Joseph R. Arnold
Services for Joseph R. Arnold, 71, of Ruidoso were Monday, Feb. 21, at St. Eleanor’s Catholic Church with burial following at Englewood Cemetery in Clinton, Mo. Mr. Arnold died Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Mescalero Care Center.
He was born September 7, 1933, in Washington, D.C. He moved to Ruidoso in 1984 from Denver, Colorado, and had served as vice-president of the Ruidoso Public Library Board, was a member of the Friends of the Library and was a substitute teacher for the Ruidoso Public Schools.
Surviving family includes brother Thomas A. Arnold and wife Judy of Colorado Springs, Colo.; three nieces, Lorraine Segedia and husband Wayen of Castle Rock, Colo., Claire Froehlich of Littleton, Colo., and Valerie Higgins and husband Michael of Thornton, Colo., and their children Lauren, Courtney and Jack.
The family has requested memorials to the Ruidoso Public Library in memory of Joseph R. Arnold Jr., 107 Kansas City Road, Ruidoso, N.M. 88345.
Arrangements are under the direction of LaGrone Funeral Chapel of Ruidoso.
Eula Hollis
Graveside services for Eula Hollis, 90, will be Saturday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. at Nogal Cemetery with Hayden Smith officiating. Hollis died Wednesday, Feb. 23.
Vida Rae Howell
Funeral services for Vida Rae Howell, 90, formerly of Ruidoso, were Saturday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. in the First Baptist Church in Ruidoso with the Rev. Don Madaris officiating. Burial followed at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruidoso.
Mrs. Howell died Feb. 17, in Midland, Texas. She lived in Ruidoso from 1958 to 2001, when she moved to Midland with her granddaughter Jan Bell and family.
Mrs. Howell was born May 9, 1914, in Wimberly, Texas, to Henry and Martha Wagner. She married Doyle Dexter Howell on Dec. 22, 1933. She owned Hilltop Upholstery in Ruidoso. Vida was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Ruidoso.
Mrs. Howell was preceded in death by her husband Doyle Dexter Howell, and children Rexene Howell Huey and son-in-law Billy Joe Huey, Darray Kyle Howell, Darwyn Dexter Howell and Wilton Henry Howell.
Surviving family includes her daughter, Darrene Howell Warden and her husband Pete of Las Cruces, N.M.; daughter-in-law Demaris Fisher of Ruidoso; grandchildren Shawn and Trent Warden of Las Cruces, Bill Huey and wife Lisa of DeSoto, Texas, Jan Huey Bell and husband Larry of Midland, Texas, Lisa Howell of Phoenix, Ariz., and Cecily Howell of Ruidoso; and great-grandchildren, Lauren and Caroline Huey, Landon, Leah, Lyssa, Lawson and Luke Bell, and Rase Vigil.
Pallbearers were Bill Huey, Shawn Warden, Trent Warden, Steve Fisher, Larry Bell, and Mark Walthal; honorary pallbearers were Joe Bell and Lando Bell.
The family wishes to thank Home Hospice of Midland for their tender care of Vida, and wishes that memorial donations be directed there or to a worthy charity of your choice.
Louise Luck Pearce Perkins
There will be a graveside service for Louise Luck Pearce Perkins, 86, at Evergreen Cemetery, 12400 Montana in El Paso, Texas, at 3 p.m on Wednesday, March 9.
A reception will be held following the service at the Airport Marriott, 1600 Airway Blvd., in El Paso.
Louise died Feb. 19 at her home in Albuquerque after a lengthy illness.
She was born in Alto, attended Capitan High School, and worked for El Paso Natural Gas Co. for over 25 years, rising to the position of vice president. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in El Paso and Sun City, Ariz., Sandia Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque and Faith Presbyterian in Sun City.
Louise was preceded in death by her parents, Barney Lee and Rebecca McMillion Luck; one brother, Barney Lee Luck, Jr.; one sister, Mary Lou Luck Skipper; and two husbands, Merrihew “Jerry” Pearce and Cyrus Lee Perkins.
