'Special lady' gave us flowers

When folks in Portales wanted flowers over the years, they turned to Billye Hestand and her husband Elvis.

Billye Hestand died Feb. 8, just about a month after she celebrated her 100th birthday. Elvis died in 2010. The two were married for almost 70 years.

According to her obituary from Wheeler Mortuary, the Hestands arrived in Portales in 1949, buying the former Whitehouse Flowers in October that year.

In 1956 the Hestands moved their business to 813 W. Second St. They ran their floral business for about 30 years before retiring in the early 1980s.

Kathy Mobley was close friends with the Hestands' granddaughter, Kim, back in the day when the Hestands ran the shop.

"I was just a kid running around with their granddaughter and it was always so much fun to be at their shop," Mobley said.

Mobley said it seemed Billye Hestand was constantly busy.

"The thing I liked best about Billye at the flower shop was she always made the bows by hand," Mobley said.

Mobley described how Billye would be on the phone, ribbon in hand and making countless bows.

"I was in her home when homecoming was two months away. She'd be getting work done in advance on those (homecoming) mums so Elvis didn't have to ask her for anything. Most of it was always done. It was so beautiful how they worked together," Mobley said.

Mobley believes one thing for certain: "She and Elvis are together now, they're looking down on everyone and enjoying themselves."

Karl Terry said he didn't know the Hestands well.

"They were wonderful people, he was an elder at our church. She walked with him every step of the way," Terry said recounting of the days at the Fourth Street Church of Christ in Portales.

Rose Richards bought Hestand's Floral in November of 2007. The shop held the same name as when the Hestands retired in the 1980s.

"She told me how much she appreciated including her in the business because others had not," Richards said.

Richards had known Hestand for years before she bought the business.

"I loved that woman," Richards said.

Richards said she really got to know the family, including Hestand after she bought the business.

"She would come in sometimes just to say 'hi.' Her positive energy and her dynamic personality made her a special lady," Richards said.

Richards said she didn't have stories from Billye Hestand.

"The storyteller was her husband, Elvis," Richards said.

"I do remember one time she told me, 'Rose, you do me proud,'" Richards said.