Watts, Marvin

Marvin Watts

Services: Have been held.

Marvin Watts, 71, a former state senator, died Friday, May 2, 2003, at St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe.

He was born April 6, 1932, in Portales to William Ellis and Jewel Holder Watts.

He married his wife Mary on July 25, 1952, in the Baptist Bible Chair Chapel at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. The couple had three sons.

He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from ENMU. He also did advanced studies at Kansas State University and Oklahoma State University.

He worked for Dow Chemical, New Mexico Military Institute, Southwest Potash, Amax and Eddy Potash. He also was active in the management of the family ranch, as well as a consultant for the potash industry.

Earlier this year, Gov. Bill Richardson reappointed Watts to the Governors Blue Ribbon Task Force on Water. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed him as the federal representative to the Pecos River Compact Commission.

He served as vice president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association from 1992-1995. He received the Albert K. Mitchell Award as Outstanding Republican of New Mexico in 1977.

He will lie in state from 3-9 p.m. Monday at Denton-Funchess Funeral Home in Carlsbad.

The Rev. Bob Bacon will officiate the services.

Interment will take place at Carlsbad Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Bill Travelstead, Hoyt Pattison, Homer Collier, Dale Janway, John Allen and Steve McCutcheon. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Purvis, Rando Foote, Bill Phillips and Jay Mobley.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Paragon Foundation, 1200 N. White Sands Blvd. #110, Alamogordo, N.M. 88310.

Arrangements are by Denton-Funchess Funeral Home.