Blog Archives

Kevin William Tipton

5/31/2022

Kevin William Tipton, 76, a resident of Silver City, NM entered eternal rest Saturday, May 28, 2022 at Gila Regional Medical Center. He was born April 11, 1946 in Albuquerque, NM to Ernest J. Tipton and Vera A. Pearson Tipton.

He graduated from Highland High and decided o join the NM Air National Guard. He was in the group that was activated and sent to Vietnam, along with several other states’ groups. When he returned, Kevin graduated from UNM in Journalism, and served as a lobbyist for several industries, and all over the U.S. He spent a lot of time working with legislators to enact laws the industries could support.

He decided he would enjoy owning an artistically oriented Gallery in Northern California. He nurtured several artists; but found the world changed dramatically after 911. So, he left Northern California and returned to NM; but this time to Silver City. He and his wife Yvonne built a house near Tyrone. Kevin was still energetic, so he decided to take on updating an older house in Silver City. He loved New Mexico and its art and architecture; but felt constrained with the limitations of COVID.

He is survived by his two children, Jeremy Tipton of Albuquerque; Amanda M. Tipton; his sister Lindsay Tipton of Winchester, VA. He was preceded in death by parents.

A graveside service will be held Friday, June 3rd at 1pm at Fort Bayard National Cemetery with full military honors.

Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels.

Debra Kay French

5/25/2022

Debra Kay French, 66, a resident of Silver City, NM entered eternal rest Friday, May 20, 2022 at her residence. Debra was born in Silver City, NM on August 10, 1955 to her father Marcus Jones and mother Jesse Cuttingham Jones.

Debra married to William “Bill” French and had four children. She worked for the public schools as a substitute teacher, she also drove the school bus for 18 years. She retired in 2013 along with her husband. She enjoyed supporting all the children in their sports events and her husband in all he decided to do. She enjoyed traveling whenever they could. She really loved having her pretty flowers and had Bill place them all over in the yard.

Debra is survived by her loving husband, her two sons William French (Jamie) of Omaha, NE, and Daniel French of Silver City, NM; her two daughters, Tanya French of Mimbres, NM, and Crystal French of Silver City, NM; her sister Judy Filliman (Jim) of Safford, AZ and her six grandchildren, Gary, Wyatt, Kayla, Alyssa, Logan & Jeremiah. She is preceded in death by her parents, and her sister Linda Walker.

No services will be held.

Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory.

Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory.

Justin William Kluth

5/15/2022

Justin William Kluth, 47, a former resident of Glenwood, NM and now of Granby, CO, entered eternal rest, April 30, 2022 at St. Anthony’s Trauma Center in Lakewood, CO. Justin was born to Steven and Evelyn Kluth, in Silver City, New Mexico. He worked as an expert heavy-duty machine operator most of his life on jobs all across America. He loved pushing dirt with his bull-dozer, relaxing in the water at the lake, being with his friends, and his little bull-dog, Bella.

He was proud of the work he accomplished on the border wall and the projects they completed at White Sands Missile Range where he was the Superintendent. Justin is survived by: His mother, Evelyn, of Santa Clara, NM, one brother, Tracy Kelly (Darla) of Los Lunas, NM, three sisters, Deanna Leyba of Las Cruces, NM, Andrea Montoya (Eli) of Santa Rita, NM, Jackie Barker (James) of Florida, one Aunt, Josephine Heien (Dale) of Gilbert, AZ Uncles, Wilson Kelly (Carol), of Glenwood, NM, Bruce Fletcher of San Manuel, AZ, Leroy Fletcher of Overgaard, AZ, his significant other Vanessa Conyer of Granby, CO, his nephews, Tyler Lopez, Gage Barker, and Dillon Leyba, and his nieces, Ashley Leyba, Jenna Barker, and Isabella Tovar, his Step-children Kassandra Lee Ruiz, Chris Bowels, Toby Ray Ruiz, and Santana Kunz and granddaughter Skye Bowels. He is preceded in death by: His father, Steven, his step-father, Ben Marlin, his great-grandmother, Pearl Kelly, grandmothers Marie Fletcher and Irene Kluth, Aunts, Stacy and Sandra Kluth, Uncles, Scott, Stanley, and Sidney Kluth, and his best friend Glenn Rivera of Safford, AZ.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 20th from 5-6pm at Terrazas Funeral Chapels with the holy rosary to commence at 6pm with Deacon Bill Holguin reciting.

The funeral mass will take place Saturday, May 21st at 10am at Santa Clara Catholic Church with Father Casmir Anozie officiating.

