Articles from the December 28, 2004 edition

Tony Parra

Members of the 523rd Fighter Squad at Cannon Air Force Base check the inventory of their chemical protection gear during the war readiness mobility deployment process Monday morning at the base. CANNON AIR FORCE BASE — Hundreds of pilots, airmen and other Air Force officials on Monday geared up for an upcoming deployment overseas. The personnel will provide war-ready air combat if the need of support in the Middle East arises. Col. John Posner spoke to roughly 300 members of the 523rd Fighter Squad of the 27th Fighter Wing a...

CNJ Staff

The University of New Mexico coaching staff challenged Hank Baskett after the last year’s season-ending Las Vegas Bowl. As the only returning wide receiver on the roster with Division-I experience, the former Clovis High standout needed to step up his game. The 6-foot-4 junior responded with a breakout year. In his first year as a starter, Baskett responded by catching 49 passes for 793 yards and three touchdowns for the Emerald-Bowl bound Lobos — season totals that exceeded the rest of the Lobo receivers combined. Bas...

CNJ Staff

Clovis freshman Ebony Bunton scored three points and added four rebounds in Monday’s first-round game against Abilene Cooper. (CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth) Clovis senior guard Melissa Roberts’ job is to harass opposing point guards. Sophomore Tori Northcutt draws the opponent’s top scorer. The pair teamed to disrupt Abilene Cooper’s offense Monday with constant pressure as Clovis rolled to a 64-40 win Monday in the first round of the Plateau Holiday Classic at Rock Staubus Gym. Roberts collected four steals and Northcu...

Eric Butler

Clovis’ Devin Sweet is fouled by Tascosa’s C.J. Johnson Monday at the Milk Cow Holiday Classic. (CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth) Escaping with a one-point victory against Tascosa earlier in the season, the Clovis boys basketball team surely looked forward to showing the Rebels what it could do with its full complement of players. Even with all of its football athletes now available on the hardwood, Clovis had a difficult time — at least for a half — in disposing of the Rebels 61-45 in the opening round of the Milk Cow Classic... Full story

Maria Najera Services Have been held. Maria De La Luz Torres-Najera, 52, of Hobbs, formerly of Clovis, died Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004, in Lubbock. She was born on Dec. 31, 1952 in Durango, Mexico, to Domingo and Martina Torres. She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Hobbs. Family members said she was a kind, caring and gentle person who was full of energy and life, and very family oriented. She touched the lives of many people, making them laugh, feel good about themselves, and always making them feel loved. Survivors...

Christopher Rodarte Services: Have been held. Christopher Jonathan Rodarte, 24, of Santa Rosa, died Monday, Nov. 8, 2004, near Dilia. He was born on Sept. 21, 1980, in Santa Rosa, to Joseph Fredrick Rodarte and Barbara Ann Moncayo. He was raised in Santa Rosa where he attended Santa Rosa High School. He participated in football, basketball, and MESA. He was a cook at Joseph’s Restaurant in Santa Rosa for the past two years. Family members said he loved football and was a 49rs fan, enjoyed spending time with his family, f...

CNJ Staff

Positive thinking and confidence in the Clovis economy may have contributed to a strong holiday season for local retailers. Local store owners and managers have seen a healthy bump in sales this month, and some are saying the perception of a strong Clovis economy may be part of the cause. “I credit the overall local economy,” said Randy Dayhoff, who owns and operates Randy’s Shoes and Dayhoff’s Shoes Outlet on Main Street. He said this has been an especially strong December for Randy’s Shoes. “This month really surprised m...

Harry Cooper Services: Have been held. Harry Doyle Cooper, 71, of Broadview, died Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004, at Lubbock Heart Center. He was born on May 20, 1933, in Roy, to H.B. and Mellie Garrett Cooper. He married Rose Ella Mote, on Aug. 18, 1951, in Tucumcari. He retired as a master sergeant from the U.S. Air Force in 1973. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his brother, H.B. Cooper; and his sister, Virginia Nell Shaw. Survivors include two sisters, Loretta Boardman of Albuquerque and Danna Lee Warner of...

