6/19 Obituaries

B.W. Thomas, 96

Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at The Chapel, 1500 Thornton in Clovis.

B.W. “Limey” Thomas, 96, of Clovis, died Friday, June 17, 2005, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.

He was born on Aug. 21, 1908, in Hale County, Texas, to Benjamin and Janie Calvert Thomas.

He married Opal Hair on Aug. 3, 1929, in Clovis. He was a professional rodeo cowboy. He was a member of the Curry County Mounted Patrol, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association 1027, and the high school football hall of fame in Olton, Texas, family members said. He was of the Baptist faith.

He was preceeded in death by his parents; a daughter, Evelyn Annyce Thomas; a grandson, Neal Snipes; two brothers; and five sisters.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, RaDonna Snipes (and husband, Dennis) of Clovis; a granddaughter, Vicki Ashley (Mike) of Texico; a grandson, Kyle Snipes (Amy) of Borger, Texas; four great-granddaughters, Amanda McGill (Justin) of Borger, Texas, Alison Garcia, Kelsey Snipes, and Britt Snipes, all of Borger, Texas; four great-grandsons, J. Ben Williams of Amarillo, Dalon and Wacey Williams of Texico, and Kollin Snipes of Borger, Texas; two great-great-grandsons, Corbin and Collier McGill, both of Borger, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Rev. Steve Friskup will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens in Clovis.

Pallbearers are J. Frank and John Ted Daugherty, Kyle Snipes, and J. Ben, Dalon, and Wacey Williams.

Honorary pallbearers are members of the Curry County Mounted Patrol and Obadias Ferrari.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baptist Childrens Home, 1032 Childrens Dr., Portales 88130.

Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.

Arturo Baca, 81

Services: 9 a.m. Monday at St. Helen Catholic Church in Portales.

Mr. Arturo Baca, 81, of Portales, died Thursday, June 16, 2005, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.

He was born on June 8, 1924, in Eaton, Colo., to Petrita and Joe Baca.

He grew up in Encino. In June 1943 he entered the Army and served in northern France during World War II. Toward the end of the war he was a guard patrolman for POW camps in Utah. After being released in 1946, he returned to his home in Encino. In 1949 he moved to the Floyd community where he was employed on local farms. He married Emma Salguero on Nov. 25, 1949, in Santa Rosa. He was trained to work with sheet metal and worked on construction projects in various locations. He was a member of St. Helen Catholic Church.

Family members said he enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping in the mountains, and going to the casino in Ruidoso. He was a member of the VFW Post in Clovis, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Sheet Metal Worker’s Union.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Juan Baca; two sisters, Julia Bachicha and Socorro Tapia; and a daughter, Diana Rodriguez.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Albert Baca (and wife, Jennifer) of Portales; eight daughters, Bernadette Smedley (Dan), Teri Gonzales (Ernest), Juanita Bara, and Susie, Anatahlia, Petrita, Sylvia, and Agapita Baca, all of Portales; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ike and Nino Baca, both of Portales; and two sisters, Barbara Duarte and Nina Cordova, both of Portales.

A rosary is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. today at St. Helen Catholic Church in Portales.

Father Glen Jarmen will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Manuel Rodriguez, Gregory Smedley, Nicholas and Salvador Bara, David Duarte and Max Baca.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Evelyn Powell, 88

Services: 2 p.m. Monday at Elida Baptist Church.

Mrs. Evelyn Powell, 88, of Portales, died Friday, June 17, 2005, at Laurel Plains Nursing Center in Clovis.

She was born on Sept. 27, 1916, near Causey, to Myrtle and William E. “Rab” Finley.

She grew up in the Red Lake community. She attended grade school at Pleasant Valley and then went to high school in Elida. She married Joe Luis Powell on Dec. 24, 1935, in Clovis. They made their home on the Powell ranch near Elida. She moved to Portales in 2002.

Family members said she loved animals and was particularly partial to horses, enjoyed horseback riding and was an excellent cook and homemaker. She was a member of the Elida Baptist Church and the Elida chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She served as a Pink Lady in the Roosevelt General Hospital Ladies’ Auxiliary.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Valton Finley; and by her husband.

Survivors include two daughters, Cheryl Hendershot of Portales and Peggy Jo George Sommer of Pie Town; four grandchildren, Sam and Joe West, and Cyndy and Scott Hendershot; nine great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and sisters, Letha Derlet of Los Angeles and Odessa Schell of Medford, Ore.

The Rev. Herb Gage will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Elida Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Sam, Joe, Jimmy, Brent,Thomas, and Cody West, and Scott Hendershot.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.