11 minute read
In Memoriam
from NMS Feb 22
George Meredith “Dogie” Jones was born July 23th, 1926, in Las Vegas, New Mexico to Doreen Pickard Jones and Garnet Meredith “Butch” Jones. He passed away January 7th, 2022 in his ranch home at Watrous, New Mexico.
At the time of Dogie’s birth, his father Butch, a veterinarian, was manager of the Forked Lightning Ranch at Pecos, New Mexico owned by famed rodeo producer Tex Austin. His Mother Doreen, originally from South Africa, was among the Boer settlers who immigrated to the Americas after the Boer wars. They later moved to the family’s ranches at Watrous, New Mexico, where Dogie and his younger brother Charlie grew up.
During World War II, Dogie begged his parents’ permission to join the service in 1943, as he was only 16 years old. They finally relented, and Dogie the cowboy became Dogie the sailor in a war that had engulfed the entire globe. He was a gunner on the USS Copahee, an Escort Carrier that crisscrossed the Pacific transporting everything from replacement combat aircraft and munitions to captured enemy planes. Dogie saw combat action and typhoons, endless boring water and exotic islands and, at the end of it all, returned to New Mexico and the ranch life he loved.
In the late 1940s Dogie, accompanied by his wife and child, went to Mexico with the “Fievre Aftosa” campaign to eradicate Hoof and Mouth disease in that country, working in numerous areas including San Luis Potosi and Leon, Guanajuato.
In the early 1950s he purchased the family’s Hashknife Ranch from his grandmother, becoming the fourth generation on the ranch established by his great-grandfather William Kronig in the mid-1800s. Supplementing the ranch operation, he worked as a lineman for the regional telephone company and later joined the New Mexico Cattle Sanitary Board as a cattle inspector. For a time, Dogie was also on the faculty at New Mexico Highlands University, teaching leathercraft.
He made a career with the New Mexico Cattle Sanitary Board, later reorganized as the New Mexico Livestock Board, and served as its Executive Director from 1979 until 1985. After retiring from the agency in 1988, he devoted full time to the Hashknife Ranch, active in its operations right up until his passing.
Dogie had a keen eye for good livestock, especially horses. He built one of the highest quality horse operations in the region, and was a recipient of the American Quarter Horse Association’s 50 Year Legacy Award. His stallions and mares were well known and sought after across the country. Fine horses and cattle were always synonymous with the Hashknife brand.
Dogie served his country, the State of New Mexico, the livestock industry, and his community. He was as a member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, the New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau, the American Quarter Association (AQHA), the Southwest Quarter Horse Association, and the New Mexico Quarter Horse Association (NMQHA), serving on its board of directors for over 30 years. He was President of the Las Vegas Roughriders Rodeo Committee, and served six years on the Las Vegas City School Board. He was a founding member on the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Foundation Board, and was one of the early contributors to the Frank Dubois NMSU Rodeo Scholarship Fund. While employed with the New Mexico Livestock Board as its Executive Director, he served on numerous committees, most notably the United States Animal Health Association’s Animal Electronic Identification Committee.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Ann, daughter Georgia Culbertson (Myles), son William Meredith (Jane Ellen), Daughter Jacque Flowers (Bill), daughter Geralyn Segotta (Beaver), son Curtis, 7 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.
George Meredith “Dogie” Jones was a cowboy, a horseman, a war veteran, a rancher & farmer, and a leader. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose 95-plus years took in a large slice of the sweeping history of the country and the State of New Mexico.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the charity of your choice will be much appreciated.
David Anthony Vigil passed away on January 2, 2022 surrounded by his family and close friends. David was born to Helen and Frank “Tony” Vigil on October 16, 1930 in Raton, New Mexico.
He was an electrical engineer and throughout his career worked on projects from early space travel to our national defense. While working in San Diego, California he met and married his wife Virginia (“Jinny”) in May 1959 and helped raise her
two daughters, Suzan and Diana. David moved his young family to Billerica, Massachusetts where he and Jinny had two sons, David Anthony Vigil II and Adam Timothy Vigil. He then moved his family to Southern California where the family lived until Suzan and Diana entered college. In 1974, the family relocated to Virginia Beach, Virginia.
David and Jinny “retired’ to New Mexico and operated the historic Ellis Store County Inn in Lincoln. The Ellis Store was known internationally as the holding cell for the infamous “Billy the Kid” and one of the most haunted residences in New Mexico. His affinity for story telling of the Old West and the ghostly occurrences were noted in numerous books, articles, and television programs about Billy The Kid, the Old West and the occupants of the house built in 1850.
He was active in New Mexico politics and promoting New Mexico’s economic activity through tourism until shortly before his wife died in 2020. He spent the last year of his life welcoming his grandchildren’s spouses to the family and meeting his first great-grandchild. David is survived by two daughters, Suzan and Dawn Regan, Malibu, California; Diana and husband Ken, Phoenix; and two sons, David II and wife Sarah Tanner, Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Adam and wife Gwen, Yorba Linda, California; numerous grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Also surviving is David’s very special chosen family, the Nolans of Lubbock, Texas, Bill, Catherine, Mareid, Caitlin and Sheaghn.
