Obituaries
Maria Rita Salazar
Feb 8, 2024
Maria Rita Salazar, 46 of Santa Rosa, NM passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at BSA Hospital in Amarillo, Texas.
Rita was born on April 16, 1977 in Mesa, Arizona to Miguel Porras Salazar and Beatriz (Cordova) Salazar. Rita was raised in Santa Rosa and graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1995.
Rita was a dispatcher for...
Frances Nieto
Feb 8, 2024
Mary Frances Nieto, 63 of Fort Sumner, NM passed away at her home Thursday, February 8, 2024. She was born in Fort Sumner April 19, 1960 to the home of Flavio and Josefina (Garcia) Nieto. Frances grew up in Fort Sumner, attended Fort Sumner Schools where she participated in band and sports including volleyball and basketball State Championship in 1977....
Vera "Vernell" Willis-Rogers
Feb 6, 2024
Vera Vernell (McCarty) Willis Rogers of Logan, NM went to be with Jesus on February 6, 2024 in Logan, NM. She was 95 years old. Vernell was born on May 3, 1928, to Charles Virgil McCarty and Bessie Ellen Brown McCarty in Anthon, Texas. As she always said, she moved to NM in the Mesilla Valley area when she was...
Jeffrey Scott Rutzen
Feb 3, 2024
June 12, 1954 - February 3, 2024
Jeff S. Rutzen, 69, died peacefully at home in Tucumcari, NM, in the early evening hours of Saturday, February 3rd, 2024. Jeff leaves behind his beloved wife, friend, and fellow adventurer of 29 years, Geri, daughters Lydia (Jared) Strand and April Rutzen, granddaughters Theadosia (Barry) Carter and Sophie Weaver, great-grandchildren Frederic and Lana; brother,...
William J. Anaya
Jan 29, 2024
William Anaya, 87 of Santa Rosa, NM, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 29, 2024.
William was born on November 9, 1936 in Pastura, NM to Moises Anaya and Adela (Tapia) Anaya. William was raised in Pastura and attended school in Vaughn, NM.
William married the former Cynthia Griffith on December 15, 1975 in California. William worked as a Glazer for...
Ernesto Chavez
Jan 26, 2024
Ernesto Chavez, 94 of Santa Rosa, NM passed away peacefully at his home on the ranch, surrounded by his loving family, on Friday, January 26, 2024. Ernesto was born on November 9, 1929 in El Alamo, NM to Jose Inez Chavez and Esmeralda (Segura) Chavez.
Ernesto lived in Clovis, NM and Roswell, NM before settling on the Chavez Ranch in 1959....
Sandy Copeland
Jan 24, 2024
Sandy Copeland, 73 of Fort Sumner, NM passed away at her home on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 following an illness. She was born December 03, 1950 in Fort Sumner the daughter of Birdie Dee Smith and the former Louise Lorraine McClain. She grew on the family ranch south of Yeso. She attended school in Yeso until the school closed. Sandy...
Vivian Urban
Jan 22, 2024
Mary Vivian Urban, 87 of Santa Rosa, NM passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday, January 22, 2024.
Vivian was born on May 14, 1936 in Sombrillo, NM to Guillermo Selgado and Josefita (Baca) Selgado. Vivian was raised in Sombrillo and attended school in Santa Rosa. Vivian married Billy Urban on July 9, 1954 at Saint Rose...
Colleen Brown
Jan 20, 2024
Colleen Brown, 57 of Pampa, Texas passed away at University Medical Center in Lubbock on January 20, 2024. She was born March 17, 1966 in Clovis, NM. She is the daughter of Raymond Clifford and Joyce Juanita (Hume) Brown. Colleen grew up in Fort Sumner, she attended Fort Sumner Schools graduating with the class of 1984. She participated in band...
Johnathan Joseph Cave
Jan 19, 2024
Johnathan Cave, 42 of Santa Rosa, NM, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, January 19, 2024.
Johnathan was born on January 18, 1982, in Pampa, Texas to Joseph Cave and Janice (Sanchez) Cave. Johnathan was raised in Albuquerque, NM, Santa Rosa, NM and Clovis, NM—attending schools in all three locations.
Johnathan married the former Sara Trujillo on...
