Dec. 19 Obituaries

Albert C. Gonzales, 84

Albert C. Gonzales, 84, of Fort Sumner, died Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004, at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell.

He was born on Aug. 26, 1920, in Guadalupe, to Coldoveo Gonzales and former Amadita Casaus.

As a young man he worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the final construction of the Alamogordo Dam Project. He also worked road and bridge construction. He married Louisa Lopez on Dec. 6, 1941, in Fort Sumner. He served in the U.S. Army with Company A, 83rd Infantry. Following his honorable discharge in 1943, he worked as a cowboy for many years. He also worked for many years as a mechanic beginning in the 1950s. Family members said he was an avid song writer, singer and an accomplished player of the guitar, fiddle, accordion and steel guitar, and dance. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jose Alberto Gonzales Jr.; four brothers, Leandro, James, Arturo, and Cornelio ‘Smokey’ Gonzales.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Mary Ann Delgado (and husband, Rito) and Melba Torres (Alejandro Jr.), all of Roswell, and Rosie Carter of Portales; four sons, George Gonzales (Ruby) of Fort Sumner, Fred Gonzales (Betty) of Clovis, Joe Frank Gonzales (Diana) of Roswell, and Steve Gonzales (Cheryl) of Las Vegas, N.M.; 15 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Rosary services will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner.

Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner. Father Sotero A. Sena will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Fort Sumner Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Richard, Michael, Jeremy, Joseph, Vicente and Bradley Gonzales, Nicky and Matthew Delgado, and Christopher Carter.

Honorary bearers will be all his grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday at Chavez Funeral Home.

Arrangements are by Chavez Funeral Home of Fort Sumner.

Bea Shafer, 78

Mrs. Bea Shafer, 78, of Portales, died Friday, Dec. 17, 2004, while waltzing to one her favorite songs.

She was born on Sept. 14, 1926, in Snyder, Texas, to Birtie and Neal G. Smith.

She attended Southwestern Business College in Plainview, Texas, where she worked for a finance company. She moved to Dora, where she worked as assistant postmaster and then she worked in Portales for numerous years. She married Douglas L Shafer on Aug. 2, 1997, in Portales. Family members said she enjoyed dancing, playing games, especially cards, and had maintained a young heart throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Neal Gordon Smith Jr.; and by a sister, Annie McBee.

Survivors include her husband, Douglas L. Shafer; in Portales; four sons, Mack Strain (and wife, Cherryll) of Lubbock, Chuck Strain (Annie Jean) of Portales, Ron Shafer (Henryetta) of Clovis, and Brian Shafer (Carolyn) of Pine Bluff, Ariz.; two daughters, Cynthia Widman (Sarge) of Reno, Nev., and Marilyn Parker of Las Vegas, Nev.; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Vennie Kimbell of Tulia, Texas, and Ruby Willoughby (Franklin) of Kingman, Ariz.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portlaes. Kenneth Broad and Elgin Connor will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Jim Bob Nuchols, John Brumfield, Steven Richards, and Matt, Chris, and Stephen Strain.

Honorary pallbearers are Donnie and Thelda Poor, Donald and Lila Watkins, Bill and Nola Hagar, Jimmy Dale and Patsy Ward, Maurice and Jean Waters, and the senior citizens of Dora, Portales, and Clovis.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Children’s Home, 1356 Hwy 236, Portales, N.M. 88130.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Nina Yarbrough, 97

Nina Yarbrough, 97, of Portales, died Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, in Albuquerque.

She was born on Dec. 8, 1907, in Throckmorton County, Texas, to Marcus Willard and Martha Jane Jones Raper. She married George Samuel Yarbrough on Dec. 22, 1928. She began her teaching career in 1928 in Harding County. She taught in Roy, Mills, Quay County, Causey, Dora, Floyd and Moriarty and retired in 1977. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Friendship Rebekah Lodge No. 24, and Retired Teachers’ Association. She worked at the Senior Citizens’ Meal Site and served on the Golden Acres Retirement Community Board of Directors.

She was preceded in death by her parents; five siblings, Huey, Carl, Orville, Annie Dillard and I.V. Freeman.

Survivors include a daughter, Nina Mardelle Manes (and husband, James) of Tuscon, Ariz.; a son, George Marcus Yarbrough (and wife, Kathryn) of Albuquerque; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services have been held. Burial will be in House.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to the Portales Public Library.

Arrangements are by French Mortuary of Albuquerque.