Surviving family includes her daughter, Lillian Pearce Biffle; three sisters, Gracie Luck England, Hazel Luck Mayer, both of Oklahoma City, and Reba Luck Barber of Alto; two granddaughters, Anne Biffle Nolan and Rebecca Biffle Ruddell; four great-grandchildren; five nieces and one nephew; three step-children; seven step-grandchildren; and eight step-great-grandchildren.
The family suggests donations be made in memory of Louise Luck Perkins to Smokey Bear’s Hometown Association, P.O. Box 223, Capitan, N.M. 88316.
Ann Smith
Graveside services for Ann Smith, 76, of Ruidoso were Tuesday, Feb. 22, at the Ruidoso Hondo Valley Memorial Park. Mrs. Smith died Sunday, Feb. 20, in Ruidoso. She was born December 1, 1928, at Kinta, Oklahoma. She moved to Ruidoso six years ago from Richardson, Texas. She loved her family and pet dogs. She married Mac, her husband of 55 years, on June 11, 1950, in Ruidoso.
Surviving family includes her husband Mac of Ruidoso; a son, Randy L. Smith of Fairview, Texas; a daughter, Debbie Perkins of Alamogordo; two sisters, Maxine Mussad of Ponca City, Okla., and Merilee McDonald of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and two grandchildren.
Arrangements are under the direction of LaGrone Funeral Chapel of Ruidoso.
Alfred Lee Snyder
Alfred Lee Snyder died Feb. 11 at his home in Ruidoso after a long illness.
He was born Nov. 15, 1929, in El Paso, Texas. He served in the Navy in WWII, and worked for Dresser Industries for 32 1/2 years in upper management. He was a 32-degree Mason for 48 years, a past master of Constantine Lodge #13 in Bonham, Texas, a member of Lodge #73 in Ruidoso, and a member of Eastern Star. He was a Ruidoso resident since 1997.
Surviving family includes his wife of 34 years, “Torchy” Marsha Dee Snyder; three daughters, Karla Sue Massey, of Ruidoso, Melinda Lee Ruggiero of Cedar Crest, N.M., and Theresa Jean Webb of Palistine, Texas; six grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
He was cremated. There will be a wake in the spring.
The family suggests memorials be made to The American Lung Association.
Arlene Fay Taylor
A memorial service for Arlene Fay Taylor, 76, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at La Grone Funeral Home in Ruidoso, with Alan Taylor officiating. Ms. Taylor died March 2, 2005, in Ruidoso after a long illness.
She was born on Nov. 15, 1928, in Lamesa, Texas. She married Warren D. Taylor on Oct. 13, 1948, in Alpine, Texas, and their marriage spanned some 25 years until her husband preceded her in death on Feb. 3, 1974.
Surviving family includes two sons, Gary Taylor and wife Jodi of Capitan, and Alan Taylor and wife Dee Ann of Rio Rancho, N.M.; two brothers, C.R. Cook of Bakersfield, Calif., and Roy Cook of New Jersey; nieces Gay Yates of Mayhill. Sherry Polk of Hope, N.M., and Bonnie Glenn of Ruidoso Downs, plus numerous additional nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter.
Arrangements are under the direction of LaGrone Funeral Home.
Kresge memorial
A memorial Mass for Angela (Angie) Renee Kresge (11/25/80 - 9/27/02) will be said at St. Joseph Apache Mission at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Oct. 2. Donations to the St. Joseph’s restoration in Angie’s memory would be appreciated.
Owen Pinto
Owen Pinto, 52, of Mescalero died on Sept. 22, 2005, in Ruidoso. He was born on Sept. 10, 1953, in Mescalero to Richard Pinto and Salome Smith. Having done many jobs in Mescalero, he was known for his woodcarving.
A Vigil service was held on Sept. 25, and the funeral Mass was Monday, Sept. 26, at St. Joseph’s Mission. Burial followed at Mescalero Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Mescalero American Legion Post.
