In Memoriam …
Keller F. Davis, 66, a life-long resident of the South Valley and Bernalillo, died of apparent heart issues on Monday, February 17, 2014. Keller was born in 1947 in Albuquerque and graduated from Valley High, Class of 1965. As a youth, Keller was active in 4-H. He attended New Mexico State University until his father died, at which time he came home to help his mother farm. Keller farmed for 26 years on the Sandia Reservation raising alfalfa, wheat, and corn. He served on the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau as a Director, the Bernalillo County Farm Bureau and the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association Board. Keller was a member of Temple Lodge No. 6 AF & AM and Ballut Abyad Shrine. After farming, Keller went to work for Farm Credit and in 2005 he started transporting horses for breeding, sales, and horse racing. He loved agriculture in all forms and the people associated with it. Keller was a very giving person who always had time for others. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Anna Fay Davis; sister-in-law, Lee Anne “Punky” Davis; brothers-in-law, Jim Bob Best and Tom C. Best (wife, Kim); nieces and nephews; and numerous other relatives and friends. Memorial contributions may be made in Keller’s name to the New Mexico 4-H Foundation, 13008 Gray Hills, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 or to the New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau Collegiate Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 20004, Las Cruces, NM 88004-9004.
Katherin Perez Dinwiddie, 62, Cliff, passed away peacefully at home on January 22 surrounded by her family. Katherin was born in Mountaineer and raised in Encino. She moved to Reserve and took a job as a school teacher after completing her Bachelors degree from Eastern New Mexico University. In Reserve she met her husband, Harold “Chuck” Dinwiddie. They married in 1976. She continued her education at Western New Mexico University obtaining Master’s Degrees in Business and Psychology. Chuck and Katherin moved to Cliff in 1981. Katherin worked as a guidance counselor and business teacher at Cliff High School and was actively involved in her community, church and school. She later took a job as the guidance counselor at Silver High School. Katherin was a devoted wife and mother and she cherished the time she had with her family after she retired. Katherin was survived by her mother, Jewel Perez; husband, Chuck; two children, Hollis Dinwiddie and DesiRhea Spurr; sister, Diana Gallegos brothers, Michael, Jeffery and Chris Perez; granddaughter, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Jerry “Jake” Wayne Jacobs, 76, Melrose, was called to heaven on January 25, 2014. “Papa Jake” was born in Corsicana, Texas on February 21st, 1937 to Arvel and Myrtle Jacobs. He served 14 years in the United States Army National Guard and then worked for Burlington Northern Railroad for 40 years; he retired in 1999. Jake was a member of the Curry County Bowling League, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, Melrose Fire Department as a member and chief for numerous years, and Melrose Lions Club. He served two terms on the Melrose City Council and coached Little League Baseball for many years all while being an active member of the United Methodist Church of Melrose. If he wasn’t busy being the “handy-man” of Melrose he was spending time with family and friends hunting, fishing or playing dominoes. Jake married Dixie Jackson Jacobs on June 29th, 1958 in Arkansas. He is survived by his wife Dixie and four children, Lynette Fish, Michael Jacobs (wife, Tammie), Kenny Jacobs (wife, Tammy) all of Melrose; Karen Burns, Clovis; and Philip Daly, Arizona; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, five brothers and two sisters.
Macky Roberts Trickey, 83, St. Johns, Arizona, passed away February 5, 2014 in Albuquerque. He was born September 4, 1930 in Texas, the son of Charles T. and Mary Ola Roberts Trickey. Macky was a rancher all of his life and never retired from it. He served his country in the United States Army. He graduated from Texas A & M University with a major in Animal Husbandry and minor in Wildlife Biology. Immediately after graduation, he was sent to Korea and served for three years as a 1st Lieutenant. His hobbies included fishing, gardening, and building things. He is survived by his sons, Macky, Jr. (wife, Kim), Ethan (wife, Lisa), and Dan (wife, Rhonda) all of St. Johns; daughters, Jennifer (husband, Randy) Kartchner, Eagar, and Kelly (husband, Randy) Davis, Mountain Home, Utah; sisters, Peggy Northcutt, Dallas, Texas, and Lynn Waldron, Allstead, New Hampshire; 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Virgil L. “Dink” Cottrell, 79, Canyon, Texas, died Saturday, February 8, 2014, in Amarillo. Dink was born in Vilas, Colorado on January 12, 1935, to Virgil and Opal Thompson Cottrell. The family moved to Montrose where Dink graduated from high school. The family had a rodeo stock contracting business and produced professional and amateur rodeos in Western Colorado. As a teenager, his father was in poor health and most of the responsibility of putting on the rodeos fell on his shoulders. He also started producing junior rodeos for boys 12 to 18 years old. This caused him to be featured in a nationally syndicated publication called The American Magazine that wrote a brief article on his rodeo background. Following graduation from high school he enrolled in college at Colorado State University (CSU). Dink was a member of the CSU rodeo team competing in the calf roping and steer wrestling events. It was there that he met Nona Painter. Nona was also attending CSU and a member of the rodeo team. After graduating college, Dink and Nona were married in June 29, 1958. In 1963, the family moved to Albuquerque and Dink began his career as a real estate appraiser and agricultural real estate lender. He continued to compete part time at the professional rodeos in New Mexico and Colorado until his children got older and began competing in junior rodeos themselves. He quit competing to provide the support and resources necessary for his children to compete. Dink enjoyed his work but his passion was the cattle business. He made many lasting friendships from the New Mexico ranchers who he bought cattle from. Dink and Nona retired in Canyon in 1995 to be closer to their children and grandchild. Dink began team roping again and continued to rope and stayed active in the cattle business until the last few months of his life. Survivors include his wife, Nona Cottrell; son, Brad Cottrell; daughter, Debbie Cottrell; and a granddaughter.
Bob L. Mayberry, 78, Artesia, died February 8, 2014 at his home. Bob was born July 5, 1935 in Hillsboro, Texas; the son of Landon Crawford Mayberry and Luanna Jane (Bolton) Mayberry. He served his country in the United States Marine Corps. On December 29, 1956 he was married to Jo Ann Nunn in Artesia.Bob was a farmer and an Elder at Hermosa Church of Christ. He also served as a board member at PVT for 31 years. The second love of his life was his grandchildren. Survivors include his wife Jo Ann; daughters Kay Ann McKamey (husband, Keith), Midland, and Jo Beth Northrop (husband, Todd), Ennis, Montana; son Bob E. Mayberry (wife, Sandra), Artesia; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother Thurman Mayberry, Hagerman; and sister Jane Ford (husband, Joe), Bayfield, Colorado. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ethiopian Water Well Fund at Hermosa Church of Christ, 1302 Hermosa Dr., Artesia NM
Mary Sweetser, 88, Deming, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2013, at Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces surrounded by her loving family. She was born to John Riggs Stark and Goldie Irene Jones Stark on October 8, 1925, in Long Beach, California. She grew up on ranches in southern Arizona. She met her husband, 2nd Lt. Kenneth John Sweetser (flight officer, Air Corps, Army of the United States) in Denver, Colorado, while she was attending nurses training in Boulder. They were married on May 11, 1946, at the Rafter Diamond Ranch in Whitewater. She was active in Farm Bureau Women (helped start the Cotton Extravaganza), the Ninety-Nines (women’s flying organization, including participation in the 30th and final Powder Puff Derby), 4-H leadership, Republican Women, Mimbres Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Golden Gossip, and Cowbelles, and enjoyed traveling, golfing and playing bridge. She is survived by daughters Marilu Duty, Aurora, Colorado, Sue (husband, James) Waggoner, Laramie, Wyoming, Mary Hayes, Bloomfield; sons John Sweetzer (wife, Candie) and Martin Sweetzer (wife, Joyce), all of Deming; 17 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren; sisters Connie McCauley, Silver City, and Frances Brown Speight, Santa Rosa, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
T. A. Tanner, 89, Artesia, passed away peacefully on February 8, 2014 in Artesia. T.A. was born July 3, 1924 in Turkey Canyon at Cloudcroft to Sam E. Tanner and Mary P. (Pace) Tanner. On August 18, 1949 T. A. and Ruth E. (Lewis) Tanner were married in Alamogordo. T.A. Tanner enjoyed his time as truck driver hauling sheep and cattle for several years until he and Ruth moved to their ranch at Wilkerson Well in 1956. He and Ruth lived and ranched at Wilkerson Well until 2005 when they moved back to Pinon to live with his sister and brother-in-law, Samme and David Monson. During the time they lived at Wilkerson Well, T. A. worked as a blademan for Otero County until he retired. He played the fiddle and guitar for dances all over the southern New Mexico mountains. He greatly enjoyed the times and places when he was able to “make music” with Warren Tidwell, Bill Bates, Grubs Munson and James K. Polk. He won several Fiddlin’ contests over the years and cherished the trophies that came with the wins. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Tanner; one daughter, Linda Taylor (husband, Bil) land one granddaughter; sister Samme (husband, David) Monson, Pinon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lakeview Christian Hospice or Otero Cowbell’s Opal Lewis Memorial Fund.
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.