Obits 10-9

Carol Depperman, 68

Carol Lavon Kemp Depperman, 68, of Clovis, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003, at her home.

She was born on Sept. 4, 1935, in Muleshoe, to Walter A. and Grace Fish Kemp.

Her family moved to Portales where she graduated from high school in 1953. She married Warren Bell Depperman on Oct. 3, 1953. She moved to Clovis with her daughters in 1968. In 1975 she became a secretary for the Cannon Air Force Base fire department and in 1976 became their first civilian woman firefighter. She was in the first graduating class in fire science at ENMU-Clovis in 1985. She became a fire inspector and transferred to Kirkland Air Force Base until she retired. She moved back to Clovis in 2000. She helped to organize the girl's softball program in 1970 and a women's program in 1972. She was the first woman to register as an umpire in New Mexico in 1975. She was a ruling elder in Clovis’ First Presbyterian Church and president of the Jet Bowling League.

She was preceded by her parents, two brothers and six sisters.

She is survived by two daughters, Brenda Depperman (husband, William Nance) of Clovis and Peggy Manz (Boyd) of Aurora, Colo.; five grandchildren, Mario Depperman, Cecilia Aranda, Amanda “Mandy” Manis and Keshia and Brett Manz; five great-grandchildren, Daniel and Joshua Aranda, Mario II, October and Naomi Depperman; a brother, Walter Kemp of New Castle, Colo.; five sisters, Lola Mae Tipton of Parachute, Colo., Angilee Millen of Fort Worth, Texas, Cora Snyder of Friona, Florene Carby of Clovis and Doris Parker of Muleshoe.

Lance Clemmons will officiate.

Cremation has taken place.

Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.

Services are at 1 p.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church in Clovis.

Jim Hill, 72

Jim Hill, 72, of Portales, died Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003, at Covenant Lakeside in Lubbock.

Arrangements will be announced by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Services are pending.

Ruby Nichols, 80

Mrs. Ruby Nichols, 80, of Portales, died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003, at the Retirement Ranch in Clovis.

She was born on Feb. 3, 1923, in Graham, Texas, to Mattie and Michael G. Fields.

She grew up in West Texas and eastern New Mexico. She lived most of her younger life in Hobbs. She married Ervin Nichols on Aug. 3, 1943, in Lovington. They lived in Hobbs until 1955 when they moved to Portales. She worked in nursing homes from 1973 until about 1985. Even after she retired she continued to go to the nursing home and fix the ladies’ hair. Family members said she became interested in helping disabled children and often volunteered to drive children to Truth or Consequences for appointments at the state hospital for crippled children. She was a member of the Holiness Church when she was young.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Sonny and David Fields; three sisters, Martha Osbourne, Cody Derick and Tubby Arnold; and an infant son.

Survivors include four sons, Ervin Nichols and Richard Nichols, both of Branson, Mo., David Nichols (and wife, Brenda) of Portales and Hampy Nichols (Pat) of Vicksburg, Miss.; three daughters, LaVerne Obenhaus of Gallup, Pat Mathis (Bob) of Floyd and Gail North (Greg) of Kingsland, Texas; 19 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; a brother, Cecil Fields of Stilwell, Okla.; and a sister, Katherine Green of Lampasas, Texas.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

The Rev. Hugh Wallis and family members will officiate the services.

Pallbearers will be Robert Jr., Ronald, Dennis and Timothy Mathis, Katie Bagwell and Sarah Obenhaus.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Services are at 10 a.m. Thursday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel.

Walter Ross, 86

Walter Elbert Ross, 86, of Albuquerque, died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003, in Albuquerque.

He was born on Feb. 7, 1917, in Arkansas, to Walter and Mary Elizabeth Clement Ross.

While living in Grapevine, Ark., his family owned Walter Ross and Sons Grocery. After he moved to Albuquerque he was a salesman of fountain supplies for Rocky Mountain Wholesale. He then moved to Portales, where he owned Highway 70 Restaurant. After retiring he moved back to Albuquerque and was a member of Hoffmantown Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Alline Ross.

Survivors include two sons, J.R. "Dick" Ross (and wife, Norma) of Clovis and Billy W. Ross (Maxine) of Albuquerque; a daughter, Mary A. Barychko (Brian) of Albuquerque; a brother, Billy R. Ross (B.J.) of Sacramento, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Chapel of Sunrise, 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE in Albuquerque.

The Rev. Ken Moore will officiate the services.

Arrangements are by Sunrise Funeral Options of Albuquerque.

Services are at 2 p.m. today at Sunset Memorial Park in Albuquerque.

Salomon Tapia, 77

Salomon A. Tapia, 77, of El Paso, Texas, died Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2003, in El Paso.

He was born on July 5, 1926, in La Masa de los Cobs, to Jose Isabel and Rufina Aragon Tapia. He was raised in Moriarty where he attended school. He married Eloisa Gallegos on May 6, 1946, in Villa Nueva. They lived in several different places in New Mexico and in 1948 they moved to Portales. He worked on dairy farms most of his life. In 1968 he purchased his own dairy farm north of Fargo, Okla. He continued to run the farm until his retirement in 1978. He married Betty Cox on Sept. 22, 1989. They made their home in El Paso, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jimmy; a grandson, Lance Marc Riley; two brothers, Esdrio and Benny Tapia; four sisters, Antonia Chavez, Cleo Tapia, Aurelia Chavez and Mela Cordova.

He is survived by his wife; his children, Emilio Tapia (and wife, Rita) of Albuquerque, Lucy Bruce (James) of Shattuck, Okla., Bobby Tapia (Minnie) of Woodward, Okla., Dot Stump (Tim) of Mutual, Okla., Mary Ann Earp (Steve) of Guymon, Okla., Leroy Tapia (Sandy) of Phoenix, Willie Tapia of Woodward, Okla., Felix Tapia of Albuquerque and Leonard Tapia (Kim) of Oklahoma City; 23 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; four brothers, Esdrio Tapia (Pauline) of Grants, Moises Tapia (Sadie) of Portales, Gabriel Tapia (Angie) of Clovis and Johnny Tapia of Portales; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Billings Funeral Home, 1621 Downs Avenue, Woodward, Ok. 73801.

Arrangements are by Billings Funeral Home of Woodward, Okla.

Services are at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Helens Catholic Church in Portales.