Ron Wheat
Service: Have been held.
Ron Wheat, 64, of Portales died Friday, Dec. 26, 2003, at his home.
Born July 15, 1939, in Alva, Okla., to Freda and Blaine Wheat, he joined the National Guard, then the Army, and later the U.S. Marine Corps, for whom he was bulldogger on the rodeo team.
Discharged in 1964, he worked at various jobs. About 1971, he lost his foot and part of a leg while working at a grain elevator, and later the entire leg was removed.
For several years he sold cleaning supplies for Handi-Kleen. In 1980, he moved to Portales, did odd jobs for local farmers, and worked as a Novus Windshield technician. He was unable to work after 1984.
He married Anna Thomas on June 16, 1990, in Portales.
A family member said he was an avid fisherman, and when his health faltered, he returned to a lifetime passion for pool, teaching others to play and competing in tournaments, including two national tournaments for wheelchair players.
He was a member of the Alva First Baptist Church, the American Legion, the VFW and the DAV, the Alva Moose Lodge, and the Clovis Elks Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Anna; two daughters, Debra (and husband Chris) Blundell and Dawn Wheat, all of Wichita; three grandchildren, Jared, Shayla and Trevor Blundell; mother, Freda Wheat of Alva; a brother, Jack (and LeAnn) Wheat of Enid; and a sister, Delores (and Leon) Williams of Houston.
Memorials may be sent to the University Baptist Church Building Fund in Portales or to the New Mexico Boys Ranch.
The Rev. J.R. “Dick” Ross and Darla Fields will officiate.
Burial be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Hardtner (Kan.) Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers are family and friends.
Lorine White
Services: Have been held.
Lorine White, 83, of Friona, died Monday, June 2, 2003, in Friona.
She moved from Alba, Texas, to Parmer County in 1938. She attended the assembly of God Church and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She married Raymond White on Dec. 16, 1937, in Duncan, Okla.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
She is survived by two sons, Phillip White and Ray White of Friona; a daughter, Barbara Lynn of Friona; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
The Revs. Bill Boyd and Alvin Petty will officiate the services.
Burial will be at Friona Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona.
William White
Services: Have been held.
Mr. William “Bill” White, 55, of Carlsbad died Sunday, May 18, 2003, at his home.
He was born on Jan. 12, 1948, in Odessa, Texas, to Isaac and Teddy White.
He married Janell Thomas in November of 1991 in Carlsbad.
He graduated from Lovington High School in 1966. He attended New Mexico Military Institute in 1967 and received a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1971 and a master’s degree in family counseling in 1973 from Kansas State University.
After graduation he was commissioned in the U.S. Army. He worked at Maricopa County Hospital and then became the director of substance abuse in Maricopa County. He moved to Carlsbad in 1980 where he ranched until 1991. He was director of CARC farm. He started Casa Feliz Construction. He was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church, the Elks Club and the NRA.
He is survived by his wife; a son, Dean Thomas (and wife, Frances) of Big Water, Utah; two daughters, Danette Harvill (and husband, Joe) of Carlsbad and Lori Cummings of Chandler, Ariz.; his mother, Teddy C. White of Carlsbad; a sister, Brenda West (and husband, Eddie) of Clovis; 11 grandchildren; and his best friend, Brian Patterson of Carlsbad.
The Rev. John Hinze will officiate the services.
Burial will be at Carlsbad Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Patterson, George Mashaw, Able Marcus, Ron Smith, Craig Barrick and Todd Bannister.
Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren.
Arrangements are by Denton-Funchess Funeral Home of Carlsbad.
James Whiteman
Services: Have been held.
James Ridgley Whiteman, 93, of Clovis, a carpenter, entertainer and artist, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003, at Laurel Plains Nursing Home in Clovis.
He was born on Jan. 15, 1910, in Portales, to Levi J. and Katherine Greathouse Whiteman.
He graduated from Clovis High School in 1928. He married Rachel Merie McCarty on Aug. 25, 1935. He married Edna Lampman “Falling Leaf” of Oklahoma, then Thelma Crume Green. He was a carpenter by trade, but being part Indian, his primary interst was Indian lore. In the late 1930’s he was one of the 162 artist-craftsmen selected from New Mexico to work in the New Mexico Works Progress Administration Art Project. During World War II he was in defense work at North American Aircraft building planes. In 2000 he gained recognition after many years for discovering the 13,000 year old “Clovis Man Site” in Blackwater Draw in 1929. He continued to make Indian jewelry, Indian flutes and painting in oil even after he went blind in 2000.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Rachel Merie McCarty Whiteman, Edna Lampman Whiteman and Thelma Crume Whiteman; and a son, Jim Whiteman.