Pinto is survived by his wife, Rosemary; four sons, Owen Pinto, Andrew Pinto, Francis Pinto and Gabriel Pinto; two daughters, Mildred Klinekole and Lillian Pinto; s sister, Pansy Pinto; four grandsons and two granddaughters.
Arrangements were entrusted to LaGrone Funeral Chapel of Ruidoso.
Byron Platero
Byron Nelson Platero, 33, of To’hajiilee, died on Sept. 16, 2005, in Albuquerque. He was born on Jan. 9, 1972, in Mescalero to Leonard Platero Sr. and Vernetta Scott. He lived in Mescalero through his school years then moved to To’hajiilee 13 years ago. He was active in rodeo roping.
A prayer service was held Sept. 26 at Carrizo Christian Fellowship in Mescalero. Funeral services held Sept. 27 with Leonard Kansewah officiating followed by burial at Mescalero Cemetery.
Surviving family members include a son, Kyle Brandon Platero, and his daughter, Kylyn Marie Platero; his father, Leonard Platero and his mother, Vernetta Platero; three brothers, Brian Platero, Leonard Platero Jr., Jude Platero; two sisters, Cara Mia Platero and (removed by request); his grandmother, Agnes Platero, and grandfather, Nelson Platero; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Ida Thomas
Ida Jean Thomas, 67, died Sept. 19, 2005, at the family home in Los Lunas, N.M.
She was born Oct. 21, 1937, in Detroit, Mich. She was preceded in death by her father Dallas Burton, mother Ida Burton and sister Patricia Munnington.
Surviving family members include her husband of 46 years Elzie “Bud” Thomas; sons Richard Thomas and wife Robin of Los Lunas, Wayne Thomas and wife Debbie of Canadian, Texas, Melvin Thomas and wife Janell of Capitan, N.M.; daughters Reta and husband Patrick Montoya and Charlene Thomas and fianceé Rick Molder of Yale, Okla.; sisters Elaine Varner and Diane Pennock; brothers Melvin Burton and Denzil Burton; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held Sept. 24 at Riverside Funeral Home in Albuquerque.
Nettie Matthews
Nettie Lee Matthews, 98, died Sept. 28, 2005, at Monsano Del Sol Nursing Home in Albuquerque. She was a long-time resident of Ruidoso Downs and a 20-year employee of the Ruidoso Hondo Valley Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas E., son Edgar Matthews and a grandson, Dan Hall. Surviving family members include three daughters, Jean Stout Frost of Albuquerque, Esta Hall of Albuquerque, and Lavonnia Chadwick and husband L.D. of Belen, N.M.; son Harold Matthews and his wife Dody of Ruidoso Downs; 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren. Memorial services are pending.
Jimmy Franklin
A celebration of Jimmy Franklin’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 17, at First Baptist Church, 270 Country Club Dr. in Ruidoso.
Jimmy Marshall Franklin, legendary airshow pilot, performed his final earthly airshow on Sunday, July 10, 2005, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. He and close friend and airshow associate, Bobby Younkin, died in a midair collision of their aircrafts.
Franklin was born to Oliver Gene “Zip” and Valerie Jones Franklin on May 16, 1948, in Lovington, N.M. He learned to fly while sitting on his dad’s lap, helping in the family ranching and aviation businesses. He soloed at age 12, taught himself aerobatics, and at 19 began a 38-year world-renown career as Franklin Air Show.
Franklin faced a potentially career-ending heart condition seven years ago, but health and career were fully restored with the help of world-class surgeon, friend, and fellow airshow performer Dr. Raymond Vetsch, Freeman Heart Institute, a heart-valve donor, and God. The Franklins will be forever thankful.
Surviving family members include Franklin’s son and able business partner, fellow airshow performer and wing-walker Kyle Franklin; sister Terry Franklin, brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Jana White Franklin; nephew Soren and niece Mariah Sky Franklin; as well as innumerable friends and fans.
The Franklins will gratefully acknowledge tax-free donations made to Freeman Foundation, for Jimmy Franklin’s Heart Memorial, 1102 West 32nd St., Joplin, MO 64804. For more information concerning donations contact www.freemanhealth.com.
Norma R. Gimlin
Graveside services for Norma R. Gimlin, 84, of Carrizozo were Thursday, Oct. 13, at 3 p.m. in Evergreen Cemetery at Carrizozo. Gimlin died Sunday, Oct. 9, in Carrizozo.
She was born May 6, 1921, at Pomeroy, Wash., to Bessie and Seaf Gimlin. She was a retired school teacher, moved to Carrizozo from Albuquerque Jan. 9, 2003, and was a member of the BaHa’I of Ruidoso and Lincoln County.
Surviving family members include two sisters, Helen Caldwell and Jean Villasenor both of Regina, N.M., and several nieces and nephews. Arrangements were made by LaGrone Funeral Chapel of Ruidoso.
Joshua Chavez
Joshua Gregg Chavez, 20, died on Oct. 9, 2005. Chavez was born Dec. 29, 1986, in Ft. Polk, La. Being born into a military family, he lived all over the United States as well as Germany before finding his favorite place to be in Washington. Chavez was a proud graduate of Timberline High School class of 2005, and was often “saving” animals and friends and bringing them home to mom. He enjoyed working for McDonald’s but believed the uniform needed some adjusting.
Chavez is survived by his parents Charlie and Kristine (Murrow) Chavez, his sister Felicia, grandparents Melvin and Priscilla Chavez and Linda and Ronald Murrow, many aunts, uncles, cousins and many other loved ones and friends.
A tribute to his life is taking place at the Woodlawn Funeral Home in Washington today. To share a story or leave condolences for the family, please log on to www.woodlawnfh.net.
Ben Albin Lanford
Ben Albin Lanford, Sr., 92, died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005, at a nursing home in Fort Collins, Colo., after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for several years. There will be a memorial service in Fort Collins, after which he will be transferred for burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas. The family suggests donations in his memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 101 Summit Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76102.
Lanford was born July 19, 1913, to the late George D. Lanford and Rachel Thompson Lanford in Bartonville, Texas. He spent his younger years in Fort Worth, graduated from Northside High School in 1931, and married his wife of 66 years, Dellie Stanton Price, in Fort Worth in 1935. Dellie preceded him in death in 2001 at the age of 87.
Soon after their marriage, and brief sales positions in Fort Worth and Albuquerque, Lanford entered into a career in Texas in the management of wholesale liquor and wine distributorships, with increasingly responsible positions with LeSage Company in Amarillo, Longview, Corpus Christi and San Antonio. In 1949, when LeSage Company sold to its key employees, he became a shareholder, officer and director of its successor, Lone Star Company and managed the branch in Houston from 1949 to 1960.
Lanford served as a Warrant Officer in the Coast Guard Reserves in Corpus Christi during World War II.
In 1960, he moved to Albuquerque, N.M., after purchasing State Distributors, Inc., a liquor, wine and beer distributorship operating statewide in New Mexico. While building this business, Ben became increasingly involved as an investor and manager in other opportunities in real estate, banking and racetracks in New Mexico and Texas. He and Dellie established a second residence in Ruidoso in the mountains of southern New Mexico, and both loved the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of this small community.
At various times during his long business career, he served as Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Santa Fe, an officer and director of Ruidoso-Sunland Corporation, a director of the Ruidoso Jockey Club, president of the Albuquerque Country Club, member of New Mexico Amigos and an advisory director of Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque.
Surviving family members include a son, Ben Lanford, Jr. and wife, Nancy, of Fort Worth; daughter Dorothy Vaughan and husband Mike, of Fort Collins; six grandchildren, Lisa Jeffers and husband, Derrick, of Colorado Springs, Cindy Thill and husband, Doug, and Dalton Vaughan and wife, Kristina, all of Fort Collins, Douglas Lanford, of Albuquerque, Emily Lanford, of Alexandria, Va., and Sarah Braden and husband Michael, of Houston; nine great-grandchildren, Josh, Jesiah and Jamin Jeffers, Jared, Jamie and Brandon Thill; Kierra and Camille Vaughan and Hannah Braden.