Pallbearers are James and Steven McMahan, Dillon Leyba, Brent Woratzeck, Chance Kelly, and Kody Davis, Eli Montoya, and Joe Flores. Honorary pallbearers are Toby Ruiz and Tyler Lopez.

Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory.

Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory.

Allyne Elizabeth Wheeler

5/12/2022

Allyne Elizabeth Wheeler (93) December 19, 1928 - May 11, 2022 Allyne Elizabeth Wheeler (93) passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, while residing at the Deming Beehive Assisted Care Living facility. Allyne was born December 19, 1928, in Middle Animas, NM and was the daughter of John Thomas and Nellie Maude Eades, who homesteaded a ranch in that area. She was born in a rock home on the ranch and enjoyed riding horses there with her older sister. Allyne had a family of 3 daughters and 1 son.

She helped support her family by working out of the home and owning several businesses with her husbands including Wheeler Funeral Home in Silver City and Golden Gate Funeral Home in T or C, NM in the 1980’s. She was a proud member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Silver City, NM. Allyne loved nature and had many gifts as a meticulous seamstress, creative home decorator, amateur artist, crafter and avid flower and vegetable gardener. She enjoyed picnics in the mountains and sightseeing on less traveled roads leading to tranquil places and fresh air. Allyne contributed to her family genealogy, maintained family picture albums and told old family stories to those that visited. She was able to overcome several serious ailments and tribulations through her faith, strength and self determination. By her example, Allyne passed on her faith, courage and determination to overcome hardships to her family. She always said that she was blessed with great children, but we were blessed to have such a great Mom. Allyne will be missed by her family, but we know that she will find greater blessings with her heavenly family.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Edward A. Jackson, W.R. Jimerson and Francis L. Wheeler; her parents, John Thomas Eades and Nellie Maude Preece (Posey); her siblings, Darlene M. Lewis, Norman R. Eades, Nelda Gwendolyn “Gwen” Thibeault and John Thomas “Token” Eades. She is survived by her children, Patricia McDow (Mike) of Bosque Farms, NM; Barbara “Barbie” Fordonski of Rio Rancho, NM; Karen Jimerson of Farmington Hills, MI; and Wayne Jimerson (Barbara) of Deming, NM; ten (10) Grandchildren and numerous Great-grandchildren and Great-great-grandchildren.

isitation will take place on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Baca’s Funeral Chapels in Deming from 2-4 pm. Funeral Services will begin at 9 am with visitation at 8:30 am on Monday, May 16, 2022, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Deming, NM.

Burial will follow the services at the Middle Animas Cemetery in Animas, NM.

The family of Allyne Wheeler would like to express gratitude for the care she received at the Deming Beehive Assisted Care Living facility, Hospice and Ambercare.

Entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels and Mimbres Crematory.

Ann Elizabeth Hunt

5/11/2022

Ann Elizabeth Hunt, 93, passed away at Ft Bayard Medical Center on Mother’s Day, May 8, 2022. She was born June 29, 1928 to Roy and Edna Richardson in Battle Creek, Michigan. Ann was the youngest of three siblings. To the end of her life, she fondly recalled her youth swimming in lakes, ice skating on ponds and helping her parents manage a small grocery store.

As a child, Ann was challenged by asthma and doctors advised her parents to move her to a drier climate. With this in mind they moved to Arizona right after the second World War. Ann married Duston L. Hunt, Sr. in Phoenix in 1947. In 1948, the couple bought a small ranch south of Silver City from Duston’s uncle, Ed Wheat. Ann managed the livestock and was an active member of the Home Extension Club while Duston worked for Kennecott Copper at Hurley. One son was born to this union in 1951. The family sold the ranch in 1956 and moved to Silver City so Duston could attend college at Western New Mexico Teachers College. To support the family, Ann worked as a telephone operator in downtown Silver City. In their spare time they built a house entirely by themselves. They dug the foundation, mixed the cement, framed up the walls, they did it all. Ann’s job was to mix the cement but she drove nails, dug ditches and was an important part of every aspect of building the house.

After Duston graduated and became a teacher, the family sold the house and bought a small piece of bare land north of Silver City and began building a second house. Once again, the family did all the work and Ann mixed the cement. Eventually, this house was sold and they bought a farm on the Gila River south of Cliff, NM. But this farm had no house and the family built and lived in a barn while they built a third house. Once again, they did it all by hand. Ann loved the farm, had a big garden, spent hours on the tractor and was a driving force behind the management of the livestock. Beginning in the late 1960’s, a series of Gila River floods seriously damaged the farm and caused tension within the family. Duston was determined to sell what was left of the farm and start over somewhere else. Ann would not leave her house and was determined not to build another. After 32 years the couple divorced.

