Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Obituaries for March 19

Elaine Abeyta

Services: 1 p.m. Monday at The Church on The Hill in Fort Sumner

Elaine Abeyta, 28, of Fort Sumner died Saturday, March 11, 2006, due to injuries suffered in an auto accident near Encino.

She was born March 19, 1977, to Danny Paul Bishop and Bea Northrup in Fort Sumner.

She was raised and attended schools in Fort Sumner and Bovina. She graduated from Bovina High in 1995. She worked for WW Construction on a road construction job near Vaughn. She also worked as a driver for Fort Sumner Transit.

She married Josh Abeyta on Feb. 14, 1998, in Fort Sumner.

Family members said she was a loving mother, wife, daughter, granddaughter, sister and friend.

Her daughter, Candace, also died in the March 11 accident.

She is survived by her husband; a daughter, Ashley Bishop of Fort Sumner; three sons, Anthony, Abel, and Terrance Abeyta, all of Fort Sumner; her mother, Bea Prather (and husband, Buddy) of Bovina; her father, Danny Paul Bishop of Artesia; five brothers, Darrell Bishop of Portales, David Bishop of Bovina, John Nelson of Portales, Pecos Prather of Bovina and Jim Bob Prather of Naples, Texas; her mother and father-in-law, Louis and Laura Abeyta of Taiban; her maternal grandmother, Dorothy Northrup of Melrose; and many other relatives and friends.

Anna Teeter will officiate services.

Burial is at Fort Sumner Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner.

Pallbearers will be David and Darrell Bishop, John Nelson, Pecos Prather, Jim Bob Prather and Eric Northrup.

Honorary bearers will be Windell Bridges, Jim Franks, Gary Northrup, Bill Prather, Larry and Bobby Williamson.

A memorial fund has been established for her children. Send donations to The “Abeyta Children Benefit Fund” c/o Citizens Bank, P.O. Box 490, Fort Sumner, NM 88119.

Arrangements are by Chavez Funeral Home of Fort Sumner.

Candace M.

Abeyta

Services: 1 p.m. Monday at The Church on The Hill in Fort Sumner.

Candace M. Abeyta, 9, of Fort Sumner died Saturday, March 11, 2006, in an automobile accident near of Encino.

She was born Sept. 21, 1996, in Fort Sumner to Josh and Elaine (Bishop) Abeyta.

Her mother also died from injuries suffered in the accident.

Candace was a second-grade student at Fort Sumner Elementary School.

Family members said like living in Fort Sumner, enjoyed sleepovers, a cold Dr. Pepper and pizza, listening to Britany Spears music and the “Sponge Bob Squarepants Movie.”

They said she was on the A/B honor roll, hoped to become a teacher and a volleyball player. They said she was always helping others and had a good heart.

She was a member of The Church on The Hill and the “Kids on the Move” children’s church.

Survivors include her father; three brothers, Anthony, Abel and Terrance Abeyta, a sister, Ashley Bishop; maternal grandmother Bea Prather (and husband, Buddy) of Bovina; maternal grandfather, Danny Paul Bishop of Artesia; paternal grandparents Louis and Laura Abeyta of Taiban; a maternal great-grandmother, Dorothy Northrup of Melrose; and numerous uncles, aunts, other relatives and her friends and classmates at Fort Sumner Elementary.

Anna Teeter will officiate services.

Burial will be at Fort Sumner Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Louis and Chad Abeyta, Franklin Gonzales and J.W. Daniels.

Honorary pallbearers will include Eddie Gonzales, students and faculty from Fort Sumner Elementary.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner.

Arrangements are by Chavez Funeral Home of Fort Sumner.

William E.

Faulkner

Services: 10 a.m. Monday at the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel.

William E. Faulkner, 75, of Portales died Friday, March 17, 2006, at his home.

He was born Jan. 23, 1931, in Rule County, Texas, to Katherine and James E. Faulkner. He married Iris Tibbenham on Nov. 14, 1953, in Ipswich, England.

He left school to work when he was 7 years old. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1948 at the age of 17. He retired from the Air Force in 1972 after almost 25 years. He served in Korea and Vietnam.

He was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base as an inventory controller at the time of his retirement.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Portales and served as an elder in the congregation for several years.

Family members said he had a great love for history, enjoyed building models and reading science fiction novels. He was also an expert marksman, family members said.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Mary Frances Faulkner; and his wife, who died July 21, 1999.

He is survived by a son, Dave Faulkner of Portales; two daughters, Sharon Faulkner of Portales and Roseann Wing (and husband, Joseph) of Las Vegas, Nev.; two grandchildren, Joseph Matthew and Crystal Marie Wing; and five brothers, Jack and James Ray Faulkner, both of San Antonio, Jesse Faulkner of Albuquerque, Hubert Faulkner of Amarillo and Stevie Faulkner of Slaton, Texas.

The Rev. Clyde Davis will officiate.

Burial will be at the Portales Cemetery.

Family members will serve as pallbearers.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Louise Nicholas

Services: A private service will be held at a later date.

Louise Nicholas, 92, of Clovis, died Saturday, March 18, 2006 at her home.

She was born July 8, 1913, in Graham, Texas to John Henry and Ollie James Lasater.

She married Harlon Nicholas on April 13, 1936. They ranched n the Kenna community for more than 50 years.She was a charter member of Kenna Community Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Lonnie Nicholas; three sisters; and a brother.

She is survived by a daughter, Elwanda Bell (and husband, Bob); a brother, Harlon B. Nicholas (Dotte) of Roselle, Ill.; two sisters, Nola Milsap of Portales and Mildred Richards of Lubbock; two grandsons, Robert H. Bell (Shelly) of Roswell and Joel Nicholas; and four great grandchildren, including Robert D. and Richard H. Bell.

Cremation has taken place.

Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home.

Services Pending

Blanche Price, 75, of Portales died Saturday, March 18, 2006, at the Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.

Services are pending with Wheeler Mortuary in Portales.