Obituaries

Abenicia "Bennie" Baca

Abenicia "Bennie" Baca

Jul 5, 2025

Abenicia “Bennie” Baca, 85 of Anton Chico, NM passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Saturday, July 5, 2025 in Las Vegas, NM.

Bennie was born June 3, 1940 in Leyba, NM to Reyes Lopez and Adelita (Lucero) Lopez. She was raised in Leyba and attended school at Gonzales Ranch, NM. On February 5, 1966, Bennie married Benito Baca...

Jon Donal Wright

Jon Donal Wright

Jul 7, 2025

Jon Donal Wright, 79 passed away on Monday, July 7, 2025 in Fort Sumner. Jon was born September 15, 1945 in Marianna, Florida. He attended school in Fort Sumner. 

Jon served in the U.S. Navy from 1975 until his retirement February 28, 1995. His 20 years of service included 7 years of Sea Service including time spent on the USS Nitro....

Sharon (Smith) Zuhlke

Sharon (Smith) Zuhlke

Jul 3, 2025

A graveside service for Sharon (Smith) Zuhlke, 82 of Katy, Texas will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from the Melrose Cemetery, Melrose, New Mexico with Rev. Tyler Eanes officiating. Visitation hours will be Tuesday, July 8, 2025 from 1pm to 6pm at the Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

Sharon (Smith) Zuhlke was born September...

Lala M. Montaño

Lala M. Montaño

Jun 26, 2025

Lala M. Montaño, 63 of Santa Rosa, NM passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 26, 2025 in Amarillo, Texas.

Lala was born February 3, 1962 to Salomon Pacheco and Rita (Baca) Pacheco in Las Vegas, NM. She was raised in Vaughn, NM, where she also attended school. Lala later attended Luna Community College, where she earned an Associate Degree in Early...

Leslie Darlene Garcia

Leslie Darlene Garcia

Jun 24, 2025

Leslie Darlene Garcia, 53 of Santa Rosa, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving children, on June 24, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas.

Leslie was born January 27, 1972 in Portales, NM to Celedonio Garcia and Clara Romero. She was raised in Santa Rosa, where she also attended school. A life-long resident of Santa Rosa, Leslie worked for Denny’s and Guadalupe County...

Cossmoe Hurd

Cossmoe Hurd

Jun 19, 2025

Cossmoe Kareem Hurd, 41, was born on October 29, 1983, in Tulia, Texas, to Mary Frances Hurd and Paul Dean Hurd. He passed away on June 19, 2025, in Tucumcari, New Mexico, leaving behind a legacy of love, creativity, and compassion.

Cossmoe was preceded in death by his father, Paul Dean Hurd, and his mother, Mary Frances Hurd. He is survived...

Maria Elena Madrid

Maria Elena Madrid

Jun 5, 2025

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of our beloved mother, Maria Elena Madrid, who departed this life on June 5, 2025 at the age of 81.

Born on September 11, 1943 in Milagro, New Mexico, Maria Elena was a woman of grace, strength, and unwavering love. She dedicated her life to her family, offering...

Lou Ann Cortese

Lou Ann Cortese

Jun 5, 2025

Lou Ann Cortese, 88 a resident of the Fort Sumner valley passed away Thursday, June 5, 2025 at Bee-Hive Homes in Portales, NM. She was born June 13, 1936 in Big Springs, Texas to the home of James Knox Barfield II and Thelma Burleson Barfield. Lou Ann grew up in Stanton, Texas. She moved to Clovis and attended Junior High...

Genevieve Gardner-Brown

Genevieve Gardner-Brown

Jun 1, 2025

Genevieve E. Brown, 83 of Tucumcari, NM passed away in Amarillo, TX on Sunday, June 1, 2025.

Genevieve was born April 17, 1942 in Tucumcari to Clifton Laing Gardner and May Ellen (Bridges) Gardner. She was raised in Tucumcari, where she also attended school.

In her career, Genevieve was a clerk at a service station, clerk at a stamp store, drove for...

Manuel Roybal

Manuel Roybal

May 24, 2025

A service celebrating the life of Manuel Roybal will be held at 11:00am Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at the Chavez Funeral Home Chapel, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. His friend and schoolmate, Fr. Sotero Sena, will officiate.

Manuel Antonio Roybal, 74 a resident of the Fort Sumner valley passed away at his home on Saturday, May 24, 2025...