Ann supported herself by working as a janitor at the Grant County Courthouse. Eventually, she did sell the farm to be a partner with her son in a farming and ranching operation at Mangas Springs. She was able to play an important role in the life of her granddaughter and most importantly, she was able to move into an existing house! During her retirement years she volunteered at the hospital, Chamber of Commerce, the Grant County Fair exhibit building and was a poll worker during elections. The final years of her life were spent at Mangas Springs surrounded by her family.

Ann is survived by her son Duston L. Hunt, Jr (Patricia), granddaughter Alida Elizabeth Burchett (Robert) and grandsons Rowan and Brennan. She also has family in Arizona and two nieces in Washington and Oregon and a nephew in Massachusetts.

No services are planned. Cremation has taken place at Terrazas Crematory.

Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory.

Craig E. Smith

5/10/2022

Craig E. Smith, 79, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 1, 2022, with his beloved wife Antonia and special daughter Glenda by his side. Craig was born August 23, 1942 in Pittsburg, PA to Eleanor Dixon Smith and Clyde Smith. Spent his childhood and youth in Zanesville, OH and Pico Rivera, CA. Graduated from Rio Rancho High School in 1960. Joined the Navy at age 18 and after bootcamp in San Diego, CA. Spent most of his service at sea. He was stationed in Japan, Philippines, Indian Ocean and did two world cruises which included Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, England, France and crossed the Suez Canal twice. In 1994, he honorably retired after 30 years as Command Master Chief.

For several years, Craig headed the electric departments at Home Base and Home Depot in Mission Viejo, CA. In 1999 Craig and his wife Antonia after moving previously 18 times throughout the United States, they finally moved to their permanent home in Silver City, NM which was move 19, where Craig spent 13 years as Floor Manager with Foxworth Galbraith. He retired at age 70 in 2012.

Craig was a quiet person, loved to spend time at home with his Antonia and family pets, especially his dog Muffin and last six years little Bay Lee. He was an avid photographer, loved country western music and films, John Wayne was his Hero. He loved to read, always seemed to have a book in hand, fiction by Asimov, was his favorite.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Antonia Moretti-Smith, his favorite cousins Paul Smith (Dee) of Florida and Cathy Smith of Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents, grand-parents, and various aunts and uncles.

Celebration of Craigs life will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 3:00pm at Calvary Southern Baptist Church, 186 Bypass Road, (off Hwy 90) in Silver City, NM, with Pastor Jason Holden officiating the eulogy.

Cremation has taken place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory.

Tommy G. Rios Sr.

5/9/2022

Tommy G. Rios Sr. entered eternal rest Monday, May 2, 2022 at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was born July 6, 1953 in Santa Rita, NM to Jesus G. and Isabel Rios. He proudly served in the Army National Guard from 1972-1978. He worked at Mathis Lime Plant in Hanover over 10 years, Kennecott, White Sands, and Memorial Medical in Las Cruces. In 1955 he brought his family “home” to Silver City where he started his career as an Oxygen Technician at Gila Regional Medical Center until they closed the department. He then was recruited by “Lincare Home Oxygen” to open a local facility in Silver City working out of his home where he grew from 45 to over 350 patients throughtout the south west rural region, eventually opened a Lincare office. He cared deeply for his patients, provided each one with individual care and compassion until his retirement in 2017.

His pastimes were visiting his mother in-law, sharing storied from Santa Rita, and the good ole days. He loved listening to music and at one point along with his 85yr. dad became “Cookie the Star” DJ playing for senior citizen events, family celebrations, graduations, birthday parties. After his retirement he took on a hobby as a vendor at the flea market which then turned into (as he would say “our 401-K”). He enjoyed getting out and meeting new people and eventually building friendships both in Silver City and Deming Flea Markets. He looked forward to picking up his little darlings after school, treating them to pizza and ice cream treats. The highlight of his life was being Lt. Governors’ Howie Morales special guest at his inauguration and attending the Governors Ball, Grant County Prospectors during the legislator’s sessions.

