In Memoriam …
Lucy Jane (Lewis) Schafer, 81, Crowflat, passed away on April 25, 2015 following a short illness. She was born on November 21, 1933 to Eldo and Opal (Walker) Lewis and her roots run deep in the Weed and Crowflat areas. Lucy Jane married John Gilbert Schafer on April 28, 1956 in Anapra. Around 1960 they moved to the Lewis family ranch on Crowflat. Lucy Jane was active in the ranching industry. She was a devoted member and officer of the Otero CowBelles, member and board member of New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, member of Farm Bureau, and a founding member and officer of the Otero County Cattleman’s Association. She received many awards for her dedication and service to all aspects of the industry. She loved the ranch, country people, horses, a good fiddle tune, and dancing. Jane is survived by her three daughters Jonna Lou Schafer and Dale Leith, Crowflat; Sheri and Ken McCain, Beaumont, Texas; Rhonda &and Earl Mitchell, Clovis, one grandson, one sister Ruth Tanner, Pinon, one brother Harvey Lewis (Pow Wow), Las Cruces, a brother-in-law Tom Rogers, Kingman, Arizona and numerous nieces and two nephews. A memorial service is being planned for June 26 at the Corundas Mountain. Please check with the family to make sure the date holds firm.
Willard Kenneth Jordan, 80, Mason, Texas, passed away surrounded by family on April 28, 2015 after battling pancreatic cancer. Willard was born on October 27, 1934 to Frank and Ella Jordan. He was born and raised on the family ranch that borders Willow Creek just south of Art in Mason County. On April 17, 1954, Willard married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Chew. In the fall of 1973, Willard and Peggy purchased the Junction Stockyards and began their venture of over 40 years in the livestock marketing industry. With the help from their family, the Jordan’s grew their business combining their love for livestock and people. They owned and operated Junction Stockyards for 11 years. In January 1985, they opened Jordan Cattle Auction in San Saba that has been noted to market more replacement cows and heifers than any auction in the United States. In April 1988, Jordan Cattle Auction held its first sale in Mason. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; sisters Ethyl Byrn, Phoenix, Arizona and Lois Koock (husband, Bill), Mason; four sons: Donald (wife, Cheri), Hamilton; Ronald (wife, Karen), Leander; Ken (wife, Kynda), San Saba; and Greg Jordan, Frisco, Colorado. He has seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Elliott Waite “Chope” Phillips, 97, Amarillo, peacefully left this world on Sunday, April 26, 2015 in his home surrounded by loved ones. Chope was born January 11, 1918, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, to Waite and Genevieve Phillips. He graduated from Culver Military Academy, Culver, Indiana, in 1935. During his youth he loved being in the mountains of New Mexico riding horses and working cattle with the cowboys at Philmont, his family’s ranch just outside of Cimarron, New Mexico. In 1940, following college, Chope moved to Winfield, Kansas and began working for the Hawkeye Oil Company. In 1941 he moved to Phil-
mont, and assumed full charge of the acreage north of Cimarron. Upon, his father’s, Waite Phillips’ donation of Philmont to the Boy Scouts of America, Chope relocated to the Bough House in the town of Cimarron. In late 1942, Chope enlisted and was inducted into the army at Fort Bliss. In late 1945, he purchased his first ranch (Old Ranch) located near Maes, New Mexico. He loved showing family and friends “his” first ranch. On April 19, 1947, he married his soul mate, Virginia Lee, with whom he shared a mutual love of New Mexico, the outdoors and ranching. Together in 1958, they purchased their ranch located in San Miguel and Mora counties in New Mexico. The ranch was Chope and Virginia’s permanent residence until their retirement and sale in 2002. Following the sale of their ranch, Virginia and Chope moved to Amarillo. Chope’s love of ranching continued after retirement, as he rode horses and helped Amarillo ranching friends with their cattle work, mostly branding, into his early 90s. He was a mentor and friend to many ranchers. Chope was a member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association and the Cimarron Maverick Club. He was a lifetime member of the Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was a member of the Philmont Scout Ranch Committee. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and was recognized as a Rancher, Philanthropist and Scout Benefactor when he was awarded their highest honor the Silver Buffalo in May of 1998. In 2005, Chope was one of five ranchers from New Mexico and Texas selected to receive the Foy Proctor Memorial Cowman Award presented by the Nita Stewart Haley Memorial Library in Midland, Texas. The appellation “true cowmen” is applied to both men and women who have literally “grown up” with cattle on a ranch somewhere in the Southwest and who through a long lifetime have lived and worked with cattle horseback, particularly mother cows, in addition to making their living, at least to a considerable extent, from the “cow business.” All awardees are also “horsemen.” That moniker does not imply that they raise and sell horses, though some do. It means that they are experienced at riding and developing, or training young horses, to become “finished” cow horses.” It also means that these cowmen have worked their herds of cattle horseback for a lifetime and still avoid doing anything with cattle “a foot” that can be done smoother, easier and with fewer injuries to the stock while in the saddle. He is survived by his children, Julie Phillips Puckett, Amarillo; John Elliott (wife, Tami), Amarillo, and Wendy Lee Drewry (husband, William Wallace III), Bainbridge Island, Washington. He was affectionately known as “Granddad” or Chope to his five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Ernestene Helms, 87, Mountainair, passed away Friday May 8, 2015 at her home. Ernestene was born to Milt and Ruby (Hock) Howard on November 11, 1927 in Brownfield, Texas. She met and married the love of her life, J. P. Helms on Sept. 6, 1951 in Clovis. Ernestene will be remembered as a rancher’s wife, a rancher, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and true friend. She is survived by one daughter, Patsy Kingston (husband, Red), Mountainair; son, Preston Helms, Seattle, Washington; brother Jake Howard (wife, Maurene), Elida; sister, Elois Creighton, Elida; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
John “Johnnie” James Mutz, 98, Red River, passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2015. He was born June 1, 1916 in Cimarron, the son of Emil and Maggie (Gallagher) Mutz and lived his life in the Moreno and Red River valleys. Johnnie was a lifelong rancher, cowboy, avid hunter and guide for elk, bear, lion, and high mountain fishing trips. He and his wife, Hank, owned and operated Mutz Excavating and Grading. Johnny did the pioneer work building roads at the Moly Mine between Questa and Red River as well as building roads, trails, and lift tower pads for the beginning of Red River Ski Area. Johnny worked with the U.S. Forest Service building fire lines for numerous wild fires all over northern New Mexico. Johnnie organized the first rodeo in Red River as well as the Red River division of the New Mexico Mounted Patrol made up of men and their horses from Questa and Red River. He was a member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, the national Rifle Association, and a life member of the Raton Elk Lodge. He is survived by three daughters, Jeannine Ray (husband, Joe), Eagle Nest; Jan Mutz and June Mutz, Red River.
Tamara Hughes Ormand, 24, Silver City, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at the Carlsbad Medical Center. Tamara was born May 22, 1990 in Carlsbad, New Mexico to Bradley Neil and Tracy S. (Dando) Hughes. She graduated from Carlsbad High School in 2008. Tamara was involved with FAA and competed in the National FAA competition. She was active in 4-H and Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) and also served as Eddy County Rodeo Queen. Tamara married Philip Ormand on April 4, 2013 in Silver City. Tamara was a dedicated, loving wife, mother and friend and will be missed by all. Survivors are her husband, Philip Ormand; son, Luke Ormand; mother, Tracy Hughes; sister: Brooke Wilson (husband, Justin); maternal grandmother, Gerry Dando; maternal grandfather, Don Dando, all of Carlsbad; paternal grandparents: Marion and Verna Hughes of Dog Canyon; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Matt and Leanne Ormand of Silver City, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Roy Frank Parker, 85, Rio Rancho, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2015. He was born February 10, 1930 to Roy Frank “Buck” Parker and Ella Bernice Rice Parker at Magdalena. Frank had a sister Louise, a sister Elsie and another sister Helen. When new baby #5 was due to arrive, Frank was hoping and praying that it would not be another sister and sure enough, brother Richard finally arrived. Brothers kept coming, Monroe, and Cecil! When Donna and Rodney were born he was happy, after all the boys outnumbered the girls five to four. At an early age he was taught the importance of family. When his Dad became ill and was unable to work, Frank stepped up and supported the family and helped his Mom take care of the family until the crisis passed. Frank met and married Minnie and they had four children, Irma, Roy “Red”, Veronica, and Mary. Later in life he married Arbutus, proudly helping raise two more daughters, Trudy and Sandra. He was always so proud of all his kids, boasting of 11 grandkids, 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Throughout Frank’s life he worked in various states, in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico as a rancher. Retiring as the foreman of Kings Bros. Ranch, with over 30 years of employment. In his years at the King Ranch, he touched many lives. Always ready to share the “Cowboy’s way.” Riding on a horse to check the cattle. Branding the ol’ fashion way! Roping, flanking and branding with a branding iron heated in the coals of the campfires, as it should be. A horse, a saddle and a lariat is all a fella should need!
