In Memoriam…
John (Juan) B. Gonzales Sr., 86, French Tract, passed away March 25, 2011. He was born May 4, 1924, in Round Prairie, Colorado, the son of William Montano Gonzales and Julia Henley Gonzales. He was retired from CS Cattle Company, having worked there for 35 years. He served in the Marine Corps in World War II in 1943, fighting in Okinawa. John was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. He is survived by his wife Mary, daughters Christine (husband, Robert) Martinez, Denver; Lucy (husband, Roland) Martinez, Dallas; Margaret Gonzales; Esther (husband, Victor) Padilla, Nora (Antonio) Padilla, Eva (Edward) Crespin, Mary Lou (John) Chavez, and Mary Alice Montoya, all of Albuquerque; sons Eugene Gonzales and Manuel (Brenda) Gonzales, Springer, John B. Gonzales Jr., Lorenzo Gonzales and Daniel Gonzales, all of Albuquerque, Leroy (Georgianna) Gonzales and Robert (Anita) Gonzales, all of Taos; sister Viola and husband Leo Fernandez of Springer, brother-in-law Arthur Garcia of Cimarron, aunt Ermalinda Ortiz of Paonia, Colo., uncle Connie Herrera of Delta, Colo., 34 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Adolfo B. Avalos, 85, Las Cruces passed away March 24, 2011. He was born on June 17, 1925 in Tortugas to Cirildo Avalos and Guadalupe Beltran Avalos. Adolfo was a life-long resident of the Mesilla Valley and served in the US Army during World War II and was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso. He was a tribal elder for the Piro-Manso-Tiwa Pueblo de San Juan de Guadalupe Indian Tribe. While on the tribal council and as an elder he was a key participant at numerous ceremonial events playing his drum and singing the traditional tribal chants. Adolfo was instrumental in teaching and training other members of the tribe for the benefit of future generations. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Eva Avalos; four children, Adolfo M. Avalos Jr. (Tedde), Edward (Eddard) M. Avalos, Richard M. Avalos (wife, Joyce), Terri D. Singh (Jerry Singh), his sisters Candalaria Avalos, Cipriana Guzman, and Mary Hernandez and his brother Eliseo Avalos. He is also survived by his eleven grandchildren several great-grandchildren.
Jeanne Charter, 61, Billings, Montana, died in an auto accident on April 1, 2011. Born on April 20, 1949, to Hans and Jenny Hjermstad, Jeanne grew up in the Chicago area. She graduated from Wellesley College, then earned a master’s degree in environmental studies at the University of Michigan. In the 1970s Jean moved to Montana to work for the Northern Plains Resource Council, a group formed in 1971 by ranchers and conservationists. Jeanne and her husband Steve challenged the federal government in court, alleging that the beef check-off program was no longer accountable. Jeanne lived by “being the change she hoped to see in the world.” She became a familiar face in television news interviews, wrote thought provoking letters to the editor and offered eloquent, incisive testimony at public hearings. She is survived by her husband Steve and son Ressa of the family ranch, daughter Annika, Billings, and her brother Chris Hjermstad, San Diego, California, as well as sister-in-law Katherine “Kit” Nilson (husband, Hank), and brother-in-law Joe Charter (wife Donna), and their families.
Derry Brownfield, 79, Centertown, Missouri, passed March 12, 2011. He was born on January 24, 1932, in Boonville, Mo., to George Derry Brownfield and Georgia Stegner Brownfield. Derry grew up during the Depression. He started farming when he was 16 and received the Future Farmers of America State Farmer degree in 1949. Derry attended the College of Agriculture at the University of Missouri where he received B.S. and M.S. degrees. He taught vocational agriculture several years before becoming a marketing specialist with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. He served as Director of the Kansas City Livestock Market Foundation at the Kansas City Stockyard prior to establishing himself in farm broadcasting. In 1972, he and his partner established the Brownfield Network, which served 250 radio stations throughout the Midwest with farm news and market information. In 1994, he started his own syndicated radio talk show, and was one of the most popular radio talk show hosts in America. The Derry Brownfield Show, “The Common Sense Coalition,” could be heard on radio stations across the nation, along with a large audience of shortwave and Internet listeners. Survivors include his wife Verni Dine (Gross); one daughter; three sons and five grandchildren.
William E. (Bill) Stallings, 65, passed away on April 13, 2011 near Phoenix, Arizona. He was born July 1945, the third child of Dean H. Stallings and Fern J. (Frase) Stallings, Yuma, Colorado. He was raised on a farm and ranch near Yuma where he attended school. He was a member of Student Council, active in school sports, Future Farmers of America, band, and choir. In 1962 Bill won the 95-98 pound Colorado Wrestling Title. He was the first state wrestling champion from Yuma. After high school Bill attended Adams State College, but decided to pursue a horse racing career. Throughout his 20-year career as a jockey, he rode thoroughbreds, quarter horses and appaloosas winning over 100 stakes races, setting numerous records, and had over 4,000 wins. Bill received the Jockey of the Year Award at Turf Paradise in 1975 and in 1979 was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. In 1980 he was chosen as the Arizona Rider of the Year and received the Golden Apple Award (lifetime achievement) for outstanding service to the “Sport of Kings.” In addition to riding, he was a member, served on committees and was the Film Analyst for the Jockey’s Guild. After retiring from riding in 1980 he became an approved racing official for the Department of Racing in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. His work included developing and updating the racing regulations for these states. In 1990 due to poor health Bill retired and moved back to Colorado to be close to his family. He is survived by his mother, Fern J. Stallings; sister Deanna Rice (husband, Joe); brother Dr. Martin Stallings; and daughters Margo Stephens and Andrea Spressor (husband, Anthony); as well as nephews and granddaughters.
Editor’s Note: Please send In Memoriam announcements to: Caren Cowan, N.M. Stockman, P.O. Box 7127, Albuquerque, NM 87194, fax: 505/998-6236 or email: caren@aaalivestock.com. Memorial donations may be sent to the Cattlegrowers’ Foundation, a 501(c)3, tax deductable charitable foundation serving the rights of ranch families and educating citizens on governmental actions, policies and practices. Cattlegrowers Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 7517, Albuquerque, NM 87194.