Tommy was a dedicated and loving family man, instilled strong school and work values to his grandchildren and those close to him. He was a firm believer in getting to work on time, never called in sick and encouraging those he loved to get an education.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Anita (Nini) Rios, his son, Tommy G. Rios Jr. and his wife Florentina, grandchildren, Caroline Rios Portillo (Isiah); Gilbert Jesus Rios, mother in-law, Lupe Jones, sister in-law, Cynthia Jones, his brother Joe Rios, Special person, “Ramon Martinez” (Barbara) and Gloria Rios, nephews and nieces known as their “NONO” Armando Sapien (Connie); Andrew Lopez, Vanessa Cardenas (Jacinto); Sonia Carbajal, April Hernandez, Lisa Serna (Jaime); Stephanie Rojas (Ronnie); Rene Holguin (Juan) and Leticia Rios; great nephews and nieces, Brendan, Deziraye and Jordin Salgado, Jaelynn and Cinto Cardenas, Azelia, Salvador (Baby Sal) and Santiago (Santi) Quintana; Isaac Arizaga, Riley and Jemma Hernandez; along with numerous uncles and aunts. He was preceded in death by his parents, maternal grandparents, “Bardo and Juanita Juarez”, brother, Antonio Rios; sister in-law, Julie Martinez, Reyna Rios, and Brenda Carbajal.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 13th at Terrazas Funeral Chapels with the Holy Rosary to commence at 6pm with Lupe Flores reciting. The funeral mass will take place Saturday, May 14th at 10am at Santa Clara Catholic Church with Father Casmir Anozie officiating. He will be buried with full military honors following the services at Memory Lane Cemetery in Silver City. Pallbearers are Gilbert Rios, Ramon Martinez, Jose Bautista, Freddy Perez, Antonio Gonzales, Joe Rios, Armando Sapien, Andrew Lopez, and Baby Sal Quintana. Honorary: Cynthia Jones, Tommy Muñoz, Jaime Serna, Ronnie Rojas, Gilbert Rivera, Eddie Hausermann, Benny Silva, Anthony Morales, Jacinto Cardenas and “Lt. Governor Howie Morales”.

Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels.

Richard Bright Dinwiddie

5/8/2022

Richard Bright Dinwiddie, 86, a resident of Cliff, New Mexico entered eternal rest Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at Gila Regional Medical Center. He was born on October 7, 1935, in Buckhorn, New Mexico and spent his childhood in Cliff. Working at the family store and doing chores, Richard had many stories detailing how long the walks were in the days before cars. He enjoyed basketball during his school years and passed his enthusiasm along to his children. He even built them a concrete basketball court in their first family home!

Upon graduation from high school, Richard attended NMSU and married his childhood sweetheart, Gwendolyn Gordon. Upon graduating from NMSU with a mechanical engineering degree, the newlyweds headed to Denver where Richard was stationed for the Air Force. Dana, his first child, was born in Denver followed by Rick, his second, in Georgia. As a navigator, Richard flew long hours on reconnaissance flights in B-52 Bombers. He was discharged as a captain.

Hired by Kennecott, he became Plant Foreman and welcomed a third child, Trina. A move to Silver City started years of school activities and Richard’s favorite pastime: camping in the Gila and Mogollon mountains. In 1976, a move to Cliff helped Richard achieve one of his dreams of building his own home out of adobe and vigas. He had an unusual problem-solving capability to tackle all sorts of mental and physical projects from felling giant timbers to running a bus company serving the school and firefighting communities. After receiving a Master in Arts from Western University and tiring of the retired life, he became City Engineer for the Town of Silver City. Upon retirement, Richard spent time at Chuck’s Folly and the Senior Center visiting with the locals. He would be the first to admit how much he enjoyed socializing and at the same time, spending time communing with his beloved cows. Often seen driving through Cliff and the Gila Valley, his white Ford 150 will be missed.

He is survived by his son, Richard Gordon Dinwiddie of Cliff; his daughter, Dana Myers (William Myers) of Naples, FL; Trina Hartshorne (Mark) of Cloudcroft, NM; four granddaughters, BreeAnna Dinwiddie, Randi Gorski (Nick), McKenzie Wichman (Josh) of Chicago, and Taylor Hartshorne; four great grandchildren; his sister, Terry Hale. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Oscar and Margery Bright Dinwiddie; one brother, Harold “Chuck” Dinwiddie.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 11th at 10am at Terrazas Funeral Chapels with Pastor Joseph Gros officiating. Concluding service and interment will follow at Gila-Mesa cemetery. Pallbearers are Rick Dinwiddie, Bill Myers, Hollis Dinwiddie, Jupe Hale, Billy Gordon, and Justin Enriquez.

Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels.