OPAL GARLAND
Opal Garland, 90, passed away Dec. 28, 2007, at her home with her loving family beside her.
Opal was born Sept. 12, 1917, in Van Horn, Texas, to Tom and Rose (DeMoss) Merrit. Opal married Lloyd Garland on Nov. 18, 1937; he preceded her in death in 1974.
She was also preceded in death by her parents and son, Don Garland.
Opal was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Estancia; retired after 30 years with the USDA and served on the Hope Medical Board. Her passion was taking care of her ranch and was blessed to have lived out her life there.
Opal is survived by her stepdaughter, Betty Meador of Santa Fe; sister, Lynette Cox of Washington state; grandchildren, Collette Valdez and husband Mark, Michelle Garland; and great-grandchildren, Courtney Valdez and Michael Don Valdez.
Funeral services were held Monday at First Baptist Church in Estancia with Pastor Carl Russell officiating. Interment followed at the Garland Cemetery.
Harris-Hanlon Mortuary, Mountainair.
GERALD A. BRIGGS
Gerald A. "Jerry" Briggs, 69, of Tijeras died Dec. 21, 2007, at Presbyterian Hospital following a courageous battle with emphysema.
Jerry was born Aug. 19, 1938, in Lowell, Mass., to the home of Harrison and Bessie Briggs. Jerry attended Tucson High School. Jerry married Nancy Fulton on July 13, 1974, in Tucson, Ariz. Jerry served 14 years in the U.S. military and was honorably discharged in 1974. His hobbies included building model trains, photography and spending time with his many family pets. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and enjoyed traveling to many horse shows with his children.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Harrison and Bessie.
Jerry was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son and friend. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 33 years, Nancy; daughters Kelly and husband Michael, June, Mari and husband Doug; son, John and wife Jill, and son Peter; grandchildren Jennifer and husband Tim, Mikaela, Tricia, Scott, Kirsten, Kari and husband Tyson, Curt, Adriene, Torrie, Courtney, Sidney, Madison, Bryce, Keaton, Joshua, Wyatt, Tate; and great-grandson Aiden.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 12 at French Mortuary at 10500 Lomas Blvd NE in Albuquerque. Memorial contributions can be made to the Albuquerque Animal Humane Society or Presbyterian Healthplex.
ARNOLD M. JORGENSON
Arnold (Yogi) M. Jorgenson, 70, of Moriarty passed away Dec. 27, 2007, at his home in Moriarty.
Arnold was born Sept. 5, 1937, in Barnesville, Minn., to Olaf and Geneva (Kveum) Jorgenson.
Arnold was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Marjorie Sweet Jorgenson.
Arnold is survived by his daughters, Geneva, Jainanna and Kim; grandchildren, Tisha, Matt and Aaron; and great-granddaughter, Camree.
Arrangements for cremation entrusted to Harris-Hanlon Mortuary, Moriarty.
KIRSTI MARLENE PORTMORE-LEINHEISER
Kirsti Marlene Portmore-Leinheiser, 41, of Mountainair passed away Dec. 30, 2007.
Kirsti was born March 24, 1966, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Charles Joseph Leinheiser and Berte Helene Dahl. Kirsti was very active in hot-air ballooning and a Paradise Hills Christian School graduate of 1984.
Kirsti is survived by her mother, Berte Helene Dahl of Mountainair; sons, Jeremy Stephen Portmore of Rio Rancho and Michael Charles Pata of Rio Rancho; daughter, Alyssa Elaine Portmore of Rio Rancho; and brothers, Karl Leinheiser and wife Loyola of Colonial Beach, Va., Kurt Leinheiser and wife Maria of Albuquerque and Kell Leinheiser of Jacksonville, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Memorial services were held Saturday at Harris-Hanlon Mortuary Chapel in Mountainair. Interment was at the Mountainair Cemetery in Mountainair.
Arrangements for cremation entrusted to Harris-Hanlon Mortuary, Moriarty.
HENRY ALVIN MOORE
Henry Alvin Moore, 77, of Ewing, N.M., passed away at his home with his loving family beside him, after a long battle with illness, on Jan. 2, 2008.
Henry was born May 21, 1930, in Tierra Blanca, N.M. Henry Alvin Moore was a U.S. veteran of the Korean War. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Missouri.
Henry is survived by his son, Henry Alvin Moore Jr. and wife Wendy; daughters, Wygila Corliss and husband Leonard, all of Estancia, Darla Lynn DeVore and husband Wayne of Texas; his former spouse of 38 years, Patsy Moore; brother, Horace Moore and wife Delores; sisters, Annie Chestnut, Doris Whitman and husband Norris; and eight loving grandchildren, five grandsons and three granddaughters.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; a daughter, Rita Kay; and a granddaughter, LaNissa Corliss.
Funeral services were held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Estancia Cemetery in Estancia.
Harris-Hanlon Mortuary, Moriarty.
LETA BESS SHARP
Leta Bess Sharp, 90, of Corona passed away Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008, in Albuquerque with her loving family beside her.
Leta was born Aug. 5, 1917, in Cruse, Okla., to Bill and Hattie (Davis) Heisch. Leta married Robert Laban Sharp on Jan. 30, 1935, in Estancia. He preceded her in death in 1975. She was also preceded in death by her parents; three grandchildren, James Sharp, Beth Ann Sharp; Jean Ann Tubbs; and three brothers, Pete Heisch, Paul Heisch and Kenneth Heisch.
Leta is survived by seven children, Larry Sharp and wife Barbra of Prewitt, NM; Bill Sharp and wife Martha of Fort. Sumner, NM; Leslie Sharp and wife Bonnie of Arcadia, OK; Sue Hughes and husband Charles of Corona, NM; Patsy Tubbs ad husband Wayne of Clarendon, TX; Janie Cartwright and husband Paul of Moriarty, NM; Jerry Sharp of Corona, NM; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Henry Heisch; J.R. Heisch and sisters, Doris Smith; Joyce Shockley; Loyce Bachman and Judy Williams.
Leta was the oldest of 10 children, a member of the Pythian Sisters, the Presbyterian Church of Corona, Corona Cowbells and she also taught Sunday school and was an Elder of the Church.
Funeral Services were held Monday, January 7, 2008, at the Presbyterian Church of Corona. Pastor Terry Aiello officiated. Interment followed at the Corona Cemetery in Corona, N.M. Pallbearers were grandsons Lance Sharp, David Sharp, Eric Sharp, Perry Sharp, Mike Hughes, Laban Tubbs, Brad Cartwright and Mark Cartwright. Honorary Pallbearers were granddaughters, Linda Spencer, Jeanell Sharp, Marsha Deese, Shawna Stults, Mellissa Eisenhauer, Lisa Encinias and Tonya Newton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Presbyterian Church of Corona.
Harris-Hanlon Mortuary, Moriarty.
META FAY GROFF
Meta Fay Groff, 82, of Veguita, N.M., passed away Jan. 3, 2008, in Albuquerque. Fay was born April 14, 1925, in Luck, Texas, to Lonnie and Sannie Effie (Spence) Wright.
Fay married Ernest Groff on March 11, 1943, who preceded her in death in 1988. She was also preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Oby Wright, Herbert Wright, Troy Wright, Lonnie Wright, Lee Wright; sisters, Ilene Weatherby, Florine Merick and two unnamed sisters.
Fay is survived by her sons, Wes Groff and wife Liz of Veguita, N.M.; Larry Groff of Veguita, N.M.; and Jerry Groff of Peralta, N.M.; brother, Bill Wright; sisters, Oleta Hobbs, Laura Merick and one granddaughter Jessica. Funeral Services were held Jan. 11 at the Harris-Hanlon Mortuary Chapel in Moriarty. Elder Conway Woods officiated. Interment followed at the Mountain View Cemetery in Moriarty.
Harris-Hanlon Mortuary, Moriarty.
