Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Zelfa Younger
Services: 2 p.m. Thursday at the Steed-Todd Chapel
Zelfa Goad Younger, 99, of Melrose, and formerly of Texico, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, at Laurel Ridge Healthcare in Clovis.
She was born Oct. 15, 1906, in Pecan Gap, Texas, to Emily Saloma and Charles Lee Goad. She grew up in the Fairview community near Claude, Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree in teacher education from West Texas State Teachers College in Canyon, Texas, and her masters degree at Eastern New Mexico University.
Her pioneer teaching career began at Otto in 1931 where she taught two years, and continued at Amistad, Rosedale, Loving/Carlsbad, and Center. The final nine years of her 36 years in public education was spent at Texico as the elementary school principal.
She was active in local and state educational associations.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother, Stella Goad; her husband of 50 years, B. D. “Duke” Younger in 1975; brothers, Charles Goad and Theodore Goad; sisters, Lola Goad, Essie Stevenson, Clarice Roe and Thelma Oliver; step-brother, Ernest Stevenson; and step-sisters, Grace Cameron and Lucille Gooden.
Survivors include her only son, Dan Younger of Melrose; grandchildren, Danna Younger of Houston and Duke Younger (and his wife, Helen) of Dallas; great-grandchildren, Tommy Lee Townsend, Jr. of San Diego and Cole Younger (Dawn) of Dallas; and great-great-grandchildren, Tommy Gun Townsend and Dylan Lee Townsend of San Diego.
Rev. E. G. Lambright will officiate and Rev. Durward Wofford will assist.
Burial will be at Sunset Terrace Memorial Cemetery in Farwell.
Memorial contributions: may be made to the Younger Scholarship Fund, Texico Schools, P.O. Box 237, Texico, N.M. 88135.
Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis.
Donald Read
Services: A private family celebration is planned at the family home.
Donald Ray Read, 66, of Portales, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, at his farm outside Portales.
He was born April 21, 1939, in Levelland, Texas, to Lura and Homer D. Read. He began his career with El Paso Natural Gas Company in the welding shop in Jal. Upon graduation from the College of the Southwest in Hobbs, with a degree in mathematics, he was promoted to drilling engineer and moved his family to Farmington. During his tenure, the company was sold twice. He retired after 30 years as the San Juan Basin Regional Manager.
He fulfilled his longtime dream of becoming a farmer when he bought a farm and moved to Portales in 1988. Family members said he enjoyed gardening, which gave him the opportunity to grow vegetables he shared with anyone who dropped by. He would have at least 40 plants of tomatoes and would have had more if he had not tried so hard to keep it small. Family members said he had a generous heart and was dearly loved.
Survivors include Myrlene Read, his wife of 48 years; daughters, Donna Read, Darla Thackery, Debbie Mobley and Dasa Bryan; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, Dale Read; sister, Norma Dean Smith; five nieces; and seven nephews.
The family requests that no flowers be sent. Instead, they request donations to either the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home or the American Diabetes Association, NM Office, 525 San Pedro NE, St. 101, Albuquerque, NM 87108.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.
Scott Lowry
Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at The Chapel, 1500 Thornton in Clovis.
Scott Alan Lowry, 43, of Fort Worth, Texas, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, in Fort Worth.
He was born Aug. 30, 1962, to Larry and Sally Wood Lowry in Tulsa, Okla. He worked for Hulcher Professional Services as an environmentalist. He received his bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and earned his master’s degree in environmental science from Texas Christian University. He was a member of the National Rifle Association.
Family members said he enjoyed motorcycles, gun collecting, golfing and fly-fishing. Family members added he was appreciated for his originality and passion for his interests and he had the ability to make his closest friend or a stranger laugh in an instant.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Wood and Doris Lowry of Tulsa, Okla.
Survivors include his daughters, Allyson Shafer Lowry and Elizabeth Damewood Lowry of Fort Worth; his parents, Dr. Larry and Sally Lowry of Clovis; his brother, Clark Andrew Lowry (and wife, Jill) and their children, Paige Marie and Alex Andrew, of Loveland, Colo.; his grandfather, A. M. Lowry of Tulsa, Okla.; and his companion, Cathy Aniello of Fort Worth.
Mike Rowley is officiating.
Cremation has taken place.
Memorial contributions may be made to his two daughters for their educational fund in care of Bank of Clovis, 2211 North Prince Street, Clovis, NM 88101.
Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.
Benita Estorga
Services: 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Helen Catholic Church in Portales.
Benita Estorga, 90, of Portales, died Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.
She was born April 1, 1915, in Karnes County, Texas, to Tomasa and Francisco Lopez. She grew up near Beeville, Texas. In 1950, she moved to Brownfield, Texas, where she worked as an aide at the hospital. In 1958, she moved to Morton, Texas. On Oct. 4, 1958, in Morton, she married Manuel Estorga.
In 1959, she enrolled in classes at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, where she studied nursing. She continued to make her home in Levelland until 1975 when she moved to Tahoka, Texas. In 1985, she and her husband moved to Portales to be close to family members.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, Manuel Lopez and Jose Lopez.
Survivors include her husband, Manuel Estorga of Portales; brothers, Gregory Rodriguez of Beeville, Texas, and Enrique Rodriguez of Sacramento, Calif.; several nieces and nephews, including Gloria Gonzales of Portales, Benita Jimenez and Sammy Lopez of Abilene, Texas, Olga Martinez, Tomasa Martinez, Roger Lopez, Manuel Lopez, Jr. and Frank Lopez, all of Portales; and great-nieces, Cynthia Escobar of Abilene, Texas, Isabel Head of Kansas City, Kan. and Patricia Garcia of Clovis.
The Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel
Fr. Tobin Hitt, Celebrant is officiating.
Burial will take place in Portales Cemetery.
Rafael Gonzales, Sammy Lopez, Roger Lopez, Manuel Lopez, Jr., Frank Lopez and Sammy Estorga will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.
Obituary Policy
The Portales News-Tribune does not charge to publish obituaries. Space constraints and deadlines may limit what is published. Information for obituaries must come from funeral homes.
Mildred Marks
Services: 1 p.m. today at the First United Methodist Church of Portales.
Mrs. Mildred L. Marks, 82, died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005 at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.
She was born on April 13, 1923, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Ollie and Hiram Minick. She married Charles Briggs Marks on Feb. 14, 1944, in Treasure Island, Calif.
She grew up in Portales and graduated from Portales High School in 1941. She attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales and business college in Wichita Falls. She and her husband lived in California for two years before returning to Portales. In 1956, she began working at ENMU in the business office and later worked as the registrar for foreign students. She worked for the university for 31 years before retiring in 1988.
Following retirement, she traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe.
She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and her community involvement included memberships in Altrusa, P.E.O., D.A.V., the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary, the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, and the Esther Circle.
Her hobbies included cooking, gardening and collecting.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters: Maureen Dunn and Francis Minick; a brother, Herman Minick; a son, Hiram Daniel Marks, who died in 1981; and her husband, who died in 1987.
Survivors include daughters, Donna Tuttle and (husband, Steven) of Portales and Cher Brock of Anaheim, Calif.; a daughter-in-law, Deborah Taylor of Amarillo; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The Rev. Harry Riser will officiate services.
Burial is at the Portales Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Webb Smartnick, Bill Dalley, Bob Dunn, David Tanner, Sid Strebeck and Charles Strebeck.
Honorary pallbearers will be all family members and friends.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.
