In Memoriam …
Apology & Correction: Regrettably, this column misspelled the Schmitz family name in the October 2013 Memoriam for Tony Schmitz. This was an inexcusable error. The N.M. Stockman offers sincere apologies to the Schmitz family.
Mary Evelyn Neville was born January 1, 1926 in Vernon Texas to Charlie and Bernice Wilson. She grew up in the oil fields of Texas and Oklahoma where Charlie worked as a lease manager. While living near Holiday, Texas on an oil lease managed by her father, she met a cowboy who was working the cattle that grazed the same acreage. Frank and Evelyn were married in 1947. The family cattle business expanded to New Mexico with the purchase of two ranches south of Santa Fe. Frank and Evelyn moved to New Mexico in 1948 to run those cattle operations. They raised three sons on the ranches; Steve (wife, Tammy), Farmington; David (wife, Virginia) and Alan (wife, Merlinda), Santa Fe. The ranch life wasn’t always easy but Evelyn adapted by being active in CowBelles, Extension Club, 4-H Leader and Quilters Guild, all while raising three sons, and a menagerie of calves, horses and assorted dogs and other critters. In addition to her sons, Evelyn is also survived by six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren,
Hilory George Bedford passed away on October 9, 2013. He was born June 24, 1926 to the Midland pioneer ranching family of Nita Hill Bedford and Hilory Green Bedford. He attended Midland schools and the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in Roswell. While attending NMMI, he played on the varsity polo team. He graduated with honors in 1944. He then entered the U.S. Navy. He served in the Philippine Islands on the Navy destroyer, the USS Frank Knox, and was honorably discharged in 1946. He felt honored to have served his country as a member of The Greatest Generation. Following discharge, he attended Texas Tech University, graduating with a degree in Business Administration. While at Tech, he served as the President of the Rodeo Club, where he pursued his love of calf roping and team roping. H.G. was one of the founding members of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). He married Dorothy Sue “Sudy” Wright in San Angelo, Texas in July 1948. Following graduation from Texas Tech in 1950, H.G. and Sudy moved to the ranch outside Springer, New Mexico. For the next 50 years, he continued to own and manage ranches in West Texas and New Mexico, where he raised both purebred and crossbred Hereford cattle and registered Quarter Horses. He raised and owned respected horses for ranch work, arena performances, and running Quarter Horses. In 1999, the 12th annual Midland Ranch Rodeo was held in his honor. In 2011, H.G. was honored as a recipient of the Foy Proctor Memorial Cowman’s Award for a lifetime of cattle ranching achievement. H.G. was actively engaged in the Permian Basin oil and gas industry. He served on the board of directors of numerous oil and gas, real estate and banking organizations. He was a lifetime member of First Christian Church of Midland. He served on the church board and many committees and was honored as an Elder Emeritus. He served on many community boards of directors, including 11 years, the Chairman of the Quarter Horse Division of the Sand Hills Hereford & Quarter Horse Show. H.G.and Sudy had three daughters, Beverly Drummond (husband, Gene), Lisa Sams (husband, Lourcey), and Nita Bedford Fradenburg. They have eight grandchildren, two great-granddaughters His sister, Anna Beth Farr, Midland, also survives him. His surviving brother-in-law is Harry D. Wright (wife, Elizabeth), San Antonio. The family extends special thanks to Mary Leon and Hospice of Midland for their dedicated care
Pearl Sowers, 84, Union County, died Friday, October 25, 2013 in Amarillo. She was born in Union County, New Mexico on October, 23, 1929 to Fred and Verda (Leighton) Lawrence. During her early years, the family moved many times, but they always moved back to Union County. Pearl married James A. Sowers (Jim) in Clayton, New Mexico on February 8, 1947. They moved to the Sowers farm and ranch and lived there for 56 years. Pearl moved to Amarillo in 2004 to be near her family and her mother. She is a member of the First Baptist Church in Clayton. She was a member of the CowBelles since 1976 and was the New Mexico CowBelle of the Year in 1997. She was a rancher’s wife who worked along side her husband for 55 years. Pearl served as a 4-H leader and fair and contest judge for many years. She worked with the Child Find Program for 11 years. She volunteered at Bivins Nursing home for the last 10 years. Pearl is survived by two daughters, Sandra Thornton (husband, Lynn), Amarillo, and Janie Phelan (husband, Troy), Shamrock, Texas; two sons, Larry Sowers (wife, Daphne), Lubbock, Texas and Jimmy Sowers (wife, Addie), Hutchinson, Kansas; eight grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and 13 step-great grandchildren; Donna Hall, Blackwell, Oklahoma; Lula Traves (husband, Bill), Clarendon, Texas and Kay Stanley (husband, Jim), Amarillo; brother Dan Lawrence (wife, Gail), Lumberton, Texas; sister-in-law Joyce Lawrence, Logan, an aunt and an uncle; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and her long time friend: Owaissa Heimann, Clayton.
Juan Encarnacion (John Carnie) Rivera Sr., 86, Tererro, died on August 20, 2013. A descendant of a Spanish Conquistador who came with De Vargas in the Reconquest of Santa Fe, John was born on March 12, 1927 at the family ranch that gave Tererro (Salt Lick) its name. He lived there his entire life. John’s education began at the Tererro Mine School until it closed. He continued to the 8th grade at the one room school in La Posada. He received his high school diploma from the American School of Correspondence. He continued his correspondence in forestry, fishery and wildlife, taxidermy, real estate, radio broadcasting, theology, ranch economics and livestock breeding. A genuine cowboy raising Appaloosa horses and Longhorn cattle, John loved knowledge, philosophy and wisdom. He was a fierce defender of the Constitution, property and water rights. In 1949 John married Alicia Roybal, Pecos, who preceded him in death. In July 1961 he married Lee Neille Hicks, Louisville, Kentucky who survives him along with sister, Ramona Lawson, Cleveland, Tennessee; son Roland Rivera (wife, Sherri), Albuquerque; daughter Sarada Gutierrez (husband, Damian), Tijeras; daughter Chanda Rivera, Lacey, Washington; sons Monte Rivera (wife, Melody), Pecos and John Rivera Jr., Tererro; 10 grandchildren, a step-grandson, four great-grandchildren and two step-great grandchildren.
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.