friends.

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.

Thomas Wilkerson

Services: 1 p.m. Wednesday at the High Plains Baptist in Clovis.

Mr. Thomas L. “Roy” Wilkerson, 82, of Clovis, died Monday, April 4, 2005, at his home.

He was born on Dec. 18, 1922, in Lillian, Texas, to David Henry and Bessie Drusilla Wilkerson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Geraldean; three brothers, J.T., J.D. and Henry L. Wilkerson; and a sister, Merdell Vestal.

He was a resident of Clovis since 1948. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He worked for many years at the Safeway Milk Plant in Clovis before retiring in 1986. He married Inez Strickland on Jan. 12, 1991, in Bullhead City, Ariz. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the VFW. Family members said he loved calling bingo for the Eagles Lodge and he never met a stranger. He was a member of High Plains Baptist Church in Clovis.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Jeffery Wilkerson and Matthew Wilkerson (and wife, Melissa), all of Clovis and Preston Wilkerson (and wife, Vickie) of Portales; three step-sons, Charles Michael Robinson of Amarillo, Clifton Robinson (Diana) of Clovis, and Calvin Robinson (Debbie) of Mt. Pleasant, Texas; a brother, Billy Wayne Wilkerson of Amarillo; three sisters, Earlene McCreary of Hereford, Dorothy Karlin of Amarillo and Catherine Hill of Childress, Texas; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Charles Miller will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Diabetes Association, Hospice, or Cancer Research.

Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis.