Obituaries (Dec. 20)

Erineo Morris Gallegos

Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church, Mora

Erineo Morris Gallegos, 33, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, at his home.

He was born on Jan. 17, 1972, to Jimmy Gallegos and Nora Arguello Gallegos in Portales.

He lived in Mora for most of his childhood until moving to Portales. There he met his wife, Diane Garcia, and they were married Dec. 4, 1997. He worked various jobs within Portales and was employed by Abengoa Bio. Energy for seven years until his health declined.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Frederico and Seferina Gallegos; maternal grandparents, Erineo and Angelina Arguello; brother James Gallegos; and grandmother-in-law, Maria Casaus.

He is survived by his wife of Portales; daughter, Kristen of Portales; parents, Jimmy and Nora Gallegos of Guadalupita; godparents, Nathan and Connie Gallegos of Albuquerque; brother-in-law, F. Wayne Garcia of Portales; sisters Lola Gallegos (Mario Aceves) of La Junta, Colo., Darlene Gallegos (Joe Espinoza) of Rainesville, and Betsy Chavez (Steve) of Portales; half sisters Ernestine Pacheco and husband Max of Chacon, and Brenda Archuleta of Rawlins, Wyo. He is also survived by many aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be Willford Borrego, Baldemar Diaz Jr., Joe Espinoza, Jonathan Gallegos, Matthew Gallegos, Fred Garcia, Danny Hernandez, and Ernesto Sandoval.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church in Mora.

Interment will follow at the cemetery in El Turquillo.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Home.

Leon W. Luke

Services: 10 a.m., Friday, at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales.

Leon W. Luke, 91, died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at his residence in Portales.

He was born Dec. 25, 1913, in Melbourne, Fla., to Myrtle and Robert T. Luke.

He married Emma E. Clark on April 13, 1940. He volunteered for service in the U.S. Army during World War II and completed officer training school in 1942. He served in north Africa, France, Italy, and Germany, and was with troops the day the Dachau Death Camp was liberated. He was awarded a Bronze Star on July 31, 1945. He served in active duty until 1946, when he joined the U.S. Army Reserves. In 1951, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in accounting from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

He worked as an accountant for Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque for many years before retiring in 1973, when he also retired from the U.S. Army Reserves.

Family members said he accepted Christ at an early age and had been a devoted Christian throughout his life. He served in various capacities at the First Baptist Church and Del Norte Baptist Church in Albuquerque and then attended Texico Baptist Church and Central Christian Church after moving to Portales.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Schubert Luke; his sister, Nell Downer; and his wife, Emma E. Luke.

Survivors include his brother, Paul (Marsha) Luke of Phoenix; son, Robert (Erras) Luke of Albuquerque; daughters, Wanda Palmer of Largo, Fla., Deborah (Dennis) Eben of Littleton, Colo., and Lora (Jerry) Wood of Portales; grandchildren, Austin (Kate) Luke, Marques (Marissa) Luke, Bethany Luke, Don (Carrie) Eben, Dale (Amy) Eben, Matthew (Kris) Wood, Marcus Wood, and Mandi Wood; and great-grandchildren, Erin and Payton Luke, Seth, Leah, Rachel, Joshua, and Levi Eben, Zachary and Aric Wood, and Shelby and Jordan Wood-Jasso.

Rev. Dick Ross will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Austin, Marques, and Bethany Luke, Don and Dale Eben, and Matthew, Marcus, and Mandi Wood.

Honorary pallbearers will be great-grandchildren.

Burial will take place at Portales Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.