He is survived by a daughter, Katherine McAlavy (and husband, Don) of Clovis; a son, Scott Whiteman of Riverside, Calif.; thirteen grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
McClelland Hall will officiate the services.
Honorary pallbearers will be H.A. Kilmer, Don McAlavy, Jim Warnica, Gary Fenn, Jim Patton, Dan Greathouse, Thad Isbell, Bobby Jordan, McClellan Hall, Smoking Bear, Fred Gaborie and his muzzleloading friends.
Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.
Debs Widner
Services: Have been held.
Debs Eugene Widner, 91, of Melrose died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.
He was born on Aug. 6, 1912, near Olustee, Okla., to Earl and Ethyl Widner.
At six months of age he moved with his parents to a homestead in the Deep Lake community northwest of Melrose. He married Audrey Pinkston on Dec. 23, 1937. They lived near the homestead where he farmed, ranched and worked as a carpenter.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Luther, Wiley and Earlie; two sisters, Myrtle Smith and Nova Willis; an infant son, Gary Lynn; and a grandson, Brandon Heath Widner.
Survivors include three sons, Monte Edwards of Augusta, W.Va.; Harvey Widner (and wife, Violet) of Duncanville, Texas, and Jimmy Widner (Elaine) of Willmar, Minn.; two daughters, Donna Burch (Gary) of Amarillo and Connie Fischer (Ken) of Waco, Texas; a nephew, Stanley Pinkston; two sisters, Nellie Mae Slack and Opal House, both of Amarillo; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Otho Rogers and Raymon Copeland will officiate the services.
Burial will be at Melrose Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis.
Vincent Wiegand
Services: Have been held.
Mr. Vincent “Vince” Carroll Wiegand, 58, of Easley, S.C., died Monday May 3, 2004.
He was born on Sept. 28, 1945, in Morganfield, Ky., to Vincent A. and Flora I. Wiegand.
He was a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University with a masters degree in psychology, theology and sociology. He was employed with the U.S. Treasury Department in Greenville, S.C., and was a part-time psychology professor at Greenville Technical College. He also was a member of Set Free Christian Fellowship Church in Powdersville, S.C. He was a U.S. Army Veteran and a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Charles W. Flanary.
Survivors include his wife, Deborah Flanary Wiegand of Easley; two sons, Vincent “Vince” Carroll Wiegand Jr. of Easley, and Gary Christopher Wiegand of Angel Fire; a brother, Robert “Bob” M. Wiegand of Greenville; and a sister, Beverly Ann Weber of Raymore, Mo.; a grandson, Kyle Alexander Wiegand; and his mother-in-law, Jean Flanary.
Burial will be at Robinson Memorial Gardens in Easley.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Set Free Christian Fellowship Church, P.O. Box 51308, Piedmont, SC 29673.
Arrangements are by Robinson Funeral Home of Easley.
Almaretta Wiggins
Services: Have been held.
Mrs. Almaretta “Retty” Growdon Wiggins, 94, of Gardnerville, Nev., formerly of Ranchvale, died Dec. 14, 2002, at Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
She was born on Sept. 17, 1908, in Oronogo, Mo., to Frank L. and Maude Weathers Growdon.
As an infant her family moved by train and wagon to Curry County, where they homesteaded near Ranchvale and Grier. Family members said she recalled fondly living in a dugout built by her grandfather. She attended Clovis High School, where she was active in sports. She taught in the rural schools in Curry County.
She attended Eastern New Mexico University and New Mexico Normal University, now Highlands in Las Vegas, where she received her degree and teaching credentials. In 1933 she moved to Hagerman to teach. She married Spurgeon Wiggins on July 31, 1945, in Hagerman. She worked at the Terminal Island shipyards during World War II.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; four brothers, Archie, Leslie, Lawrence and Earl; a grandson, Daniel Jackson Wiggins; a nephew, Jackson Halsey Wiggins; and a niece, Jo Francis Graves.
She is survived by a son, Jim Wiggins of Zephyr Cove, Nev.; two grandchildren, Matt Wiggins of Zephyr Cove and Shannon Wiggins Rumford (and husband, Aaron) of Encinitas, Calif.; three sisters-in-law, Lois Jean Wiggins of Hagerman, Thelma Rachel Middleton of Clovis and Maurie Growdon of San Antonio; three cousins, Lola Fern Ford of Clovis, Margarite King of Durant, Okla. and Elizabeth Fredericks of Eugene, Ore.
