Luce, J.W.

Services: Have been held.

Mr. J.W. Luce, 87, of Portales, died Friday, Oct. 3, 2003, at his home in Portales.

He was born on Feb. 4, 1916, in Wellington, Texas, to Ida Pearl and George N. Luce. His family came to Clovis around 1924 before moving to Portales.

Mr. Luce helped his father dig the basement of the Roosevelt County Courthouse. He worked as a heavy equipment operator and postal worker.

He married Fern Downey in 1933. They had eight children. He married Opal Smith on July 30, 1960. Mr. Luce loved gospel music, fishing and hunting.

He was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Leonard and one who died at birth; four sisters, Ophelia Walker, Hattie Mae Gentry, Christine Gifford and one who died at birth; and by two grandsons, Cal Kennedy and Ken Richardson; and an infant granddaughter.

Survivors include his wife, Opal; five sons, Euel Luce of Portales, Nolan (and wife Patsy) Luce of Phoenix, Joe (Vera) Luce of Portales, Jack (Reba) Luce of Tatum, and Ed (Barbara) Luce of Tulsa, Okla.; three stepsons, F.H. (Mary) Smith of Dallas, Elma (Jody) of Sacramento, Calif., and Hayden (Cheryl) Smith of Carrizozo; three daughters, Charlene (Clark) Seals of Portales, Darlene Richardson of Hereford, Texas, and Norma Faye (Jim) Griffin of Odessa, Texas; one brother, Leon Luce of Farwell; 29 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; and 18 great-great-grandchildren.

The Revs. Sam Duncan and Walter Huber will officiate the services. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers.