In Memoriam …
Jimmy R. Bason, 78, Hillsboro, passed away on July 2, 2013 at his home following complications with a broken hip. Jimmy was born on April 26, 1935 in El Paso, Texas to Irene (Godwin) and Jimmy R. Bason. He was reared and attended schools in Mesilla and Las Cruces. He graduated from New Mexico A & M in 1958 with a degree in animal science. He married Sue Carter. Jimmy served in the Air Force as a navigator from 1958 to 1963. He returned to New Mexico from Beale Air Force in California to pursuing ranching. He and his partner Rob Cox formed the F Cross Ranch west of Hillsboro. Jimmy was extremely active in the ranching industry and rural issues. He served 29 years on the Sierra Electric Coop Board, including 11 years as president as well as time on the Tri State GNT Board and the Federated Insurance Board. He was a long-time member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, serving 10 years in leadership including President Elect, when he represented all of agriculture as a lobbyist in the New Mexico Legislature. As President from 1999 to 2001 his accomplishments included building a network among New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Arizona and Mexico’s state of Chihuahua. He was NMCGA Cattleman of the Year in 2005. He also served on the Linebery Chair board at New Mexico State University. He was an expert in tax matters and was instrumental in many pieces of legislation to protect ranchers and rural residents. He was a lifetime student of history and loved collecting things. In 2003 he married Pat Grimes. She moved from Carlsbad to the ranch in Hillsboro. Jimmy is survived by Pattilu; children Stacy A. Bason, Tularosa; R. Brent Bason, Hillsboro; and Danille Hudson, Phoenix; as well as their mother, Sue, and nine grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Mary (husband, Rex) Moore, Las Cruces.
Ruby Gobble, 82, Cimarron, passed away at the historic Chase Ranch in northern New Mexico June 14, 2013 where she had lived for 50 years. Reared on her family’s ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona, the youngest of five children, at age three Ruby started off her ‘”days in the saddle” by learning to ride on desert burros. Ruby was first known as a trick rider. By age 12 she broke and taught her horse “Tony” to do tricks and they performed at rodeos across Arizona. By 17 Ruby was trick riding on “Taffy”, thrilling crowds with their stunts. Ruby’s interest turned to calf roping and by 19 years old she was roping professionally. In the early 1950s Ruby traveled the “Girls Rodeo Association” circuit. For several years Ruby was the World’s Champion Team Roper and the World’s Champion Ribbon Roper. Ruby starred in the western movie Trigger Gold as the daughter of the Kane family. This accomplished horsewoman became the foreman of the Chase Ranch, located on the outskirts of Cimarron in 1963. For 50 years, Ruby, along with the owner of the Chase Ranch Gretchen Sammis, used their versatile talents to keep the ranch running smoothly. In 1982 Ruby was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Memorial services will be at the Chase Ranch on August 18, 2013 at 2:30 p.m.
Shelia Massey, 62, Animas, passed away on May 23, 2013 surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was born May 14, 1951 in El Paso Texas to Gilbert and Johnnie Jo Bartlett. Sheila grew up in Hatch and was a Rainbow Girl, a cheerleader in high school and sang in the chorus. She graduated from Hatch Valley High School in 1969. Sheila attended New Mexico State University where she met Randy Massey. They were married, moved to the family farm in Animas, and began their family.
4-H has been a big part of Sheila’s life since she was old enough to join. She became a 4-H leader, even before her kids were old enough to belong. Sheila was the organization leader for Cotton City 4-H Club for 25 years. After “retiring” she continued to serve as a resource leader. Sheila also spent countless hours organizing the annual Columbus Electric Coop Bar-b-que. Sheila was a driving force behind the Hidalgo County Fair. She served the fair board as President and Secretary. She was instrumental in creating and sustaining the buyer’s pool. She was one of the pioneer members of WIFE, Women Involved in Farm Economics. She held many national offices including National President in 1998 and 1999. Sheila made many trips to Washington, DC lobbying for the rights of agriculture. She was also WIFE finance chairman, helping to secure donations and sponsorship from various agro-businesses. Sheila was a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha for 42 years. She served as the chair of the Hidalgo County Republican Party for several years. She is survived by husband, Randy; daughters Tammy Pompeo (husband, Mike) and Tisha Loranc (husband, Kevin); son Cash (wife, Kanzas); mother Johnnie Jo Bartlett; seven grandchildren; sister Dawna McNiel (husband, Bob); brother-in-law Ricky Massey (wife, Bobbie); father-in-law Bill; mother-in-law Carleen; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many, many friends who loved Sheila like she was family.
Edward “Smokey” Nunn Jr., 91, Deming, passed away June 12, 2013 in Las Cruces. Smokey was born on Macho Creek on April 29, 1922 to Ed Nunn Sr. and Francis Nunn. He was raised near Lake Valley on the Sierra Land & Cattle (SLC) Company, originally formed by his grandfather Harvey Ringer. Smokey attended Lake Valley School during his early education. He rode his horse to school most days. For high school, the family moved into Las Cruces for the school week. Both Smokey and brother Harvey graduated from the Las Cruces Union High School. While in high school Smokey was in FFA and won many judging contests. Before the drought of the 1930s the SLC Cattle Company was vast, running 15,000 head of cattle from Emory Pass to Rincon. Later, the Three Nunn brothers, Ed, Emmett and Pryor split up the remaining ranches and Smokey moved with his family to the Flying Y Ranch in 1938. While at college Smokey met Eunice Dean Wright. He and Eunice hit it off and were married. After the birth of their son, Smokey and Eunice purchased the Barksdale ranch. The ranches expanded with the Plain and Simpson ranches in the early 1960s and the Magdalena Ranch in 1988. His awards and accolades are many. He was repeatedly elected by his peers to serve on the BLM district grazing advisory board. He was recognized by New Mexico State University as one of the true rodeo hands that formed the first 1942 New Mexico A & M Rodeo team. He was inducted into the N.M.S.U. Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2002. Smokey received NMSU recognition for contributions to New Mexico agriculture, and he served on the Deming Public Schools Advisory board. He was inducted into the Luna Country Cowboy Hall of Fame, and served the Old Timers Association Presidency. Smokey received the Foy Proctor Memorial Cowman’s Award of Honor in 2007. Smokey is survived by his sisters, Eleanor Wimberly, Mabel Graves (husband, OC); son, Joe Bill (wife, Lauren); two grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Catherine Culbertson, 85, Dalhart, Texas, died June 15, 2013. Catherine Heald was born October 31, 1927, in Dalhart to Jack Sr. and Margaret Corkill Heald. Raised in Dalhart, she married Joe Jack Culbertson Sr. on April 6, 1947, in Dalhart. Survivors include her husband, Joe Jack Culbertson Sr., Dalhart; son, Joe Jack Jr. (wife, Vivian Rosier Culbertson), Rosebud; daughter, Catherine Anne Culbertson Whatley (husband, David), Rosebud; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Helen Heald Sellers, Arlington, Viginia, and Ella Lucille Heald Pettit McDaniel, Burleson, Texas; and brother, Jack M. Heald Jr. (wife, Cynthia), Tucson, Ariz.
Henry Karler, 87, Albuquerque, passed away on May 31, 2013. He is survived by his sons, Scott (wife, Cristal), Gerald (wife, Lisa), and Brian (wife, Gina); his daughter, Margaret Anne Karler-Bermudez (husband, Tino); four grandchildren; brother, Ralph Karler,Salt Lake City, Utah; and many nieces and nephews. Henry was a WWII veteran and a long-time businessman, owning and operating Karler Packing Company. He devoted his life to his children and grandchildren.
Charlie Doyle “Chalk” Noling, 75, Fort Sumner, died Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at his home. He was born July 28, 1937 in Roswell to Charlie Weldon Noling and the former Beulah Elizabeth Townsend. Chalk attended schools in Roswell and Dexter. He graduated from Dexter High School in 1954. While in high school he participated in FFA. Following graduation he served with the New Mexico National Guard, attached to a Roswell Unit. He left the Guard to assist his family in managing the family farm. Chalk ranched in Roswell at Featherstones and farmed the Noling Farms south of Roswell. He later managed the Spurrier Cattle Ranch. From 1965 to 1970 he operated the Dunn Farm south of Fort Sumner and for the past 23 years has owned and operated Chalk’s Trucking Company in Fort Sumner. He bought, sold and transported hay to area ranches, farms, feed lots and dairies. Chalk was a member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association. He loved to participate and watch rodeos. He is survived by daughters Susan Moreno, Midland; Lauri Noling Winn, Capitan; and Amy Noling, Hemet, California; a son Shaun Noling, Kansas, and a step-son Ed Smith of Lincoln. Also surviving are sisters Mattie Haczewski, Plains, Pennsylvania, Sue Teron, Alamogordo, and Millie Arnold, Colorado, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, along with several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
John D. Holleyman, 93, Corona, passed away on May 12, 2013 at the family ranch. He was born on January 7, 1920 in Sipe Springs, Texas. He graduated from school in Mertzon, Texas in 1937. John D. entered the Army Air Corp in 1941 where he was an airplane mechanic crew chief for the B-26 bomber. After the war he worked for Joe Davidson, Ozona, Texas; he ran some cows and trained horses and roped. He roped at Madison Square Garden in the fall of 1946 where he met Eva Mae Wilken from Ysleta, Texas. They married on July 9, 1947. John D. roped in the Cowboy Turtles Association and was one of the top ropers in the calf roping and steer roping during the 1940s and 1950s. He is still remembered as one of the top match ropers of all time. In the fall of 1956, John D. bought a ranch in Corona. John D. continued to rope throughout his life winning many Old Timers’ ropings and team roping. He was a Gold Card Member of the PRCA. He won his last saddle in 1991 and continued to ride until the age of 90. John D. served on the Corona Board of Education and as an elder for the Presbyterian Church. He was awarded the Foy Proctor Memorial Cowman’s Award in 2004 and was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2009. He is survived by his wife, Eva Mae; children Lois Ann (husband Darryl) Ratliff; Karen (husband, Dwayne) Kibbe; Lon (wife, Alvina) Holleyman; He has six grandchildren, two great-grandsons as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Kerry Lee Bryan, 69, Rio Rancho, passed away on May 27, 2013, surrounded by his family. Born on May 4, 1944, Kerry grew up on a farm in Homer, Illinois. He graduated from Homer High School in 1962 and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in zoology and botany from Eastern Illinois University. After teaching at a junior college in Illinois, he went on to teach science on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota. In 1975 he embarked a career working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plant Protection and Quarantine division. Kerry protected the nation’s food and natural resources by being an emergency responder to many plant and insect outbreaks throughout the U.S. and the world. He worked with the military in the Middle East to ensure returning equipment was pest free. He held various positions, including president of the National Association of PPQ Managers. His work sent him to Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, South Korea, Brazil and Newfoundland. He is survived by his mother, Charlotte Bryan, Homer, Illinois; his wife Sara, daughter Libby and son Zachary (wife, Susan), all of Rio Rancho; and sister Peggy Foskett and her son Roger, both of England.
James “Jim” Elijah Meggs, 65, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away on May 24, 2013. A native of Stillwater, Oklahoma and a resident of Tempe, Arizona. He was a retired Animal ID Coordinator for the state of Arizona. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Rebecca Hughes Meggs; mother, Marjorie Patchin Meggs, Macon, Georgia; daughters, Heather Lea Stafford (husband, Patrick N., Jr); Heather Shae Pastorek (husband, Rick) and Tammie Dawn Smith; sisters, Pat Meggs Nelson, Macon; and Jane Meggs New, Coronado, California; and brother, Henry Meggs, Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren.
Kenneth W. Braden, passed away May 20, 2013. He is survived by his son Dennis (Suzette) Braden, Stamford, Texas and daughter Nancy (Matt) Shoulders; four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
O. C. (Oliver Chester) Kimble, 99, Clayton, died May 30, 2013. He was born on November 4, 1913 in Beggs, Oklahoma to Roy C. Kimble and Ella Lee (Vick) Kimble. His dad bought land and became a cattle rancher. He graduated from Clayton High School in 1932 and in 1937 he moved to Santa Fe and ran a gas distributorship, delivering gas to Los Alamos and all over the rest of the state. There he met Bobbie and they were married on December 10, 1938. From Santa Fe the family moved to El Centro, California where he ran a feedlot for two years. In 1948 they moved back to Clayton to take over the family ranching business. O. C. was on the board of directors at the First National Bank, the New Mexico State Research Center in Clayton and was on the board of directors at La Mesa Park. After retiring,
O. C. became an avid golfer. He and Bobbie moved to Mesa, Arizona for the winter so they could play golf most of the year. Survivors include two sons, Fred Kimble and Roy Kimble (wife, Donna), all of Clayton; six grandsons; five great-grandchildren; sisters Ella Lee Orendorf, Virginia, and Katy Stevens, Deming;and many friends, nieces and nephews.
David F. Cargo, 84, Albuquerque, died on July 5, 2013 in Albuquerque. A maverick Republican, he became the youngest governor of New Mexico and served two terms in the 1960s. Known as “Lonesome Dave,” Mr. Cargo championed the film industry as economic development and established the first state film commission. He also was an early advocate of a policy for apportioning legislative seats that has altered the political landscape in New Mexico over several decades. Mr. Cargo earned his nickname during his first bid for governor in 1966 when he had little support from the GOP and traveled the state alone in a 1959 Chevrolet to campaign in rural areas and small towns typically bypassed by his better-funded Democratic opponent, a longtime state Senate leader.
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.