Arrangements are by McFarlane Mortuary of South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Al Williams
Services: Have been held.
Al Williams, 53, of Clovis died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003, in Berkeley, Calif.
He was born on July 12, 1950, in Ponca City, Okla., to Floyd and Mrtyle Williams.
He was the seventh son of 13 children. He moved with his family to Oakland, Calif., in 1962. He was baptized in the late ’60s at South Berkeley Church of Christ and was an active youth in church. He graduated from Berkeley High School in 1968, enlisted in the U.S. Marines and was honorably discharged. In 1993, he moved to Clovis where he was employed with Wal-Mart. He was later employed by Mesa Financial as a car salesman. He attended Fourth and Cameo Church of Christ in Clovis.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Floyd Williams and Curtis Williams; and a nephew, Ronald Williams.
Survivors include four daughters, Renita Williams-Brothers of Richmond, Calif., Alonda Williams of Corona, Calif., Angela Williams-Taylor of Palmdale, Calif., and Alisa Channel of Sacramento, Calif.; a son, Andre Roberts of Sacramento; five grandchildren, Dante Green, William J. Brothers II, Mark Jones and Jarryl and Jordan Taylor; four sisters, Flora M. Williams, Lutricia A. Turner, Loreta F. Williams and Cynthia D. Williams; six brothers, Eugene Williams, Charles H. Williams, LaVonne Williams, Forrest L. Williams, Albert Ray Williams and Kenneth Ray Williams; a host of uncles, aunts, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews; and his special friend and companion, Candy Fininen.
Albert Ray Williams will officiate the services.
Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.
Carl Williams
Services: Have been held.
Mr. Carl D. Williams, 80, of Clovis, a cattle buyer and a farmer/rancher, died Thursday, July 17, 2003, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.
He was born on Feb. 18, 1923, in Elmer, Okla., to Oral and Willie Cook Williams.
He married Anna Gressett on June 29, 1942, in Fort Sumner. He was a supporter of the 4-H Club, Boys Ranch and the Junior Rodeo Association. He was a member of the Masons, Elks Club and Curry County Munted Patrol. Family members said he was involved in his men’s Bible class, loved horse racing and his grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and two brothers, Bill and Curley Williams.
He is survived by a son, Tommy Williams (and wife, Frieda) of Clovis; three brothers, Paul, C.J. and Don Williams, all of Clovis; two granddaughters, Jarrett Crisp (and husband, Josh) and Susie Autrey (and husband, Buck), all of Clovis; and a great-granddaughter, McKenzie Crisp of Clovis.
The Rev. Dr. Herbert Bergstrom will officiate the services.
Burial will be at Mission Garden of Memories in Clovis.
Pallbearers will be Okie McGregor, Bob Robinson, Lynn Trimble, Bill Wallace, Charlie Rogers and Keith Moore.
Honorary bearers will be the members of the Curry County Mounted Patrol, Roswell Livestock Auction and Clovis Livestock Auction.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1856, Clovis, NM 88102.
Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.
Ruby Maude McFarland Williams
Services: Have been held.
Ruby Maude McFarland Williams, 99, of Clovis, a homemaker, died Monday, Nov. 3, 2003, at Laurel Plains Nursing Home in Clovis.
She was born on Feb. 9, 1904, in La Veta, Colo., to James Fred and Nora King McEvoy McFarland.
She grew up and attended school in Logan and graduated in 1922. She attended the Baptist College in Montezuma, north of Las Vegas, N.M., where she received a teaching certificate. She then taught school at Logan.
She married E.F. “Bud” Williams on Sept. 16, 1925, in Logan. They were involved in the livestock and ranching business, owning B-W Cattle Company for many years. She was a supporter of the Logan Baptist Church and she was a member of Central Baptist Church in Clovis. Family members said she enjoyed playing the piano and was an avid reader. The family requests that no food be sent.
Survivors include two sons, Stanley Williams (and wife, Bettye) and Sherman Williams (Jayne), all of Clovis; four grandchildren, Jamie, Michelle, Michael and Patrick; a great-grandson, Tanner; five nieces; and four nephews.
Prior to services on Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., the family will be at the First Baptist Church in Logan.
Visitation is scheduled from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. today at Muffley Funeral Home in Clovis.
The Rev. Steve Kulback will officiate the services.
