Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

4/24 Obituaries

R.L. Borden, 91

Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Portales.

Mr. R.L. Borden, 91, of Portales, died Saturday, April 23, 2005, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.

He was born on Feb. 12, 1914, in Wheeler County, Texas, to Nellie and Bill Borden.

He came to the Floyd community by covered wagon at the age of 3. He grew up on the family farm and attended school at Floyd. He graduated from Floyd High School in 1933. He worked at the Montgomery Ward Store in Clovis. He married Ola Sweat on Nov. 10, 1935, in Portales. They opened a mercantile store in Floyd. In 1945, they sold the store and moved to Portales. In 1956 they established Borden Peanut Company. He was a member of the Portales Lions Club, Portales Masonic Lodge and First United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Harley Borden; and two sisters, Nora Francis “Babe” Lee and Billie Nell Williams.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Bobby Borden (and wife, Sheryl) of Portales; three daughters, Lawanda Calton and Marilyn Rigsby (Sam), all of Portales, and Jan Purvis (Rick) of Pendaries; eight grandchildren, Kim Mann (Mark) of Sugarland, Texas, Sandra Fields (Gary), Melissa Martin (Mark), and Kyle Rigsby, all of Portales, Kelly Drangmeister (Ed) of Baton Rouge, La., Cassie Stull (Chris) of Austin, Texas, Michael Borden of Albuquerque and Robbie Borden of Atlanta; six great-grandchildren, Billy, Katie and Lizzie Mann, and Dillon Borden, Graydon Rigsby and Brooke Drangmeister; and a brother, Tom Borden of Portales.

The Rev. Harry Riser will officiate the services, assisted by Dick Hood.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Rob and Michael Borden, Kyle Rigsby, Gary Fields, Mark Mann and Oscar Toliver.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Maria Chavez, 67

Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Clovis.

Mrs. Maria I. Chavez, 67, of Clovis, died Thursday, April 21, 2005, at her home.

She was born on Dec. 28, 1937, in Chihuahua, Mexico.

She was a resident of Clovis for the past two years after moving from Chihuahua. She was a member of the Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Victoria Mendoza and Socorro Trillo.

Survivors include her husband, Socorro Chavez of Clovis; two sons, Manuel and Benjamin Chavez, both of Clovis; two daughters, Delores Mendoza of Salina, Kan., and Leticia Monge of Clovis; four brothers, Antonio and Ignacio Orozco, both of Clovis, Isidoro Orozco of Portales, and Rafael Orozco of Pueblo, Colo.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Clovis.

Father Sotero Sena will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Mission Garden of Memories in Clovis.

Pallbearers are Gabriel Martinez, Jesus Manuel Mendoza, Regino Trillo, Ricardo Trillo, Jesus Mendoza, and Ricky Martinez.

Honorary pallbearers are her nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis.

Joel Crooks, 55

Services: 1 p.m. May 3, First Baptist Church in Texico.

Joel Keith Crooks, 55, of Aurora, Colo., died Thursday, April 19, 2005.

He was born on Feb. 2, 1950, in Clovis, to R.E. “Tooter” and Zonah Crooks.

He graduated from Texico High School in 1967. He served in the U.S. Army from 1971 until 1974. He worked with the Clovis Police Department from 1975 until 1979. He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1978 with a bachelor of arts degree. He moved to Colorado In 1979 and worked for the Aurora Police Department. He married Lynne Parker in 1999.

Survivors include his wife; his mother; two sons, John Gregory III of Cody, Wyo., and David Gregory of Lakewood, Colo.; a daughter, Paula Fritzsche of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; two brothers, Aryle Crooks (and wife, Margie) of Texico and Paul Crooks (Roxie) of Lubbock; and four grandchildren, Karis and Cole Fritzsche and Rachel and Benjamin Gregory.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cops Fighting Cancer, c/o Officer Jim Seneca, Aurora Police Department, 15001 East Alameda Drive, Aurora, Colo. 80012, or to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, Rocky Mountain Chapter, 5353 West Dartmouth Avenue., Denver 80277.

Arrangements are by Horan & McConaty Funeral Home of Aurora, Colo.

Bill Hagar, 78

Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Mount Zion Cemetery near Dora.

Mr. Bill Hagar, 78, of Portales, died Friday, April 22, 2005, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.

He was born on Jan. 18, 1927, in Girard, Texas, to Iona Bell and Alvin Clifton Hagar.

His family moved to Dora in January of 1942. He graduated from Dora High School in 1944. In 1945, he entered the Army, and served until 1946. He returned to Dora and married Nola Hofman on Dec. 7, 1947. They farmed in Dora for a short time before moving to Carlsbad in 1948. He worked for Potash Company of America as a lab technician. He retired in 1983. In 1999 they moved to Portales. Family members said he enjoyed playing dominos, Shoot the Moon, pool, was an exceptional Snooker player and a great sports fan. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Portales.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, Wesley Dale Hagar.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Nolita K. Crouch (and husband, Jimmy) of Carlsbad; four grandchildren, Colita and Chelsie Hagar, Chrissi Montes (Fausto), and Coby Crouch; two great-grandchildren, Fausto Jr. and Johnathan Montes; a brother, Ron Hagar (Joan) of Denver; nieces and nephews, Trent, Cassandra, and Alana Hagar.

The Rev. J.R. “Dick” Ross and Scott Reeves will officiate the services.

Memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home or a charity of choice.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Services pending

Mrs. Bobie Sanders, 72, of Portales, died Friday, April 22, 2005, in Port Arthur, Texas.

Arrangements will be announced by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.