Obits April 4

Donald Ray “Okie” Alexander, 63

Donald Ray “Okie” Alexander, 63, of Clovis died Friday, April 2, 2004, at his home.

He was born Aug. 8, 1940, in Erick, Okla., to Lawrence Ray and Vada Jones Alexander.

He graduated from Muleshoe High School in 1959 and married Donna Elliott on Jan. 24, 1963, in Portales.

He moved to Clovis in 1964, owned Alexander Furniture Store from 1974 to 1984 and worked as a salesman for Lane Furniture Industries.

He was active in numerous organizations, including Committee of 50, Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, United Way, New Mexico National Guard and Wildcat Booster Club, Hound of the Week at Eastern New Mexico University, and Southwest Roadrunners Association, and was an ENMU Greyhound Bench Club officer in 1980.

He broadcast CHS football on KWKA and coached Play Inc. football.

Survivors include his wife of the home; his mother, Vada Alexander of Muleshoe; a son, Jack Alexander (and wife Jennifer) of Clovis; two daughters, Rachell Eshleman (Terry Howell) and Rene Alexander (Randy Smith), all of Clovis; grandchildren, Nicole Bennett, Jeremy Arms, C.J. Eshleman, Jordan Jones and Luke Jones; a brother, Curtis Alexander (Michelle) of Lubbock; two sisters, Clara Nell Smith of Gold Hill, N.C., and Sharon Dale of Muleshoe; a sister-in-law, Shirley Scott (Ellis) of Albuquerque; and a nephew, Steve Scott of Albuquerque.

Dr. Steve McElroy will officiate. Burial will be at Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Rod Dickenson, Tommy Joe Smith, Gerald Clancy, Russell Muffley, Roger Forester and Jim Winn.

Honorary pallbearers are Southwest Roadrunner’s, employees of Lane Furniture Industries, Bobby Lewis, Dale Vaughan, Jack Tidwell, John Moody, John Gentry, Ray Sena, and his golf buddies.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Plains Regional Home Healthcare and Hospice, 2217 Dillon St., Clovis, NM 88101.

Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.

Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church in Clovis.

Wayne Echelbarger, 82

Wayne Eugene Echelbarger, 82, of Clovis died Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at Laurel Ridge Healthcare.

He was born Oct. 13, 1921, in Yorktown, Ill., to Jess Lee and Ida Elsie Williford Echelbarger.

Family members said he served in the U.S. Army during World War II and fought at the Battle of the Bulge. After he was discharged from the Army, he married Jean Schneekloth on Sept. 21, 1946, in Sterling, Ill.

He worked for 30 years at Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. in Sterling, then for 10 years as a real estate agent at Century 21 in Phoenix, Ariz.

He moved to Clovis in 1998.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church and was active with the Senior Citizens Baxter-Curren Hall.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.

Survivors include his wife, Jean, of the home; a son, Glen Echelbarger (and wife Chris) of Bothell, Wash .; a granddaughter, Rachael Echelbarger of Bothell; and a sister-in-law, Kathyrn Echelbarger of Mendota, Ill.

Services will be officiated by Dr. Steve McElroy.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery, Portales.

Pallbearers will be Thurman Fullerton, Bobby Fulks, Dick Higgs, Cliff Masters, Bill Melton, and Bob Groves.

Military honors will be by U.S. Army Honor Guard.

Arrangements were made by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.

Services are at 10 a.m. Monday, The Chapel, 1500 Thornton, Clovis.

Tamara Smith, 28

Tamara Smart Smith, 28, died Friday, April 2, 2004, at her home in Portales.

She was born Dec. 19, 1975, in Hobbs to Vanessa and Charlie Smart.

Smith made her home in Hobbs until the fall of 2002 when she came to Portales to make her home with her father. In high school, she was on the volleyball and track teams. She was employed at Wal-Mart in Hobbs prior to working at a local radio station in advertising sales. She was a member of the Belleview Baptist Church in Hobbs.

She had been ill since early in 2003. Family members said she enjoyed writing her thoughts, sometimes as a story, or a poem, or as a record of what was happening around her. She also liked music and enjoyed listening and singing along.

Survivors include her husband, Kenny Smith of Lovington; a daughter, Hailey Towler of Artesia; her father and “special mother,” Charlie and Mary (Taylor) Smart of Portales; her mother, Vanessa Johnson of Woodward, Okla .; her “special sisters,” Misty, Sunnidae and Sandy Taylor, all of Portales; her grandparents, Willie and David Moorman of Clovis and Faye and Ellis Johnson of Woodward; and several aunts and uncles.

Ben Harrison and Sunnidae Taylor will officiate at the service. Burial will be in Portales Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Bobby Fisher, Harold Edwards, Maylan Parker, Fred Smith, Mark Cage and Les Dudley.

Honorary pallbearers are the Portales Police Force and the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Dept.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Service are at 2 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Portales