Ann Culley Services: Have been held. Ann Elizabeth Faris Culley, 96, died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at Manhattan, Kan. She was born on March 12, 1908, in Clovis, to Joel Clary and Nancy Faris. She was an accomplished pianist and after graduation she taught music for a number of years. She moved to Albuquerque in the late 1950s, where she became an executive secretary for the A.E.C. research and development facility at Sandia Corporation. She was an active member of Eastern Star, Tri Psi, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, and Toastmistress... Full story

Millie Houston Services: Have been held. Millie Jo Houston, 74, of Clovis, died Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis. She was born on March 29, 1930, in Kenna, to Raymond and Nettie Cavett Archer. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, G.C. Houston Jr.; a brother; and a sister. Survivors include four sons, Raymond Lee Christian of Tucson, Ariz., Thomas Joe Wimberly of San Jon, Cleveland Houston of San Diego, and Robert Houston of Amarillo; three daughters, Gloria Christian of...

Joe Anderson Services: Have been held. Joe Anderson, 68, of Fort Sumner, died Friday, Nov. 12, 2004, at Lubbock Health Care in Lubbock. He was born on Oct. 16, 1936, in Littlefield, Texas, to George C. Anderson and Lizzie C. Gleaton. He was raised at Fort Sumner where he attended school, graduating in 1956. He participated in football and basketball at Fort Sumner. He married Jessie Pickett on July 5, 1957, in Las Vegas, N.M. He was employed by Mountain Bell Telephone. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served for four yea...

Miracle Tiana Gooden Services: Have been held. Miracle Tiana Gooden, infant, of Clovis, died Friday, Nov. 12, 2004, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis. She was preceded in death by a sister, Precious Shantel Gooden; and two great-grandfathers. She was survived by her mother, Mary Wood of Clovis; her father Tyrone Gooden of Clovis; four brothers, Arkell Gooden of Austin, Texas, Dante Gooden of Clovis, Brandon Wood of Clovis, Daejon Wood of Clovis; a sister, Beyonce Wood of Clovis; grandparents, Cliffton and Coretta...

Royce Dale Bethel Services:Have been held. Royce Dale Bethel, 51, of Farwell, died Monday, Nov. 15, 2004 at University Medical Center in Lubbock. He was born Aug. 31, 1953, to A.V. and Fern Bethel in Portales. He graduated from Floydada High School in 1971, and he became a farmer. He married Jamye Berry on May 28, 1988, in Farwell. He owned Royce's Repair Shop in Farwell and he hauled cotton for the Farwell Gin. He served two terms on the Farwell City Council. Family members said he was a avid golfer, enjoyed hunting and... Full story

Howard Grundman Services: Have been held. Howard “Axel” Grundman, 82, of Storm Lake, Iowa, formerly from Albuquerque, died Monday, Nov. 8, 2004, at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake, Iowa. He was born on Nov. 15, 1921, in Pella, Iowa, to Ralph S. and Katherine Elvira Burtness Grundman. He was baptized on Dec. 25, 1922, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Iowa. He was a member of the Second Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. He graduated from Pella High School. He attended Iowa State University for a sho...

Annie Louise Johnson Services: Have been held. Mrs. Annie Louise Johnson, 87, of Pulaski, Tenn., died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004, at Hillside Hospital in Pulaski, Tenn. She was born on July 27, 1917, in Athens, Ala., to Otha and Lessie Wakefield. She was preceded in death by her husband, J.F. Johnson; and a son, Jimmy Johnson. She is survived by four daughters, Bonnie Widner (and husband, Harold) of Clovis, Judy Newton (Leon) of Pulaski, Tenn., Flora Smith (J.B.) of Pulaski, Tenn., Sue Johnson (Charles) of Pulaski, Tenn.; two...