Burial will be at Logan Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren, great-grandson and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Logan, 601 Armijo, Box 382, Logan 88426 or to a charity of choice.
Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.
Wesley Williams
Service s: Have been held.
Mr. Wesley Williams, 69, of Portales, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, at his home in Portales.
Mr. Williams was born May 30, 1934, in Slagle, La., to Edith and Elijah J. Williams.
He grew up in Louisiana and, in 1952, joined the Air Force, where he served for 20 years. In 1956 he was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base. During this time he met Judy Heisch and the couple was married Sept.1, 1957, in Portales.
After his discharge they returned to Portales to make their home and care for his wife’s mother. For about a year, he worked for Noble Sikes. He then began a career as a letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office, where he worked until 1992.
Family members said Mr. Williams especially liked to work with the Royal Rangers, a discipleship training program for boys. He also liked gardening and yard work, and his special pastime, fishing.
Mr. Williams was preceded in death by his parents, as well as by a brother and a sister.
He is survived by his wife, of Portales; two sons and daughters-in-law, Ray and Teresa Williams of Lake Worth, Texas, and Randall and Penny Williams of Spring Hill, Tenn.; three grandchildren, Nathan and Rachel Williams, and Emily Williams; two brothers, Andrew Williams of Slagle, La., and Jerry Dale Williams of Leesville, La.; three sisters, Cleo Bruynincks of Annacoca, La., Pearl Bruce of Lake Charles, La., and Carolyn Parker of Annacoca, La.
Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Family Center or to the Royal Rangers.
The body will be available for viewing until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.
Revs. Jim Maxwell and Larry Veazey will officiate the services.
Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary.
Betty Williamson
Services: Have been held.
Betty McCorkle Williamson, 67, of Albuquerque, died Sunday, June 22, 2003.
She was born on Nov. 29, 1935, in Alamogordo to Robert R. and Vina McCorkle.
She graduated from Taos High School in 1954. She married Bud Williamson in 1956. They moved to Albuquerque in 1959. She graduated from University of New Mexico in 1971 and taught at Bernalillo High School.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; a stepmother, Ava McCorkle; her mother-in-law, Ruth Denton; and a brother-in-law, Emmett McCombs.
She is survived by four daughters, Ava R. Williamson (and husband James Moore), Alexa (and husband Dan) Flores, Alicea Coyne and Andrea (and husband Tom) Jones, all of Albuquerque; two brothers, Melvin “Wally” (and wife Loretta) McCorkle of Los Alamos and Sherman (and wife Cathy) McCorkle of Albuquerque; a sister, Carolyn “Carey” (and husband Ron) Lee of Rio Rancho; seven grandchildren, Paul and Cambria Madrill, Kelleen and Joseph Coyne and Sarelle, Darby and Haydn Jones, all of Albuquerque; a sister-in-law, Joanne McCombs of Roswell; a brother-in-law, John (and wife Glenna) Denton of Amarillo; and several nieces and nephews.
A reception is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel in Albuquerque.
Cremation has taken place.
Terry Anderson will officiate the services.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 314 Lead SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102; or the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 1400 Jackson St., Denver, Colo. 80206.
Arrangements are by French Mortuary of Albuquerque.
James Williamson
Services: Have been held.
Mr. James “Willie” Williamson, 66, died Thursday, June 5, 2003, at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock.
He was born May 11, 1937, in Roswell, to Clara Mae and Thomas Leo Williamson.
He grew up in Roswell, and graduated from Roswell High School in 1955. He joined the Navy in May 1956. Following his discharge, he returned to Roswell and served as a police officer. He later became a driver for Greyhound Bus Lines. In 1979 he moved to Portales and began driving for Southwest Canners. In 1989 he was injured in a trucking accident, and had been unable to work since that time.
On Feb. 23, 1985, he married Rosa Lee Kinnard. He was a member of Southside Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a daughter, Valerie Bare, who died in 1989.
Survivors include his wife; five sons, Michael (and wife, Brenda) Levacy, Dustin Bare-Williamson and Tyler Bare-Williamson, all of Portales, Scott Williamson and Danny (and wife, Linda) Williamson, all of Roswell; three daughters, Vickie McGinty of Las Vegas, Nev., Stephanie (and husband, Larry) Jewel of Portales and Janice Luna of Albuquerque; two brothers, Clyde Williamson of Roswell and Marion Williamson of San Antonio, Texas; one sister, Betty Humble of Roswell; and 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Frank Poynor will officiate the services.
Wheeler Mortuary of Portales is handling arrangements.