Eston Presley Fulsom
Funeral service for Eston Presley Fulsom Sr., 64, of Mescalero will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, in the Mescalero Reformed Church with burial to follow at the Fulsom Family Cemetery.
Fulsom died Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Mescalero.
He was born May 11, 1941, at Bently, Okla., to Minerva and Thomas Fulsom, who both preceded him in death. He had lived on the Mescalero Apache Reservation for more than 50 years. He served in the National Guard, worked as a BIA Police Officer, conservation officer, MAT HUD housing, and a truck driver for construction. He married Marjorie Comanche in 1959.
Surviving family members include his wife of 46 years, Marjorie; one son, Eston Fulsom Jr.; four daughters, Toni Joe Duffy, Dana LaPaz, Minerva Gwen Fulsom, and Cindy Randall; one sister, Rosie Bates; one brother, Wayne Fulsom; 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Bobby Joe Fulsom.
Arrangements are under the direction of LaGrone Funeral Chapel of Ruidoso.
Chester P. Ross
Chester P. Ross, 84, of Amarillo and formerly of Alto died Monday, Oct. 17, 2005, of Alzheimer Disease.
Ross was retired from the Chicago Rock Island Railroad as an engineer for 32 years and lived at Alto from 1980 - 1997.
He was born Nov. 4, 1920, to Herbert and Louise Ross. He is survived by one brother, Marion Ross of Bartlesville, Okla.; one daughter, Patricia Ross of Palm Desert, Calif.; one grandson, David Sepkowitz of Alto; two great grandchildren, Ashleigh and Brian Sepkowitz of Alto; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Phyllis Brown Ross and a daughter, Sally Ross Sepkowitz.
A memorial service and inurnment will be held at the gravesite at Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5. The family suggests memorials to the Amarillo Alzheimer Association or Odessey Hospice Healthcare.
Pam Hunt
A memorial service for Pam Hunt, 48, was held Oct. 12 at Taylor Memorial Baptist Church in Hobbs with Dean Mathis officiating. Hunt died Oct. 9, 2005.
Pampa Dalene Hunt was born Sept. 20, 1957, in Abilene, Texas. She married Warren Dale Hunt on Aug. 7, 1976, in Jal. She worked for Texaco for 22 years and faithfully served in the church all her life. She ministered to youth and taught Sunday school for 25 years at Taylor Memorial Baptist Church.
She obtained a B.A. from the College of the Southwest in 2002 and she earned her MBA from Eastern New Mexico University in 2003.
She lived life to the fullest according to Jesus’ promise and walked with and loved God all the days of her life.
Surviving family members include her husband, Warren Dale Hunt of Hobbs; her father Marlin Otis Alston of Ruidoso; her mother, Darlene Brooks Honea of Abilene, Texas; a brother, Timothy Van Alston of San Antonio, Texas; three sisters, Becky Eugenia Bettis of Justin, Texas, Anita Gwen Musgrove of Poth, Texas, and Angel Gay McCormick of San Antonio, Texas; two sons, Aaron Scott Hunt of Canyon, Texas, and Alex Jeffrey Hunt of Colorado Spring, Colo.; a daughter, Amber DeNae Hunt of San Marco, Texas; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Danny Ray Boggus; a stepfather, Dale Eugene Boggus; a grandmother, Jimmie Livingston; a grandfather, G.B. Mayfield; and a nephew, Brian Bettis.
Dennis Kelsey-Wood
Dennis Kelsey-Wood died of heart failure Friday, April 1, 2005, at his home in Maricopa, Ariz.
Mr. Kelsey-Wood was born in Wales on Sept. 12, 1941.
He was a long-time resident of Nogal and a member of the Nogal Fire Department. He was a writer, researcher and author of numerous animal books. He loved horses, country music and dancing.
Survivors include his wife Eve; two daughters, Virginia Kelsey-Wood of Maricopa and Stacey Hayman of New Braunfels, Texas; a son, Alex of England and one grandson, Garrick. Condolences can be sent to the family by mail to 49929 West Gail Lane, Maricopa, AZ 85239.
