Articles from the February 13, 2006 edition

Delores Fern Jacks, 71, of Clovis, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis. She was born Aug. 30, 1934, to Gene Hix and Flossie D. Patterson, in Littlefield, Texas. She married Quinton Jacks on Dec. 25, 1949, in Clovis. She was a homemaker and a lifelong member of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Family members said she loved growing flowers and gardening. She enjoyed talking with people and the ministry and she was very neighborly and friendly, they said. She was preceded in death by her parents; a b...

Ethel Bradley-Ray, 91, of Hamilton, Texas, died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, in Hamilton. She was born Oct. 25, 1914, in Purdy, Okla., to John and Belle Welch Beach. She married Jack Colbert Bradley in 1934. She married Forrest Ray in 1987. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Jack Bradley; daughter, Kay Bradley; and husband, Forrest Ray. Survivors include sons Jim Bradley (and his wife, Betty) of Weatherford, Texas, Bob Bradley (Edith) of Clovis, Jack Bradley (Eilenna) of El Paso, Texas; daughter, Linda Catoe (Alex)...

Melvin Garner, 70, of Roswell, died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell. He was born Nov. 13, 1935, in Causey to Amon D. “Bud” and Ella Gumm Garner. He graduated from Causey High School in 1953 and attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. He served his country in the Army Reserve from 1958-1964. He married Betty Davis Garner on June 6, 1959, in Portales. He had been a Roswell resident for 14 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church where he enjoyed adult Sunday school... Full story

Howard Jasper, 92, of Portales, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, at Heartland Continuing Care Center. He was born April 23, 1913, in Gasoline, Texas, to Frances and William H. Jasper. His family homesteaded in Elida and he grew up there; graduating from Elida High School. Shortly after finishing school, he moved to Portales. He worked for the Texaco distributor and then for the Portales Lumber Company before going to work as a machinist at Cannon Air Force Base. He worked in Civil Service at the base until his retirement in the la...

Marie Adele Widdifield Jones Blythe, 88, died Thursday, Dec. 15, at Kaseman Hospital in Albuquerque. She was born Aug. 1, 1917, in Oakley, Kan., to Walter and Ida Widdifield. She attended Eastern New Mexico University, where she had several roles in musical productions and traveled throughout the state as part of a choral group promoting ENMU. She was accepted to Julliard School of Music, but lacked financial means to attend. She was preceded in death by her parents; seven brothers and sisters; her first husband, Art Jones;...

J.A. “Mac” McDaniel, 89, of Clovis, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, at his home. He was born June 17, 1916, in Forkville, Miss., to Neacie and Ben McDaniel. He attended Delta State University on a basketball scholarship and entered the Army as a lieutenant during World War II. While stationed at Clovis Air Base, he married his college sweetheart, Eva Reese, on Feb. 5, 1944, in Amarillo. After the war, he made Clovis his home and worked as a salesman at Montgomery Ward. In 1953 he opened McDaniel’s Furniture. He was a deaco...

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,... Full story

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...

Patsy Ruth Patterson McCleery, 80, of Sun City, Texas, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005, in Temple, Texas. She was born Nov. 21, 1925, in Mead, Okla., to Ottis and Irving M. Patterson. She attended Portales public schools, graduating in 1944. She volunteered for the Cadet Nurse Corps and trained at Breckenridge Hospital and the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. She attended Eastern New Mexico University. She married Bobby G. McCleery in Austin, Texas, in 1947. She was active in a Texas writer’s group and had three books p...

Gloria Jean Green, 51, of Clovis, died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock. She was born Dec. 29, 1953, to Hildridge Green and Lois Faye Shaw in Clovis. She was a member of Triangle Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her son, Homer (and wife, Marlana “Nikki”) Green; sisters, Beverly Dickey, Vicki Smith, Faye Green, Brenda Green and Rachel Drain; brothers, Harold Green, Larry Green, Eldridge Green, Aaron Green, Emmanuel Green and Errick Green; and five gra...

