Texico man dies in rollover

Curry County sheriff’s deputy David Kube has made house calls notifying parents that their children have died.

Each time he gave the bad news, he told himself the day would never come when a tragic fatality would afflict his family.

Unfortunately for Kube that day came Tuesday, when police notified him that his 20-year-old son — Spencer D. Kube, of Texico — died in a vehicle rollover near House.

“I see parents who lose kids ... and you hope that never happens to you and you tell yourself that it will never happen and the next thing you know it does. Because I haven’t actually got to see my son yet, I still don’t want to believe that it’s true, but deep in my heart I know it is,” the father said.

Spencer was traveling westbound on State Road 252 near House in Quay County when his 2001 Ford Pickup crossed the roadway and entered into the south shoulder, according to a press release from the New Mexico State Police. The volunteer firefighter then overcorrected, causing the truck to go into a broadside slide and rollover five times, according to the release. The Texico High School graduate was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, the release stated.

The youngster’s father said his son was probably on his way to work at wind farm near House on Tuesday morning, and may have been tired because he also was called in late Monday night.

Friends and family described Spencer as outgoing, always laughing and easy to talk to. He loved fishing and spending time with his younger sisters, his father said.

He leaves behind his parents, a longtime girlfriend (they had discussed marriage, his father said), a 16-year-old brother, three stepsisters and one half-sister.

“I didn’t want to believe it (when I found out he died),” said 17-year-old Shaina Zachry, a Portales High School student and one of Spencer’s good friends. “I was in shock and I started to cry — I still don’t believe it.

“He was a really great guy. I’m going to miss him a lot.”

Zachry said her friend was like a “big brother” more than anything, and had a wild streak.

She remembered the time he and another friend put on motorcycle helmets and started screaming during a late-night cruise in Clovis.

But with the “goofiness” came a genuine friend, one who would drive the 30 miles from Texico to Portales to pick up Zachry when she needed a ride.

The youngster’s father said his caring spirit was evident at a young age.

When the family was leaving an Amarillo hotel after a family vacation years ago, it was 10-year-old Spencer who first noticed his 4-year-old stepsister was missing.

His father said he jumped out of the car and ran through the hotel crying calling for his sister, who he eventually found wandering near the family’s hotel room.

“He was that kind of kid,” his father said. “He would have done anything for anybody.”