Obits 7/6

Cora Ward, 95

Mrs. Cora Edith Ward, 95, of Clovis, a retired bookkeeper, died Friday, July 4, 2003, at Laurel Ridge Healthcare in Clovis.

She was born on July 11, 1907, in Waters Park, Texas, to Reuben Benjamin and Blanche Elizabeth Dunks.

Mrs. Ward worked for many years at Cauole Engraving Co. as bookkeeper and payroll clerk. Family members described her as a loving aunt to all her nieces and nephews. She loved to play Skip-Bo, they said.

She was preceded in death by her parents, five sisters and two brothers.

Survivors include 12 nieces, Eleanor Garcia of Clovis, Lorena Lord of Utah, Alice Pierson of South Dakota, Wanda Forste of Portales, Marian VanWagenen of Phoenix, Onita (and husband Al) Smith of Weiser, Idaho, Willa “Jan” Green of Los Angeles, Katherine (and husband Arthur) Shelton, Norma Schumacher and Cora Patricia (and husband T.) Byrd, all of Corpus Christi, Texas, Laverne Frazier of Hopewell, Va., and Laurene Paulson of California; five nephews, Odean (and wife Gwen) Brown and Dwayne Brown, of Pomona, Calif., Cecil (and wife Frances) Williams of Eureka, Calif., Alton (and wife June) Williams of Visalia, Calif., and Francis (and wife Edith) Williams of Deborgia, Mont.

The Rev. Phil Grace will officiate the services.

Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Grady Cemetery.

James Wood, 75

Mr. James “Jimmy” Wood, 75, of Portales, died Wednesday, July 2, 2003, following a traffic accident west of Muleshoe.

He was born on March 16, 1928, in Ballinger, Texas, to Lucy and William Troy Wood.

Mr. Wood grew up in the Ballinger area. In 1945, he and his family moved to Portales. He served in the U.S. Navy, then returned to Portales. At first, he worked on area farms.

On March 19, 1949, he was married to Theresa Kent.

About a year later, they moved to Downey, Calif., where he worked as a fork lift operator in a box factory. Following his retirement, they moved back to Portales in 1973. In 1974, he went to work at Southwest Canners Inc. as a fork lift operator. In the late 1980s, he retired from that job.

Later, he and his wife delivered papers for the Portales News-Tribune. Then he worked at the NAPA store, and after that at Craig Hughes Welding.

Mr. and Mrs. Wood coached youth-league baseball teams.

Mr. Wood loved fishing and talking to people, family members said.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Troy Wood.

Survivors include his wife; six sons, Larry (and wife Debi) Wood of Brownfield, Texas, Charles Wood of Alamogordo, Doug Wood, Jeffery (and wife Brenda) Wood, Bill Railing and Michael (and wife Leetha) Lovering, all of Portales; one daughter, Deborah Taylor of Portales; two sisters, Frona Jones of Portales and Billie Witt of Woodward, Okla.; 18 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The Rev. Garlan Hughes will officiate the services.

Family members and friends will be honorary pallbearers.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday in Floyd Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.