Lawrence Peter Page

Lawrence Peter Page

May 23, 2025

Lawrence Page, aged 64, of Bosque Farms, New Mexico, passed away on May 23, 2025, in Albuquerque after a courageous battle with illness.

Born on November 26, 1960, in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Lawrence was the cherished son of Patricio and Antonia (Gonzales) Page. He grew up in Tucumcari and graduated from Tucumcari High School. Throughout his career, Lawrence dedicated several years...

Charles James Bryson

Charles James Bryson

May 19, 2025

In Loving Memory of Charles James Bryson

A Tribute to a Life Well-Lived

Charles James Bryson, born on October 30, 1952, departed from this world on May 19, 2025. James, as he was affectionately known, leaves behind a legacy of love, music, and cherished memories that will endure in the hearts of those who were privileged to know him.

Raised by his Great...

Janell E. Capehart

Janell E. Capehart

May 16, 2025

Janell Edith Capehart was born to S.W. McDonald and grace Etta McDonald on April 30, 1935, in Pocola, Oklahoma.

She is one of fifteen brothers and sisters. She attended Pocola High School and was a star basketball player for the girls’ varsity basketball team. Shortly after graduating from high school, she met Marvin Capehart, at Fourth Baptist Church in St. Louis,...

Erminio R. Chavez

Erminio R. Chavez

May 14, 2025

Erminio R. Chavez passed away peacefully on May 14, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born July 21, 1947 in Santa Rosa, NM to Eloy Chavez and Agneda (Lucero) Chavez, Erminio was raised in Santa Rosa where he attended school and graduated from Santa Rosa High School. On August 3, 1968, Erminio married the former Corrine Ulibarri at Saint Rose of...

John P. Sanchez

John P. Sanchez

May 8, 2025

John P. Sanchez passed away peacefully on May 8, 2025, at his residence in Pecos, NM.

Born February 3, 1957 to Jose Benedito Sanchez and Rose Celia (Olivas) Sanchez in Santa Rosa, NM, John graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1976. He served as a Service Advisor for various auto dealerships in Northern NM before dedicating himself to being the...

Margaret Tompkins

Margaret Tompkins

May 4, 2025

Margaret Tompkins, 80 of Tucumcari, NM, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 4, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Margaret was born November 5, 1944, in Tucumcari, NM to Darrel D. Hornsby, Sr. and Henrietta (Shrewsbury) Hornsby. Margaret was raised in Albuquerque, NM where she also attended school—graduating from Cibola High School. Following high school, she attended Eastern New Mexico University.

In...

Edward Barthel

Edward Barthel

Apr 27, 2025

Graveside services for Edward Barthel will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday, May 9, 2025 from Fort Sumner Cemetery, Fort Sumner, New Mexico with Powhatan Carter officiating.

Edward C. Barthel, age 71 years, a resident of Vienna, Illinois passed away peacefully Sunday afternoon, April 27, 2025, at 2:05 P.M. at Deaconess Illinois – Union County Hospital in Anna, Illinois. 

Edward was born...

Robert Roybal

Robert Roybal

Apr 22, 2025

Robert Roybal, 73 a lifelong resident of Fort Sumner, NM passed away at his home Tuesday, April 22, 2025 following an illness.

He was born October 31, 1951 in Fort Sumner to the home of Sylvester and Chonita (Sanchez) Roybal. He grew up in Fort Sumner and attended Fort Sumner school. He is a graduate of Fort Sumner High School. He...

Patsy Howard-McClung

Patsy Howard-McClung

Apr 20, 2025

Patsy Howard-McClung, age 77, passed away Sunday evening, April 20, 2025 in Idalou, Texas following an illness. A Graveside service will be held at 12:00 PM, Saturday, April 26, 2025 from the Garden of Love at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons Randal Howard, Beau Howard, Blake Howard, Cash Howard, Ben Ratcliffe.

Patsy was born June 2, 1947 in Clovis,...

William F Staats

William F Staats

Apr 13, 2025

William "Bill" Staats, 81, a resident of Lake Sumner passed away Sunday, April 13, 2025 at Hillside Heights Nursing Home in Amarillo, TX following a sudden illness. Bill was born March 21, 1944 in Great Falls, Montana to the home of Alvin Frederick Staats and Frances (Lehman) Staats.

Bill married Jeannettea Mullins in Pensacola, Florida in 1974. Together they traveled the...