Obituaries for June 18, 2006

Steven Lynn Horton

Services: Have been held.

Steven Lynn Horton, 59, of The Woodlands, Texas, died Friday, June 9, 2006, in Houston after a long courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born May 2, 1947, in Portales, he graduated from Clovis High School in 1965. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from New Mexico State University in 1970. He was successful in his professional career beginning as a staff engineer at Exxon and retired as vice president of engineering for Duke Energy, family members said. He then founded AGIS Technology and grew it into a successful engineering company, according to his family. As successful as he was in business, his true passions were his family, his faith and his friends, family members said. A gentle soul with a big heart, he always thought of others before himself, they said. He was a caring, kind, generous and loving man and a true friend to all who knew him, his family said.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Billye.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda, of The Woodlands; son, Jeff of Thailand; father and stepmother, Leonard and Lorraine Horton of Clovis; brother, Stan Horton (and wife, Emily) of Phoenix; stepson, Travis of Houston, and nephews, Alex and Jeremy of Phoenix.

Memorials may be made to the Steve Horton Cancer Fund for Children at M.D. Anderson Hospital, (800) 525-5841.

Arrangements are by Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home, Conroe, Texas.

Verna Remay Anderson Haley

Services: Will be private.

Verna Remay Anderson Haley, 89, of Mesa, Ariz., and formerly of Portales, died Thursday, June 15, 2006, in Mesa.

Born in Los Angeles to Verna and Donald Anderson on June 17, 1916, she married Charles William Haley on May 27, 1946, in Roswell. She was an active member of Portales Nazarene Church from 1964 to 1996 and a Sunday school teacher for 20 years in Portales, where her heart lay, according to family members. She moved to Mesa in 1996. She loved family, God, flowers, birds and people, her family said.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Audrey Leonore Miller.

She is survived by four daughters, Karen Dixey Payne of Ruidoso, Shirley Ruth Smoot of Houston, and Evelyn (Ellie) Verna Campbell and Janny Heflin Enoch of Mesa; grandchildren, Jason Reynolds, Johnathan, Ben and Phillip Payne, Robbie and Susan Smoot, Aaron and Isaac Baca, Mandy Shearer, Stacey Koutsoudis, Tracy Ganatos and Danny Heflin Jr.; and 12 great-grandchildren

Arrangements are by Wyman Cremation and Burial, Mesa, Ariz.

Sharon L. Porter

Services: Will be held in Tucumcari at a later date.

Sharon L. Porter, 51, of Tucumcari died Friday, June 16, 2006, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales.

Born Feb. 18, 1955, to Frances (Shaw) and Kenneth Porter, she graduated from Tucumcari High School in 1973. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1984. She taught special education in the Las Cruces area for many years before returning to Tucumcari in 2002, following her mother’s death. She loved animals and had been involved in various animal rescue organizations while residing in Las Cruces, according to her family.

She was preceded in death by her mother.

She is survived by her father, Kenneth L. Porter (and his special companion, Helen Henning) of Tucumcari; her brother, Frederick F. Porter of Tucumcari; her sister, Patricia Stull of Portales; a niece, Ashley Porter of Augusta, Ga.; three nephews, Ricky Porter of Ashville, N.C., Robert Jones of Augusta and Michael Stull of Portales; five great-nephews and three great-nieces in Georgia and North Carolina; and a special cousin, Karen McIntire of Gretna, La.

Memorials may be made to Helping Hands Hospice, 615 S. Second, Tucumcari, NM 88401 or Heartland Continuing Care Center’s Living Design Aviary, 1700 S. Ave. O, Portales, NM 88130.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.