Obituaries for June 30, 2006

Charles M. Griffin

Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel.

Charles M. Griffin, 57, of Portales died Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.

Born Sept. 9, 1948, in Crockett, Texas, to Gladys and Melvin Griffin, he moved to Portales in the early 1970s following a brief time in the Army. For several years he worked at Cissell Moving and Storage Co. in Portales. He enjoyed being with friends and family, cooking barbecue, playing chess, listening to music and reading his Bible, family members said.

He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin Griffin; a brother, J. C. Griffin; a niece, Beatrice Griffin, and a nephew, Gary Maurice Griffin.

He is survived by three sons, Charles J. Griffin of Grapevine, Texas, and Anthony Griffin and Michael Griffin, both of Lubbock; a daughter, Veronica Griffin of Tehachapi, Calif.; his mother, Gladys Griffin of Portales; three brothers, Gary Griffin, Earnest Griffin and Aeron Griffin, all of Portales; nine sisters, Betty Griffin of Oakland, Calif., Doris Helen Forester (and husband, Dennis) of Dallas, Denise Griffin and Freddie Howard (Alvin), all of Aurora, Colo., and Lorene Griffin, Necia M. Griffin, Nettie Griffin, Charlene Griffin and Rebecca Griffin, all of Portales; seven grandchildren; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Brother Lupe Marquez will officiate services. Burial will be in Portales Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Charles J. Griffin, Alvin Howard, Taylor Watson, Jason Griffin, Jordan Griffin and Ronnie McDonald.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Doug Offutt

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

Doug Offutt, 40, of Portales died Thursday, June 29, 2006, at Plains Regional Medical Center.

Born May 6, 1966, in Carlsbad to June and Sam Offutt of Portales, he and his family moved to Pine Bluff, Ark., when he was 5. He made his home there until 1989 when the family returned to New Mexico. While living in Arkansas he was active in the Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed studying history, particularly the Civil War era and Medieval period, according to his family. He collected guns, particularly black powder rifles and pistols, and swords, family members said, and he was not only a good shot with firearms, but also with English longbows. At one time he was a member of the Society of Creative Anachronisms, an organization that stages Medieval battle reenactments.

He is survived by his parents of Portales; two brothers, Sammy Offutt of Portales and Jerry Offutt of Moriarty.

Gray Wilson

Services: 2 p.m. Friday, July 7, 2006, at First Presbyterian Church in Portales.

Gray Wilson, 93, of Pep died Thursday, June 29, 2006, at Retirement Ranch in Clovis.

Born Nov. 6, 1912, in St. Paul, Minn., to Irma and Oliver S. Wilson, he grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On Sept. 2, 1939, in Navada, Iowa, he married Sara Margaret Wilson. He served in the Navy as a cook during World War II. For several years after graduating from college, he was employed as a social worker. Growing up, he was active in Scouting, and worked for about two years for the Boy Scouts. For many years he owned and operated several small businesses before going to work for Hewlett-Packard. He started as a janitor, and when he retired in 1975 he was supervisor for an electronics department. He and his wife made their home in Albuquerque from 1975 to 1979 when he moved to Pep and purchased a store there. He owned and operated the Wilson Country Store at Pep until February. In 1986, he became postmaster for Pep as the oldest individual hired as a postmaster, according to family members. He retired from the Postal Service in 2003. He was an accomplished artist, painting in oils and acrylics, according to family members. They said he was an avid Oakland A’s baseball fan, and collected baseball cards and postage stamps. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Portales.

He was preceded in death by his wife, who died June 16, 2002, after more than 62 years of marriage; his parents, and one grandson.

Survivors include three sons, Philip Wilson (and wife, Vainga) of Pahoa, Hawaii, Richard Wilson of Alameda, Calif., and Denis Wilson (Cecille) of Redwood City, Calif.; a daughter, Melinda Coslett (Carl) of Clovis; and 10 grandchildren.

The Rev. Clyde Davis will officiate. Burial has occurred in Portales Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Portales or Clovis.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.