Enrique Estrada Services: Have been held. Enrique Estrada, 55, of Portales, died Friday, Nov. 12, 2004 in Lubbock. He was born Sept. 30, 1949, in El Paso, Texas. He graduated from Los Angeles United School District in 1968. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served from 1969 until 1981. Family members said he loved basketball, golf and playing his guitar. He is survived by his sons, Abel and Nathan Estrada; his mother, Sofia Morales; brothers, Antonio Morales and Jose Morales; sisters, Isabel Martinez, Estela M. Fuentes... Full story

Frankie Gordon Coffman Services: Have been held. Mr. Frankie Gordon Coffman, 65, of Farwell, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004, at the University Medical Center in Lubbock. He graduated in 1958 from Friona High School and attended West Texas State University. He was a resident of Farwell for many years, where he was employed at the Apple Shack. Family members said in his spare time he enjoyed wood working and gleaning fruits and vegetables, which was his passion to share with family, friends and the community. He was a member of... Full story

Earl Long Services: Have been held. Earl A. Long, 80, of Portales, died Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales. He was born on Jan. 29, 1924, in Colgate, Okla., to Eva and Sanford Long. He served during World War II as a paratrooper in Europe. Following his military service, he married Clarice Cochran in Wheeler, Texas, on May 10, 1948. He lived in Arizona and Oklahoma before moving to California where he worked for Hughes Aircraft as a metal fabricator. He worked as a park ranger in California for 1...

Francis Fonteno Services: Have been held. Francis “Frank” Fonteno, 80, of Clovis, died Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, in Clovis. He was born in Lake Charles, La., to Cristobal and Mary Clara “Emily” Fontenot. He married Maria Margarita Gonzalez on July 3, 1962, in San Benito, Texas. He was a member of the United States Air Force and served in World War II in Europe, in the Korean Conflict, and in the Vietnam War. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Knights of Columbus, and Air...

Christopher Garcia Services: Have been held. Christopher “Chris” Garcia, 36, of Clovis, died Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004 at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock. He was born June 12, 1968, in Clovis. His father was Sotero Garcia; his mother was Dolores Tapia. He married Sandra Garcia on July 15, 2000, in Clovis. He was a wood worker and family members said he was a jack of all trades. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and American Legion No. 25. Family members said he loved spending time with his family. He was raised in Ama...

Doris Billings Services: Have been held. Doris Law Billings, 86, of San Angelo, Texas, died Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, in Midland, Texas. She was born Oct. 16, 1918 in Lubbock. She married Melvin Billings in 1941 in Lubbock. She was a long-time resident of San Angelo, moving there in 1969. She was a member of Community Hills Christian Church in San Angelo. She was active in the San Angelo Ostomy Organization, a volunteer for the hospital auxiliary for many years, a member of Eastern Star, and active in her Friendship class at...

Brenden Leyne Travis Services: Have been held. Infant Brenden Layne Travis, 1 month 22 days, of Clovis, died Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at University Medical Center in Lubbock. He was born Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, to Ryan and Nichole Sutton Travis in Lubbock. He was preceded in death by his great-grandfather, A. P. Sutton, Jr. Survivors include his parents; grandparents, Larry and Sandra Sutton of Muleshoe, Rick and Eileen Erickson of Oxford, Neb., and Wayne and Melissa Travis of Bellville, Texas; great-grandparents, David and... Full story

Mary Gonzales Services: Have been held. Mary Gonzales, 90, of Portales, died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales. She was born on Dec. 8, 1913, in White Oaks, to Urbano and Rosita Carrillo. She was raised in Lincoln. On Oct. 20, 1930, she married J.L. Gonzales, in Hagerman. In 1953, she moved to a farm south of Portales. She attended the Spanish Baptist Mission in Portales. Recently she had been making her home in the Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales. She was preceded in death by her... Full story