Sept. 14 Obituaries

Belle Cox, 85

Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales.

Mrs. Belle McCall Cox, 85, of Portales, died Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004, at her home.

She was born on Sept. 6, 1919, in Portales, to Lena Carroll and Hiran Alexander McCall.

She grew up in Portales and graduated from Portales High School. She married Weldon J. “Coxy” Cox on Jan. 2, 1941, in Portales. In 1960, she began working for Eastern New Mexico University, retiring in 1985. She had spent most of her life in the Portales area. Family members said she was an avid reader and enjoyed playing Bridge.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Maureen Lea and a sister who died as an infant; and her husband.

Survivors include a son, Thomas Alexander “Buck” McGee (and wife, Suzie) of Riverside, Calif.; a daughter, Vicki Barnard of Portales; five grandchildren, Tab Barnard (Deborah) and Tana Gares, all of Portales, Trace Figg (Jed) of Artesia and Mark McGee (Lisa) of Phoenix; nine great-grandchildren, Tara, Veronica and Madison Barnard, Jason and Ryan Martin, Keisha and Trenton Chenault, and Taylor and Crosby Figg; three great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Bess “Betty” McCall Ainsworth of Portales; and several nieces and nephews.

Scott P. Reeves and the Rev. Harry Riser will officiate the services.

Burial will be held at a later date at Portales Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

George Kizer, 98

Mr. George W. Kizer, 98, of Portales, died Friday, Sept. 10, 2004, at his home.

He was born on May 23, 1906, near Hollis, Okla., to Phoebe Annie and John Strauther Kizer.

He married Bernie “Bill” Helmer on April 15, 1933, in Portales. They lived in Oklahoma for about a year before moving to Lingo, where they farmed until the mid-1950s. They then moved to a farm southwest of Portales, where they lived for 14 years. In the mid 1960s, they moved to Portales where he worked for 15 years on a farm for Robert Skinner. He retired in 1977. Family members said he enjoyed playing dominoes and working in his yard.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, W.R. “Willie” and J.B. Kizer; two sisters, Ruby Ann Newberry and Ida Ruth, who died as an infant; and his wife.

Survivors include two brothers, Lee Kizer of Portales and Jim Kizer of Portland, Ore.; two sisters, Lena Judah of Portales and Cora Mae Judah of DeSoto, Texas.

Kenneth Morrison will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Causey Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers are Gene and Curtis Warren, Junior Smith, Mel Turnbow, Sans Skinner and Tom Davis.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.