April 22 Obituaries

Michael Strader, 47

Michael Strader, 47, of Clovis died Saturday, April 10, 2004, at his home.

He was born on Nov. 3, 1956, in Clovis to Neal and Ellen McCollum Strader.

After graduating from Clovis High School he moved to Arlington, Texas, where he went to the University of Texas at Arlington. During school he worked for Fieldcrest Service Center and other part-time jobs. In 1981 he moved back to Clovis where he worked for NAPA Auto Parts for seven years and at other places. He was a member of the National Rifle Association. Family members said he loved to fish, work on cars and ride motorcycles.

He was preceded in death by his father and his grandparents.

Survivors include his mother, Ellen Prince of Clovis; a brother, Curt Phillips of Princeton, Texas; two sisters, Denise Phillips of Irving, Texas, and Candace Phillips of Portales; two half-brothers, Joel Strader of Normal, Ill., and Steven Strader of Corpus Christi, Texas; and an aunt, Sandra Phillips of Portales.

Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at Mission Garden of Memories in Clovis. Graveside services will be held.

Gene and Charlene Phillips will officiate the services.

Cremation has taken place.

Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.

Rudolfo

Cereceres, 78

Rudolfo Cereceres, 78, of Portales, died Wednesday, April 21, 2004, at his home.

He was born on Dec. 5, 1925, in Chihuahua, Mexico, to Elena and Roberto Cereceres.

He grew up in Chihuahua, where he attended school. He served in the Mexico military. In 1963, he moved to the U.S. and lived in Rocky Ford, Colo. He married Estella Gonzales on Nov. 2, 1964, in Rocky Ford and continued to live there until 1972, when they moved to Lariat, Texas. He spent most of his life working in agriculture before retiring in 1983. They moved to Portales in 1987. Family members said he enjoyed personal gardening.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Manuel and Roberto Cereceres Jr.; and a sister, Lorenza Cereceres.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Raymond Serna (and wife, Sharon) of Clovis and Joe Pantoya and Sandro J. Serna, both of Portales; six daughters, Rose Trujillo (Mike) of Pueblo, Colo., Mary Ring of Seattle, Wash., Melissa Harper (Kurt) of Canton, Ohio, and Estelle Rayna, Ellen Cordova and Sheila Puente (Jose Jr.), both of Portales; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four brothers, Alfred Cereceres (Antonia) of El Paso, Texas, Ramon Cereceres (Olivia), Antonio Cereceres and Raul Cereceres (Rosa), all of Chihuahua; two sisters, Maria Elena Aldave (Waldo) and Carmen Cereceres, all of Chihuahua, Mexico; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Helen Catholic Church in Portales. The Rev. Tobin Hitt will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

A rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales.

Pallbearers are Raymond and Sandro J. Serna, Mike Trujillo, Jose Puente Jr., Herman Cordova and Robert Powers.

Honorary pallbearers are the grandchildren.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Lee Pate, 74

Lee Pate, 74, of Lovington, died Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at Lovington Good Samaritan Care Center.

He was born on March 12, 1930, in Balmorhea, Texas, to Callie Mack and Leah Louise Lock Pate.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Tatum, where he was a long-time resident.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include a daughter, Lisa Presher of Tatum; a son, Lonnie Mack Pate of Carlsbad; a brother, Callie Mack Pate of Lovington; and three grandchildren, Wayne Cole and Robert and Michelle Presher.

Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. (CDT) Friday at Elida Cemetery.

The Rev. Wayne Brazil will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Elida Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Stevens Funeral Home of Lovington.

Obituary Policy

The Portales News-Tribune does not charge to publish obituaries. Space constraints and deadlines may limit what is published. Information for obituaries must come from funeral homes.