Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Obituaries for April 5, 2006

James Ferguson

Services: 2 p.m. (CST) at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel in Midland, Texas.

James Ferguson, 62, of Midland, Texas, died Monday, April 3, 2006, in the Hospice Inpatient Unit at Midland Memorial Hospital.

Born Feb. 7, 1944, in Bay City, Mich., to John and Gladys Ferguson, he married Sharon McAlister on Aug. 15, 1964, in Portales. He worked for El Paso Natural Gas for 37 years in various locations, including Carlsbad and Roswell.

Family members said he loved music, fishing and hunting, but the real loves of his life were his family, especially his wife, children and grandchildren.

He was a member of the Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, David Ferguson; his sister, Sue Ferguson; a grandchild, Logan Ferguson; and a nephew, Randel Ferguson.

Survivors include his wife; his son, Tim Ferguson (and wife, Roxanne) of Chandler, Ariz.; his daughter, Shawna Doran (Cody) of Wink, Texas; a brother, Dan Ferguson (Rhonda) of Odessa, Texas; and five grandchildren, Matthew, Sarah and Nathaniel of Chandler, and Tawny and Heston of Wink.

Phil Fouche is officiating.

Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Portales Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials to the National Kidney Foundation - Permian Basin, 4200 W. Illinois, Suite 140, Midland, TX 79703.

Arrangements are by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.

Mary Ann Valdez

Services: No services will be held.

Mary Ann Valdez, 63, of Portales, died Monday, April 3, 2006, at Baptist-St. Anthony’s Hospice in Amarillo.

Born March 25, 1943, in Rock Springs, Wyo., to Luanna and Clay Benson, she lived in Utah as a child and moved to California as a teenager. She attended nursing school and became a registered nurse, which she practiced until 1975. Later she worked in the U.S. Postal Service. In 1989, she moved to Raton. For several years she was employed at the local Kmart as a manager. She worked at the Family Dollar store in Raton until 2001 when she transferred to the Portales store to make her home closer to her sons.

Family members said she was a devoted mother and was close to her grandsons. They said she was generous and always wanted to carry the burdens for her children and those close to her. She was also a hard-working and fun-loving lady who always liked a good practical joke or surprise, according to family members. Her hobbies included crocheting, sewing and crafts.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Max Valdez.

Survivors include two sons, Jeremy Valdez (and wife, Natasha) of Portales and Josh Valdez (Kacee) of Clovis; her grandchildren, Iszac and Ezra Valdez; her brother, Ben Benson of Salt Lake City; and her sisters, Phyllis Ashton and Debbie Kidman, both of Provo, Utah, and Lynda Bianco of Reno, Nev.

The family welcomes phone calls and visits to their home.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 90790, Albuquerque, NM 87199-0790.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Mickey Lee Sanders

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church of Portales.

Mickey Lee Sanders, 67, of Portales, died Monday, April 3, 2006, at her home Casa del Sol in Portales.

Born Sept. 23, 1938, in Putnam, Texas, to Byron and Velda Lee, she married Dallan Sanders in 1957. They moved to Portales, where she worked at the Portales National Bank. Their daughter, Penny, was born in 1960. In 1962, the family moved to Carlsbad, where son Rob was born. They returned to Portales in 1966, where they made their permanent home. She went to work as an aide in the Portales public schools in 1966. Several years later, she became an elementary school secretary, continuing in that position until her retirement in 1998.

Family members said she was a devoted wife, mother, sister and friend.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir for many years. For the past two years, she was an active member of the singing group Sharing Hearts.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother, Jimmie.

She is survived by her children; two sisters, Peggy and Jane; and many loving in-laws, nieces and nephews, and loyal friends.

Cremation will take place at Muffley Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorials to the Dallan Sanders Memorial Scholarship fund at Eastern New Mexico University or the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home.

Tyrus “Tye”

Newberry

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

Tyrus “Tye” Newberry, 88, of Portales, died April 2, 2006, at Veteran’s Hospital in Amarillo.

Born Jan. 24, 1918, in Red Stripe, Ark., to Martha Jane and James Wesley Newberry, he moved with his family to Sundown, Texas, in 1928. They settled in 1930 in Lingo, where he made his home until moving to Lubbock in 1985. During World War II, he served in the Army for three years in France. He worked in a local cotton gin, the ASCS Office in Portales and the New Mexico Transportation Department, retiring in 1984. For much of that time, he was a bookkeeper. For many years, he was the Lingo community barber.

On May 17, 1985, he married Arline Bigham. They made their home in Lubbock until health problems caused him to move back to Lingo in March 2003. In September 2003 he moved to Portales. He enjoyed playing fiddle music and going to dances, family members said. He was a lifetime VFW member.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Delmas, Bill and Ralph Newberry, and a sister, Rhonda Lea Newberry.

He is survived by his wife, Arline Newberry of Lakeside Village, Texas; two sisters, Lora Kizer of Portales and Lois Shipman of Plano, Texas; three nephews, Dean Newberry (and wife, Laura Beth) and Gene Newberry (Janie) of Clovis and Stan Shipman (Ann) of Plano; a niece, Susan Craft (Butch) of Plano; four great-nephews, Corky, Jack and Bobby Newberry, and David Shipman; three great-nieces, Sherry Jones, Laura Ann Sparks and Breanne Shipman; five great-great-nephews, and six great-great-nieces.

Scott P. Reeves will officiate services. Burial will be at Causey Cemetery.

Jim Brumfield, Carl Oster, Charlie Dobbs, Travis Foster, James Newberry and Heath Williams will be pallbearers.

Ben Fuller, Polk Clark, Howell Merrick, Charlie Hudson and Lee Kizer will be honorary pallbearers.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.