Mae Dell Hodge, 82, of Fort Sumner, died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, at Laurel Ridge Care Center in Clovis following an illness. She was born Dec. 4, 1923, in Springer, to George C. and Lizzie Anderson. She attended school in Springer, Littlefield, Texas, and Fort Sumner. She worked for the Fort Sumner superintendent, at the Drug Store and as a waitress for many years. She married Paul Hodge March 31, 1962, in Roswell. Family members said she loved the outdoors, fishing and camping. She was preceded in death by her husband; her...

Louis R. Uttaro, 87, of Portales, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, at his residence. He was born Sept.15, 1918, in Rochester, N.Y., to Frances and Salvatore Uttaro. He grew up in Rochester, where he attended school. He entered the U.S. Army and served during World War II in Europe in the 14th Armored Division. He was married to Jennie Malvaso on Nov. 4, 1941, in Rochester. Following honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he began working as a carpenter. He was a member of the Carpenter’s Union for 50 years before retiring a...

Elizabeth Ann Carroll, 86, of Houston, died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. She was born on July 8, 1919, to August Gurske and Anna Soja, in Chicago. She married Lawton M. Carroll on Jan. 23, 1951, in Clovis. She worked as a Registered Medical Technologist. She came to Clovis in 1962. She worked at Clovis Memorial Hospital and Clovis Medical Center. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Altar Society. She was preceded in death by her husband; stepdaughter, Freda Clason; step-grandson, Jim... Full story

Byron O’Lester Wright, 82, of Fort Sumner, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis. He was born on Nov. 17, 1923, in Blythe, Calif., to John Bryson Wright and the former Ora Mae Peavey. He attended school in Opland, Texas, before moving with his parents to Fort Sumner during his high school years. He married Audrey Louise “Bobbye” Barnhart on Sept. 28, 1946, in Santa Rosa. He worked as a cattle broker. He was of the Baptist faith and attended church with his family at the Fort Sumner Churc... Full story

Jewel “Billie” Sweet, 91, of Fort Sumner, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, at her home. She was born March 29, 1914, in Floyd, Texas, to Robert Hendryx and the former Nora Burkhalter. She married Edward Sweet on Jan. 12, 1931, in Santa Rosa. They farmed and made brooms for their living. The family moved to Puerto De Luna in the fall of 1936, where they farmed and made mattresses. They returned to Fort Sumner in August of 1939. They built and operated the “Billy the Kid” Museum in Fort Sumner in 1952. She was a member of the... Full story

Edgar P. Bolton, 89, of Clovis, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, in Amarillo. Mr. Bolton was born in Blossom, Texas. He served with the U. S. Army during World War II and had received a purple heart. He was preceded in death by brothers Dee E. Bolton, Dan Bolton and Ray Bolton, sisters, Mozelle Bolton, Leona Gage and Hattie Martin. Survivors include a niece, Margarett Thomas of Clovis, and nephews, Jimmie Bolton of Clovis and Roy Gene Mitchell of Comanche, Texas. Arrangments were by Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery in...

Joy Ruth Bradley, 83, of Portales, died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales. She was born May 4, 1922, in Loraine, Texas, to Alma and Floyd T. Kennedy. Her family moved to Portales when she was a small child. She graduated from Portales High School in 1940. She was a nurse for 26 years. Family members said she was active in the Portales Chapter No. 26 of the Order of Eastern Star. Her hobbies included arts and crafts and she particularly enjoyed ceramics projects. She attended services at...

Calvin A. Meissner, 73, of Muleshoe, died Friday, Dec. 23, 2005, at Harmonee House Nursing Home in Amherst. He was born May 29, 1932, in Farwell. He married Gereta Gage in Lariat on April 6, 1974. Mr. Meissner moved to Muleshoe in 1974 from Lariat. He graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in animal husbandry. He joined the Air Force during the Korean War and was discharged as a captain. He farmed and owned and operated the Lariat Gin. He was a member of the St. John Lutheran Church in Lariat. Mr. Meissner is survived by his...

