5/24 Obituaries

Kelly Askew, 69

Services: 2 p.m. today at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales.

Mr. Kelly Askew, 69, of Portales, died Sunday, May 22, 2005, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales.

He was born on Jan. 27, 1936, in the Garrison community, to Marie and Dell Askew.

He grew up in the Garrison community and attended school at Causey until the middle of his sophomore year. At that time the family moved to California. He graduated from Torrence High School in 1955. Shortly after graduation he joined the U.S. Air Force. After four years, he joined the California National Guard and worked as a clerk for 10 years. In April 1970 he returned to New Mexico and joined the New Mexico National Guard. He retired in 1978 after working for the federal government for 22 years. Following his retirement he moved to Portales. He was a member of Victory Life Church in Portales.

Family members said he enjoyed playing the piano, yard work and kept an immaculate yard.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include a brother, Win Askew of Portales; two sisters, Evelyn Kiker of Portales and Gale Serpa of Angel’s Camp, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews, including Kathleen Kiehne (Arkie) of Portales.

The Rev. Walter Huber will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Van and Win Askew, Arkie, Ned and Kurt Kiehne, Joey Serpa, Wayne Victor, Johnny Kiker and Randy Mitchell.

Honorary pallbearers are the staff of Heartland Continuing Care Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Causey Cemetery Fund.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Suzi Blevins, 50

Services: No public services will be held.

Suzi Blevins, 50, of Portales, died Wednesday, May 18, 2005, at her home.

She was born on May 1, 1955, in Wenatchee, Wash., to Beatrice and Vearl Whitehall.

She spent her early childhood in Washington, where she completed school. She married Jim Blevins, who was from New Mexico. They owned and operated several restaurants. They eventually sold their restaurants and moved to New Mexico. She worked as an inventory auditor for Allsup’s with a tri-state area of responsibility. She had attended the Southside Church of Christ in Portales.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Jim Blevins.

Survivors include three brothers, Steve Bruns of Moses Lake, Wash., Dennis Whitehall of Wenatchee, Wash., and Neil Whitehall of Cashmere, Wash.; and two sisters, Helen Rorvick of Choteau, Mont., and Vicki Kelley of Portales.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Michael Marler, 49

Services: 10 a.m. today at Portales Cemetery.

Mr. Michael Marler, 49, of Portales, died Saturday, May 21, 2005, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.

He was born on Sept. 30, 1955, in Portales, to Willie and Odus Marler.

He graduated from Portales High School in 1973. He worked for Portales Valley Mills (which later became Borden Peanuts) for approximately 27 years before leaving to devote himself full-time to handcrafting guitars and selling them throughout the country.

Family members said he has a lifelong love of music, as a musician and a craftsman, and enjoyed spending time with his musician friends and family.

Survivors include his parents; a sister, Diane Tunnell (and husband, Arthur) of Clovis; a nephew, Stephen Tunnell of Clovis; and a niece, Hannah Tunnell of Clovis.

Scott P. Reeves will officiate

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers are all of his musician friends.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Rosa Wofford, 96

Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at First Church of the Nazarene in Portales.

Mrs. Rosa J. Wofford, 96, of Gracedale, Upper Nazareth Township, Pa., died Thursday, May 19, 2005, in Gracedale, Upper Nazareth Township, Pa.

She was born March 15, 1909, in Tell, Texas, to William C. and Evisa Jane Russell Bohannon.

She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Portales, where she served as a member of the Church Board and a Sunday school teacher.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters; six brothers; and by her husband, Edgar B. Wofford.

Survivors include a son, Dale E. Wofford (and wife, Mae) of Portales; a daughter, Elda Lynn Shaffer (Malcolm E.) of Bath, Pa.; six grandchildren, Alan and Dr. Bert Wofford, both of Portales, Rayma Hartwick of Dalzell, S.C., Janene Utkin of Shelley, Idaho, William R. Stringer of Lubbock, and Cheryl Molitor of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., two step-grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

The Rev. Terry Maloney will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

Visitation is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Wheeler Mortuary in Portales.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of the Nazarene, 823 W. University Dr. Portales, NM 88130.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Funerals Today

Kelly Askew — 2 p.m. at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales.

Michael Marler — 10 a.m. at Portales Cemetery.