Theresa Ann Nichols
Jan 14, 2024
Theresa "T" Ann Nichols, 84 of Fort Sumner passed away at her home Sunday, January 14, 2023 following an illness. She was born March 13, 1939 in Malone, New York to the home of Richard and Beatrice (Bertrand) Nichols. She attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Malone, NY, and later attended nursing school in Virginia.
Theresa served in the...
Maria Emma Corina Tenorio
Jan 12, 2024
Maria Emma Corina Tenorio, 90 of Santa Rosa, NM, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family, on Friday, January 12, 2024.
Maria was born Dec. 29, 1933 in El Porvenir, NM to Demetrio Carrillo and Maria Hurtado. She was later raised in Tecolotito, NM. On January 16, 1950, she married Gilberto Tenorio. Maria and Gilberto ranched in San...
Virginia Nancy Saiz
Jan 7, 2024
Long-time Los Lunas, NM resident, Virginia Nancy Gallegos Saiz, 67, passed away in Albuquerque, NM on January 7, 2024.
Virginia, “Nana” was born on May 7, 1956 in Vaughn, NM to Reynaldo and Isabel Gallegos.
After graduating high school, Virginia moved to Albuquerque, NM to attend St. Joseph College, where she received her bachelor degree in Special Education. She...
Carlos Romero, Jr.
Jan 5, 2024
Carlos Romero, 88 of Santa Rosa, NM, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, January 5, 2024.
Carlos was born on May 17, 1935 in San Ignacio, NM to Carlos Romero and Adelicia (Montoya) Romero. Carlos was raised in Santa Rosa, where he attended school and graduated from Santa Rosa High School. On April 28, 1957,...
Margie Lee Barnett
Jan 3, 2024
Margie Lee Barnett, 90 of Tucumcari, NM, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family, on January 3, 2024.
Margie was born on May 13, 1933 in Hollis, Oklahoma to William John Easter and Katherene (Baccus) Easter. Margie grew up in Hollis, where she attended school and graduated from high school there. After graduation, Margie moved to Tucumcari where...
Beatrice Duran
Dec 27, 2023
Beatrice I Duran, 85 of Vaughn, NM passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. Beatrice was born in Duran, NM to Jimez & Ignacita Madril on April 14, 1938. Beatrice was raised in Duran, NM with her adopted parents, Juan & Victorita Villanueva. She graduated from Vaughn High School in 1958. Beatrice married...
Joe R. Madril
Dec 19, 2023
Joe R. Madril, 73 of Duran, NM passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
Joe was born to Jose Guadalupe Madril and Maria Dionesia (Jaramillo) Madril on March 19, 1950 in Duran, NM. Joe was raised in Duran and later graduated from Encino High School in 1969.
On September 19, 1970, Joe married the former Amelia Lopez at...
Ida Lopez
Dec 13, 2023
Zenaida "Ida" Lopez, 75, a lifelong resident of Santa Rosa, NM passed away on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at her residence with her family by her side.
Ida was born on June 30, 1948 in Santa Rosa, NM to the home of Felix P. and Amalia (Duran) Griego. She attended school in Santa Rosa, graduating from Santa Rosa High School....
James Ray Johnson
Dec 13, 2023
James Ray Johnson, 38 of Amarillo, TX, passed away on Wednesday, December 13, 2023.
James was born to James E. Johnson and Emily G. Johnson on August 18, 1985, at 12:10 PM, at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, TX. James was then baptized on September 1, 1985, at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Tucumcari, NM with Godparents being Freddy Lucero...
Butch Lee
Dec 13, 2023
Richard "Butch" Alan Lee, 56, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on December 13, 2023 following a sudden illness. He was born on October 5, 1967 in Maine, but grew up and attended schools in Hereford, Texas, graduating with the class of 1986. Butch spent the last 15 years living in Iowa, but recently moved to Portales...
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Chavez Funeral Home - Santa Rosa
For Immediate Assistance
Call (575) 472-3369
923 S. Third Street
Santa Rosa, NM 88435-0395
Chavez Funeral Home -
Fort Sumner
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Call (575) 355-2311
830 N. Fifth Street
Fort Sumner, NM 88119-0386