Cory Holcomb, 16, of Clovis, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005, in Clovis. He was born April 1, 1989, to Steve Holcomb and Deniese Lambert in Clovis. He was a junior at Clovis High School. He worked for Town and Country food stores. Family members said he enjoyed skate boarding, music, playing his guitar, weight lifting and attending the 180 at Faith Christian Family Church. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Lester Holcomb; and grandparents Junior and Virginia Lambert. He is survived by his mother and step-father...

Mr. Alton “Al” Price Smith of Clovis died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005, in Lubbock. Mr. Smith retired from the Air Force after 20 years and was also a retired truck driver. He was a life member of VFW Post 3015 and also was a MOC member of AHO 5. He was preceded in death by his father, Alton Smith; mother, Kathryn; stepmother, Marjorie, and sister, Kathleen Jordan. He is survived by his wife Ursula Smith of the home in Clovis; three children, Kathy Jessee (and husband Stan) of Somerset, Ky., Walter Smith (Michelle) of Ric... Full story

W.S. “Dub” Ingram, 82, of Friona, Texas, died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005, at Prairie Acres Nursing Home. He was born March 7, 1923, to John and Mary Lee (Blassengame) Ingram in Wellington, Texas. He married Dorothy Faye Jones on Oct. 2, 1940, in Wellington. Mr. Ingram moved to Friona in 1956 from Enochs, Texas. He farmed and raised cattle until his health failed. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army.He was sent to the European Theater where he joined Patton’s 87th Infantry Golden Acorn Division and was stationed...

Noe Anzaldua, 71, of Muleshoe, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005, in Muleshoe. He was born Sept. 18, 1934, in Mercedes, Texas. He married Viola Barerra on April 12, 1953, in Mercedes, Texas. Mr. Anzaldua was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Muleshoe and the Catholic Diocese of Lubbock. He worked as a general manager at Muleshoe’s KMUL radio station. He owned El Jacalito Tortilla Factory, Viola’s Restaurant, and Noe’s Used Cars. He also served in the Army during the Korean conflict. He was prece...

Blanca Estela Rodriguez, 45, of Muleshoe, died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005 in Lubbock. She was born on Feb. 29, 1960, in Mexico. She married Raul Rodriguez in Portales on Feb. 4, 1976. Mrs. Rodriguez was a member of the Iglesia Bautista Belen Church of Clovis. She moved to Muleshoe from Needmore 15 years ago. She worked as a custodian for the U.S. Postal Service in Muleshoe. She was preceded in death by her father, Pedro Burciaga. Survivors include her husband; her son, Raul Adam Rodriguez of Muleshoe; her daughter, Michelle...

Wilbur J. Winemiller, 85, of Clovis, died Friday, Dec. 23, 2005, at his daughter’s home in Albuquerque. He was born on June 21, 1920, to John Jacob and Edna Ansteatt Winemiller in Ohio. He married Mae Trivett on Aug. 10, 1944, in Cincinnati. Mr. Winemiller worked as a tool and dye maker for ACF&GE in Albuquerque before retiring in 1983. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Texico, Clovis Antique Dealers Association, and Albuquerque Antique Association. He was preceded in death by his wife; two brothers, Charles and M...

Lady Mary Dickinson, 95, of Tucumcari, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis. She was born Jan. 14, 1910, in Spur, Texas. She moved to Tucumcari in 1945 with her husband Grover. She was a charter member of the Tucumcari Elks Lodge Drove 210 and a member of the First Christian Church in Tucumcari. She was preceded in death by her husband. Survivors include three daughters, Betty Sanders of Tucumcari, Wynell Crook of Chandler, Ariz., and Gail Feeney of Niceville, Fla.; a son, Jim Tom...