Fred Ellis Moore, 83, Eagar, Arizona, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2015 at his home. He battled pancreatic cancer for over two years before cancer won. Fred was born May 30, 1931 in Clifton, Arizona, the son of William Ellis “Tully” and Faye Eleanor Stacy Moore. Fred was carried home, 52 miles on horseback when he was eight days old to his grandfather’s ranch in eastern Arizona. His parents later bought a ranch on the lower Blue River in 1937 where he grew up. He attended the Blue School through the eighth grade and then high school by correspondence. As a young man he started his contracting career by contracting with the forest service or lumber companies to cut trees. He hired a crew and bought a chain saw and went to work as a 16-year-old entrepreneur. Later, he moved to Clifton where he went to work for Phelps Dodge Copper Mine. During that time he married Joyce Bennett and they had two children. They moved to Phoenix where he could get more education. There he worked for the city of Phoenix and several construction companies before starting his own company, Mercury Constructors in 1961. He ran Mercury for many years as a general contractor. He married Sylvia R. Suiter in 1980 and their marriage was later solemnized in September 1982 in the Mesa Temple. In 1981 Fred and Sylvia bought a ranch in Willcox, which they incorporated as Nine Cross Ranch, Inc. and he returned to being a rancher and a contractor. They raised registered Hereford cattle and Quarter horses. As a rancher he was active in the Arizona Hereford Association. In 2003 they added another property to the corporation with a small ranch outside of Springerville. He was very proud of the cattle he raised and the quality he had developed in his herd. He also had a love for horses and a good many Three Bar bred horses. At his passing he still had two stud horses and a number of mares and colts. Fred taught each of offspring many of life’s values and to care for their animals and to respect others. He spent many hours helping them with homework and teaching them to ride and work at the ranch. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia R. Moore, brother, Kenneth (wife, Rondi), son, “Stoney” (wife, Josie), daughter, Mary Ann (husband, Ken) Paulic, step-son, Anthony Bennalley, step-daughter, Fawnda (husband, Mike) Papich, two grandsons, four granddaughters, three step-grandsons, five step-granddaughters, and 21 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Keith Wayne Riley, 32, Horse Springs, passed away in Carlsbad on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. Keith was born on November 7, 1982 in Albuquerque, to Keith and Nancy Rile. He had a profound love for outdoor adventures, from hunting a giant bull elk to moseying around the mountains collecting arrowheads. He spent half his life in the mountains of the Gila National Forest. He will be remembered across the country by all he guided, shared a laugh with, and sat with in the shade of a juniper. Recently his greatest love was for his baby boy, Breaker. Keith is survived by his parents: Keith and Nancy Riley, Hobbs; one daughter, Faith Riley, Roswell, and one son, Breaker Hayes Riley; three sisters: Joy Ansley, Moriarty, Casey (husband, Kelsy) Abel, Hobbs, and Fallon Riley and fiancée Cody Jordan, Seminole, Texas; two nephews; two nieces, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and a large extended
family.