In Memoriam…
Vanneta Ann Beach, 68, Levelland, Texas, passed away on September 27, 2011. She was born November 1, 1942, in Lampasas, Texas to Guy Van and Cleta Noreen Carpenter Smith. She graduated from Artesia High School in 1960 and moved to Clovis after she married Jerry Beach June 1, 1963 in Artesia. She had lived in many communities over the years including Hereford, Texas, and Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. Vanneta and Jerry moved to Levelland, Texas in 2009 to be close their grandchildren. She was a member of the Curry County Extension Club, and Cotton Ridge Church at Levelland, Texas. Survivors are her husband; two daughters, Nancy Beach, Stamford, Texas and Jeri Ann Beach Dewbre (husband, Dane) Levelland, Texas; two grandchildren, and one brother.
Annette “Boogie” Torres, 48, Mescalero, passed away on October 5, 2011 following a valient battle with cancer. She was born February 3, 1963 at Mescalero to Anita and George Parker Lester Sr. She worked at the Inn of the Mountain Gods over 30 years and was the Retail Director. She graduated from Tularosa High School in 1981 and was Miss Mescalero #8. She married Jordan Torres Sr. on November 6, 1984. Annette was a 4-H mother and a bridge across the many cultures of New Mexico and the world. She took great pride in her family and the artwork of her husband. She is survived by her husband; three children, Jordan Jr., Theodore, and Tanis; mother, Anita Lester; brothers and sisters, Tammy Torres, George Lester Jr., Joel Lester, Becky Lester, Gilda Tenorio, Dwight Evans, Sharolynn Evans, Marla Evans, Rena Chee, Thelton Lester, Marvil Lester; Aunts, Sadie Comanche and Viola Morgan; and several nieces and nephews.
Nancy Gail Jackson, 65, Lordsburg, passed away on September 27, 2011. She was born May 4, 1946 to James W. (Bill) and Daisy Phelps in Fall River, Massachusetts where she resided the first ten years of her life. After living around the nation, Nancy and her family settled in New Mexico in 1964. In December of that year she married George Jackson, Jr. Nancy and George spent the next 46 years residing in Grant and Hidalgo counties ranching and selling the insurance and real estate. Nancy was active in the New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau, the New Mexico Cattle Growers, the Copper Cowbelles, and the Tabosabelles. Nancy is survived by her husband and daughters Stacy Zunich and Connie (husband, Stewart ) Rooks and four grandchildren. She is also survived by her father James W. Phelps, Sr., step mother Grace Phelps, mother-in-law Dorothy Jackson and sister Linda (Richard) Hall, brother’s in law Tom (wife, Thorma) Jackson, Joe (wife, Melba) Jackson, sister-in-law Sandy Phelps and numerous nephews and nieces.
Thomas P. Foy, 96, Bayard, passed away at him home on October 8, 2011. A survivor of the Bataan Death March in World War II, and former state legislator, Foy was born is Silver City, and lived in the area for his entire life. He received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and a Juris Doctorate from Notre Dame University in 1938 and 1939 respectively. Foy was honorably discharged from the Army on October 1946. He received the decorated Bronze Star, Purple Heart, the Asian Pacific Ribbon and the New Mexico Distinguished Service Medal. Foy also received an outstanding service award from the Disabled American Veterans. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign War Post #3347. A member of the American Ex-POWs and an avid supporter of all military and veterans causes. After returning from the Philippines, Foy opened his own law practice in Bayard in 1946. In 1948, he married Joan Carney and was elected District Attorney of the Sixth Judicial District, an office he held for eight years, 1949 to 1956. He then returned to the private practice of law in 1957 and served as a board member and then vice-president of the New Mexico Board of Bar Commissioners. In 1970 he ran for the State Legislature, and represented District 39 from 1970 to 1998. Foy was responsible for the designation of millions of dollars in southern New Mexico counties for local public infrastructure. He was a member of the New Mexico Bar Association for 70 years, received numerous awards related to the practice of law. From 1997 to present Foy was appointed as a National Commissioner from New Mexico on the Uniform State Laws Commission. As a result of his lifetime of service and the achievements he made, Foy received a Doctor of Humane Letters also known as an Honorary Doctorate from Western New Mexico University in 2004. He was a communicant of the Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Bayard, and a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of the Holy Sepulercure. Foy founded of the Grant County State Bank and served on the bank’s board of directors for decades and as its chairman for 14 years. He helped to subdivide parts of Bayard, and was integral in the development of Bayard and the Cobre Consolidated School District. In 1965, the Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce named Foy “Citizen of the Year.” Foy was also very involved in the Bayard Lions Club and was selected as a Melvin Jones Fellow having been a member for more than 70 years. He served as a past district governor for Lions in southern New Mexico, and was previously the state commander for the VFW. He was a member of Silver City Moose Lodge #1718 and a life member of the Silver City Elks Lodge. Foy is survived by two daughters Celia Foy Castillo (husband, Alvino) and Muffet Foy Cuddy, Santa Fe; his sons Carney (wife, Creta) and Jim (wife, Valvina) Silver City; daughter in-law Suzanne Jollensten, Albuquerque; nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren; one sister, Winfred Momsen, Bayard, and one brother J. Franey Foy, Boulder City, Nevada.
