​JUAN LOZANO JR., 34, passed away Monday May 29, 2017 at his home.
 
Visitation will be Thursday, June 1, 2017 from 3 to 5 at Baca’s Funeral Chapel.  A prayer vigil will be that evening at 6 o’clock at St. Ann Catholic Church with Maria Lozano officiating.  Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, June 2, 2017 at 12 noon with Fr. Manuel Ibarra, pastor officiating.  Concluding services and interment will follow at Mt. View Cemetery.
 
Juan was born January 5, 1983 in Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico and has lived in Deming for most all his life.  He was currently working as a Control Room Operator with Freeport McMorran at the Chino Mine.  Juan was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys and is remembered by his family as being a happy, big hearted man who was always fun to be around.  His special trait of being kind to others whether he knew them or not is also a special remembrance of his family.
 
He is survived by his parents, Juan and Juana Lozano of Deming; his biological mother, Delia Lozano of Surprise, AZ; his companion, Mariah Milo of Deming; daughters, Emma Esperanza Lozano and Briseis Maddison Lozano of Deming; brothers, Adan Lozano of Mexico, Roberto and Arnoldo Lozano of Deming; sisters, Eva Lozano of Deming, Maria Alonzo of Phoenix, AZ, Elisa Hernandez of Deming, Dora Lozano of Mexico, Bertha Granillo of Deming, Janeth Ortega, Miriam Arvizu, Claudette Adan, and Claribel Arvizu all of Surprise, Arizona.  He was preceded in death by his biological father, Lalo Bencomo.
 
Pallbearers will be Roberto Lozano Jr., Orlando Lozano, Luis Alonzo, Julian Soto, Robert Lozano and Charlie Galindo.  
 
Entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels.  

​Leroy Bennett, 84, resident of Deming, New Mexico, passed away Saturday May 20, 2017.
A graveside service will be held at 9:00 AM Tuesday May 30, 2017 at Mt. View Cemetery.  Sam Hammond will officiate.
Leroy was born April 14, 1933 in Marlow, Oklahoma to Fred and Irene Bennett. Leroy met his wife, Fern, in Lordsburg, New Mexico in 1952. They were married on March 1, 1953. They welcomed their first of three children on April 29, 1954. 
He first worked for a windmill service when he was in third grade. After that he worked for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Leroy served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955. While in the army, he served as a mechanic and was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. After leaving the military he returned to Melrose and then moved to Deming. He worked at various places and later opened Bennett Generator and Repair.
 
He fell in love with the idea of flying in 1975 and in 1977 got his private pilot license. Over the years he owned and flew many different aircraft. 6391A was his first Cessna 182. He also flew a Cessna TU206. In his later years he received his commercial certification and began flying crop dusters for his partnership, BY AG Air with his long-time friend, Al Yates.
 
His wife, Fern passed away on September 16, 2012. His son Royce, had preceded him on July 25, 1979.
He was loved for his strength, warmth and caring way. As some have said, he was the kind of guy that would give you anything he had and even the shirt off his back. He had a reputation as being an amazing mechanic, pilot and friend.
His living siblings are Billy Bennett, Charles Bennett, Bobby Bennett, Harold Bennett and Kenneth Bennett. He is survived by his daughters, Norene Hammond and Dena Davis. He also has 6 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.  
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Honor Flight of Southern New Mexico c/o American Legion 619 West Spruce Street, Deming, New Mexico 88030
Entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels.  

​RITA D. BENNETT, 67, former resident of Deming passed away peacefully Monday May 22, 2017.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday May 30, 2017 at Mt. View Cemetery.  Sam Hammond will officiate.
Rita was born June 2, 1949 in Las Vegas, New Mexico to Roscoe and Nora Atwater.  She met her husband Johnny in Silver City in 1968 and they were married in 1971.  Two years later, they were blessed with the first of their two daughters.  Rita remained at home while the girls were young, and worked outside the home for several years as the girls grew older.  She held several jobs throughout her career, most notably working at Deming Bonded Warehouse, which she retired from after 15 years of service. Rita and Johnny were a great team and had many great adventures together including building their last home together. They were married for 41 years, until his untimely passing in 2012, after which Rita moved to Las Cruces to be closer to her immediate family.  
 
Rita was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and a doting great grandmother.  All who knew her considered themselves fortunate to have her in their lives, and they miss her more every day.
 
She is survived by her daughters, Carin Bennett and Christi Bennett; her granddaughter Jessica, her great grandson Nathaniel, her sister Lola Drake; her brothers Ervin, Dennis and Larry Atwater; and her faithful K-9 companion, Cheyenne.
 
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Humane Society in your area.
 
Entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels.  

Winnie Lou Holdridge, long time Deming resident, passed away at her home on Sunday, May 21, 2017. She was 87 years old.
 
Born in Hachita, NM on May 19, 1930 to Leo Charles Sr. and Winnie White McKinney, Winnie Lou spent her early childhood roaming the range at the Gray Ranch in the boot heel of New Mexico. She moved to Deming with her parents during her junior high years and graduated in 1948 from Deming High School, where she met husband Kenneth Holdridge. During their 50 years of marriage, Winnie & Ken were partners in several Deming businesses: Holdridge Home Furnishings, A-1 Self Storage, and Mimbres Valley Development pecan farm south of Deming.
 
Winnie Lou was preceded in death by husband Kenneth in 1998, brothers, Leo “Bud” McKinney Jr. and Kenneth “Kenny” McKinney and granddaughter, Collette Holdridge. She leaves behind son, Rick (married to Sue) also of Deming; daughter Pat of Nashville, TN; granddaughters, Valerie Fuller Voll (Todd), Melissa Fuller Spillman (Jeremy), Allison Fuller Martin (Travis), Bekah Holdridge, and Rachelle Holdridge and great-grandsons, Nathan, Edwin, Bennett and Jed Spillman.
 
Winnie Lou loved her family and Deming community, where she opened her home to many impromptu gatherings and parties. She was a strong country woman who lived in the city. She had a kind heart and a sharp wit. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
 
Services will be held Friday, May 26th at First United Methodist Church at 2:30 in the afternoon. Pastor Ernie Vineyard will officiate.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to The Raining Season, PO Box 997, Spring Hill, TN 37174 (therainingseason.org) or Transforming Luna County (TLC), PO Box 2187, Deming 88031.
 
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there; I did not die.
Author Unknown
 
Entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels.  ​

Billy Fred Massey was born March 18, 1928 in Kaufman, Texas, the middle son of O’Dell and Beatrice Massey.  His time on earth ended May 17, 2017.  He is survived by his two sons, Randy Lee Massey, and his wife Vicki, and Ricky Alan Massey and his wife Bobbie, all of Animas; Two brothers, William Massey of Animas and Milton Massey and his wife Carolyn of El Paso, Texas; five Grandchildren, Tammy Pompeo and her husband Mike of Animas, Tisha Loranc of Las Cruces, Alysha Wagley and her husband Sam of Animas, Scott Massey and his wife Carrie of Animas, and Cash Massey and his wife Kanzas also of Animas; and 12 great-grandchildren… Dallas and Troy Pompeo, Jaxon, Kaylee and Jaci Loranc, Rayce, Ty and Coy Wagley, Jade and Cap Massey and Lindsey and Piper Massey, He was preceded in death by his parents O’Dell and Beatrice Massey and his daughter-in-law Sheila Massey.
Older family members called him Billy Fred, more people knew him as Bill, but when the first grandchild, Tammy, came along she dubbed him Daddy Bill and the name stuck.

Shortly after Billy Fred was born the family moved to Houston where his dad worked for the Hughes Tool Company before moving to Fabens, Texas in around 1931.  Bill, as most knew him, grew up on the Lee Moor farms and graduating from Fabens High School. After graduation he moved to present-day Green Valley Arizona helping his dad and brother run a thousand-acre farm.  He married Carleen Lyerly of Tucson, in 1946.  They raised two sons, Randy Lee and Ricky Alan.

Bill’s lifelong passion was farming, starting as a water boy, carrying buckets of water to the men in the fields for fifty cents a day.  When he was big enough to reach the peddles he began driving a tractor.

 In 1952 when the Animas Valley was beginning to be opened up to farming, Billy Fred and his brother William Moore both bought farms here.  A year later their father followed them to Animas.  They successfully scratched out a living growing cotton and raising a family through the 1950’s and 60’s.  When Randy and Ricky graduated from college Massey Enterprises was formed.
Bill was always open to change.  Over the years the farm produced, cotton, milo, corn, chile, jalapenos, pinto beans, wheat, barley, oat hay and alfalfa.  With each new crop Bill and the boys worked hard to make the best possible yield. There were very few pieces of farm equipment that were not modified in some way by Bill and his boys.  He was forever tinkering.  Together, Bill and the boys helped revolutionize growing cotton on 30 inch rows adapting a cotton stripper to the new spacing.  A few years later Case International and John Deere introduced machines for the “New” row spacings.  In July of 1985, Bill was featured on the cover of the Cotton Farming magazine. 

When Massey Enterprises began growing Chile, it wasn’t long before Bill once again became obsessed with finding a better way.  First it was by growing chile under sprinkler irrigation, which everyone said it could not be done.  Then by narrowing the rows it was grown on, and finally inventing a chile picker to harvest the crop.  By now he had the grandson’s involved as they all worked together and invented and built the “Massey Pepper Harvester” in their shop.  When they were done, their machine would harvest three truck loads of Jalapenos in 6 ½ hours. This would take 200 men to do the same, and according to Border Foods, the chile was cleaner than hand picked.

Bill loved farming.  He loved his family.  He loved John Wayne and he loved Mickey Mouse.  He passed these passions on to the generations to follow.  Bill always said his goal was to have a thousand-acre farm and own a pickup.  Well he succeeded in accomplishing that and much more, farming with his family and attaining great success in such a tough industry.  The legacies that Daddy Bill has passed on to his sons, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren are a tremendous love of the land, a great work ethic, a deep pride in one’s accomplishments and unconditional love of family. 