Herbert Lee “Hub” Traylor, 58, Capitan, passed away peacefully at his home in Roswell on October 19, 2011. Hub was born in Alamogordo on April 14, 1953. He grew up in the Capitan area and graduated from Capitan High School in 1971 and Frances Harcrow on January 26, 1974. For 36 years Hub specialized in feed consulting, feed analysis, and building feed programs for the people and ranches of southern New Mexico. Hub’s work ethic and efficiency were appreciated by all. Hub wasn’t just a contact person for all his clients, he was a true friend. He is survived by his wife, Frances, Capitan; his son Kyle (wife, Kelly) Traylor, Capitan; his daughter Ty (husband, Tycie) Jackson, Cimarron; seven grandchildren; sister, Idy (husband, Dave) Schweitzer, Alto, his sister Kathy (husband, Rick) Vinyard, Las Cruces; and many nieces and nephews.
E. Earl Hickam, 83, Bloomfield, passed away on October 14, 2011, in Bloomfield. He was born October 2, 1928, in Iowa Park, Texas, to Ralph and Lucy Hickam. He was a loyal and dedicated member of the Upper Colorado Region Bureau of Reclamation, West Hammond Water Association, San Juan Soil and Water Conservation District, Hammond Conservancy District, San Juan County Planning and Zoning Commission, New Mexico Rural Water Users’ Association and the San Juan Natural Resource Conservation District. He was president of the San Juan County Farm & Livestock Bureau for 21 years; served on the State Board for New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau 2007; and was Honorary Chapter Farmer of Bloomfield FFA. He also was a member of the New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association and was a founding and lifetime member of Ruidoso Elks Lodge No. 2086. Earl was an employee of Bell Telephone Company, and worked as a lineman and insulator for 17 years for a privately owned company in Ruidoso. During this time he obtained a franchise to build a cable TV system in Capitan. He left the telephone company and obtained franchises to build cable TV systems in Chama, Dulce and Las Vegas, where he also had a studio. He also helped build a cable system in Wichita, Kansas. While in Dulce, he was employed as a TV Technology instructor for the Dulce Independent School District. In 1971, Earl and his wife, Opal, bought land on the West Hammond and began farming and gardening. Earl was instrumental in getting domestic water for the West Hammond. He is survived by his daughters, Cynthia (husband, Charlie) Tallman, Gloria (husband, Dave) DeTemple and Thelma (husband, Chris) Dugas and six grandchildren; brother, Marshall (Marilyn) Hickam; sisters, Pearl Parker and Arleen (Bill) Smith; and many cherished nieces and nephews.
Georgia Klumker, 92, Glenwood, and formerly of Toponas, Colorado, passed away on October 20, 2011. She was born in Yampa, Colorado on November 25, 1918 to Ora Scott and Mary Jane Bird Perry, the oldest of four children. She graduated from Yampa Union High School then met and married Kelly Klumker on December 23, 1936 in Arvada, Colorado before returning to the ranch at Toponas. They spent 36 years ranching on two Colorado ranches before selling and relocating to Glenwood in 1974. They purchased two ranches in the Alma area, finally retiring in 1987. They were married over 70 years before Kelly passed away. Georgia and Kelly were very active in promoting the agriculture industry. They were longtime members of the Farm & Livestock Bureau and the Klumker family was awarded the prestigious Farm Bureau Family of the Year in 2001. They also belonged to the Cattle Growers’ Association and other organizations. She was a communicant of the Santo Nino Parish. She was a 4-H leader for over 30 years, was named Colorado Rancher & Farmer “Homemaker of the Year” and belonged to the Homemakers Club. She was a director on the Catron County Fair Board and was a charter member of the ‘Frisco Cowbelles and the Glenwood Woman’s Club. She loved showing her horses at local fair and competitions. Georgia is survived by six children, Kathleen Schuster, Richard (wife, Peggy), Klumker, Tom (wife, Jane) Klumker, Eileen (husband, Jay) McKeen, Janeen Jump (husband, Brian Richard), and Tim (wife, Phyllis) Klumker; 16 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, four great-great- grandchildren, and her sister. Ina Muntzert.
Robert E. “Bob” Melanson, 88, Rio Rancho, passed away on October 13 while surrounded by many of his family members. He was born in Nova Scotia in 1922, and spent most of his adult life on Long Island, New York, where he was in the grocery business. Bob served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1947, during World War II. He met wife, Dorothy, in England while in the service of his country. They were married for 65 years. Bob and Dorothy moved to New Mexico in 1975 to be near their daughters. He was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus, Eugene Teatum Council 6696 in Rio Rancho, and as a Fourth- Degree Knight, he held several offices over the years. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; daughters, Gloria Bullis (husband, Don), Rio Rancho, Maureen Orgass (husband, Howard), Logan; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sister, Barbara Bodami (husband, Dominick), Commack, New York; numerous nieces and nephews.
Salomon Ramirez, 56, Santa Fe, passed away suddenly as a result of a heart attack on October 22, 2011 at his family ranch in Rociada. Salomon was born on September 27, 1955 in Las Vegas. He attended high school at Robertson and graduated from New Mexico State University (NMSU) with a degree in Agriculture. He was appointed by President Barack Obama as the State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency of the US Department of Agriculture. He loved spending weekends in Rociada at his family’s ranch and was passionate about helping farmers and ranchers in New Mexico. He was a generous friend who never asked what he could do to help; he simply did what needed to be done. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Rosalie; his daughter, Amanda Chavez (husband, Cedric); granddaughter, Elena; his son, Ryan; his mother, Angie Ramirez; sisters, Mary Ann Ortiz (husband, Juan), Elizabeth Betty Armijo (husband, Paul); brothers, Gilbert Ramirez (wife, Katie), Sammy Ramirez (wife, Brenda); his father and mother-in-law, Henry M. Valdez and Margaret; brother-in-laws, James Valdez (wife, Lynette), Henry Valdez, Kenny Valdez (wife, Veronica); sister-in-law, Patt Valdez; and 14 nieces and nephews; along with several grand-nieces, nephews, and cousins.
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.