Graveside services will be held at the Middle Animas Cemetery on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 10:30 AM. 
​
Entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels.  

Joyce Estelle Erickson, 74, Deming resident passed away Tuesday May 16, 2017 at Mimbres Memorial Hospital. 
​ 
No service will take place as were her wishes.  Cremation has been entrusted to Baca’s Mimbres Crematory.
 
Joyce was born December 4, 1942 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Stella Josephine Amundson and Michael Paul Yurik.  She moved to Deming in 2009 coming from Spooner, WI and was a member of the American Legion, Elks Lodge, Hospital Auxiliary, Red Hat and First United Methodist Church.  She volunteered in the community, loved to play cards, entertain and especially loved animals. 
 
She is survived by brother-in-law, David Erickson and wife Fabby of Deming; brother, Michael Yurik and wife Betty of Spooner, WI; nieces, Michele Heffner and husband John of Isanti, MN, Shannon Scheurich and husband Mike of Anoka, MN; 2 step-daughters, Jeanne Erickson and partner Dave Oliver of Littleton, CO, Sandy Licht and husband Ted of Eau Claire, WI, Erickson family, many friends and extended family members. 
 
Joyce was preceded in death by parents, Stella Josephine and Michael Paul Yurik; husband, Gerald James Erickson. 
 
Special thanks to Phyllis Johnson, Danette and Monty Hall and Maria Lucero for the good and loving care they gave her. 
 
Entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels.  

Vilge C. Vanke, 102, longtime Deming resident passed away Wednesday May 17, 2017 at Mimbres Memorial Nursing Home.

No service will take place as were her wishes. Cremation was entrusted to Baca’s Mimbres Crematory.

Vilge was born October 8, 1914 in Buffalo, New York to Teresa and Silvio Paci. She moved to Deming in 1975 coming from Akron, Ohio and was a member of the Rockhound Association and a Communicant of the Catholic Church. She was very talented, was a great seamstress, making coats and shoes, and also loved to knit and cook. One of her loves was following her son Arlen, in his competitions and winnings in Stock, Super Stock and Pro Stock classes in car racing.

She is survived by son, Arlen Vanke and wife Joyce of Deming; grandchild, Craig Vanke and 2 great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Taylor Vanke. Vilge was preceded in death by parents, Silvio and Teresa Paci; husband, Louie Vanke; 2 brothers and 2 sisters.

Entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels. To sign the online guest book or to send a

IRENE GARCIA ZAPATA, 67, a lifelong resident of Deming passed away Sunday May 14, 2017 at Mt. View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces.
Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 7 at Baca’s Funeral Chapel.  Funeral services will be Friday morning at 10 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Concluding services and interment will follow at Mt. View Cemetery.
Irene was born April 25, 1950 to Gonzalo and Aurora (Bustos) Garcia.  She married Manuel F. Zapata on December 10, 1994 and was a homemaker.  She loved to cook and bake and always looked forward to spring and summer so she could go to the Little League games to watch her family play.  Irene was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
She is survived by her husband Manuel of Deming; daughters, Patricia Rivera and Irene Zapata of Deming; sisters, Emilia Torres, Olga Villa, Cecilia Dal-Ben, and Socorro Granillo all of Deming; and her 5 grandchildren who she cherished, Justin Gutierrez, Michael Esquivel, Emeliano Zapata, Dariella Zapata, and Ximena Zapata; and numerous nieces and nephews.  Her parents have preceded her in death.
Pallbearers will be Armando Zapata, Justin Gutierrez, Ronnie Milo, Sergio Granillo Sr., Francisco Zapata Jr., and Donnie Bustos. 
Entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels.  

​Mary Lois “Lou” Wilson, of New Braunfels, Texas passed away peacefully on May 11, 2017 at the age of 82.  She was born Mary Lois Rebholz on June 14, 1934 to Eugene R. and Mary Irene Wiggins Rebholz in Massillon, Ohio. She moved to Deming, New Mexico in 1956 at the age of 22 and raised a family of 8 children.
 
Lou re-entered high school in her late 20’s and graduated with honors from Deming High School at the age of 30.  She attended Western New Mexico University, earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education.  She worked as an elementary school teacher for the Deming Public School System for 30 years.  
 
Lou is survived by one brother, Eugene Rebholz (93) of Pittsburgh PA and her 8 children; James Little of Deming NM, Scott Little of Oakland Park FL,  Jennifer Little Chavez of Cedar Park TX, Margie Little Kinman of Las Vegas NV, Jay Little of Deming NM, Richard Little of Las Cruces NM, Kelly Little Plahy of New Braunfels TX and Jon Spurlin of Waldorf MD.  She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
 
She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Marjorie Pershing of Santa Fe, NM and two grandsons; infant Ledrue Paul Little, and Christopher Paul Chavez (17) and one great granddaughter, infant Briana Celene Cardenas.
 
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Friday, May 19th at 2 p.m. at Baca’s Funeral Chapels