John W. Hinrichs, 93, Silver City, New Mexico entered the gates of Heaven on December 24, 2021. He was born in Grenville, New Mexico to Henry and Henrietta Hinrichs on August 22, 1928.
John grew up in a Christian home and put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ at a camp meeting held at Weatherly Lake. He was a graduate of Grenville High School, where he was center on the basketball team. After graduation, he attended New Mexico A&M (NMSU) where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. John taught agriculture classes at Mayhill, New Mexico after graduating from New Mexico A&M and later received a Master of Arts in Education from Western New Mexico University.
John served our country in the Air Force where he earned the rank of First Lieutenant stationed at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, New Mexico.
John met the love of his life, Melba Hotchkiss, at American National Bank in Silver City where she was a teller. They married on October 15, 1960 and enjoyed 61 years of raising kids and grandkids together.
John knew and worked with many as the County Extension Agent with the Cooperative Extension Service in Grant County where he worked for 32 years. He worked with many farmers and ranchers and touched the lives of many youth through the 4-H program. He was gifted at coaching livestock-judging teams, blocking sheep, and trimming show cattle.
Above all things, John loved his family, attending many events with the grandchildren. From fairs, rodeo queen and cheer competitions to family gatherings where his humor and laughter will be forever cherished. John was very honest and fair with all dealing and had a great work ethic which he passed onto his children. John enjoyed fishing, hunting, running cattle at the home place in Grenville and watching football and old westerns. During retirement, John and Melba traveled extensively. They drove the Alaska highway, explored the entire United States and visited Europe, Australia,
We Know Agriculture...
Gordon Morris, Chairman of the Board/EVP
Colten Grau, Loan Officer Mac Langford, President/CCO
Like you, we at American Heritage Bank grew up in the ranching world and we’re proud of our heritage. We are true to your values, culture and lifestyle and our number one goal is to serve you. We’re honored to be your hometown bankers. We hope you’ll give us a chance to compete for your land and operating loans. Please give Colten Grau a call to arrange a visit. He’s working hard for our ag community and he’s eager to go to work for you!
Happy Valentine’s Day! We promise you’ll love our customer service!
linkedin.com/american-heritage-bank-nm facebook.com/americanheritagebanknm www.ahbnm.com
New Zealand, and Mexico.
John’s memory will live on in his son, Bruce Hinrichs (Cheryl), Floyd; two daughters, Denise McDaniel (Gary), Lovington; and Donna Monzingo (Jerry). Silver City; and his wife of 61 years, Melba of the home; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Grant County 4-H Program. Donations can be sent to Grant County 4-H Council, 2610 N. Silver Street, Silver City, New Mexico, 88061.
The family would like to express their appreciation to doctors Arizaga, Clemmets, Ferguson, and all first responders.
Suanne Green Delk, 71, met face-toface the God she had served so faithfully all her life on January 13, 2022.
Suanne was born to Charles Clinton Green and Betty Jane Neal Green on December 24, 1950, in Artesia, New Mexico. She graduated from Artesia High School in 1968 and attended New Mexico State University, where she met James Richard Delk. She married Jimmy on August 15, 1970, and received a degree in elementary education with a minor in home economics in 1972. They lived on the family ranch near Hanover, New Mexico, and she taught 6th grade in San Lorenzo. In 1973, they moved to a ranch west of Deming, New Mexico. Suanne loved her home and yard and made it a place of beauty. She managed the bookkeeping for the ranch and raised her daughters. She cooked, sewed, quilted, and gardened. She walked in the mornings and loved watching the wildlife, especially birds. Suanne had a passion for Bible study and taught many people – both children and adults – about the Bible. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church and P.E.O. She served as a 4-H leader for over a decade and taught many young girls to sew. Suanne also served on the Deming School Board, the Library Foundation Board, and the Luna County Farm Services Committee.
Suanne is survived by her husband, Jimmy of the home; daughter, Jennifer Shafer (Will), Deming; and daughter Amy Yost (Nathan), Los Alamos. She was affectionately known as “Amma” to her five grandchildren and her nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind the caregivers at the Deming BeeHive Home who took care of her in her last years.
Viola Johns Moore, 94, homemaker, agriculturalist, and member of the Animas and Virden Valley community passed away January 17, 2022, in Thatcher, Arizona. Viola
PEDALING BULLS & REPLACEMENT HEIFERS IN NEW MEXICO
A Safe Private Treaty Environment
Select Your Bulls in Person
Villanueva •
Livestock Hauling w/Gooseneck Trailer
Call Bob, Kay or Mike Anderson
A Lazy 6 Angus at Blanco Canyon, HCR 72, Box 10, Ribera, NM 87560
Headquarters: 575/421-1809 Cells: 505/690-1191 • 505/660-2909 505-690-2024 Email alazy6ranch@yahoo.com for catalog
was born September 6, 1927, in Virden, New Mexico, the firstborn of nine children to Floyd Pace Johns and Wanda Brown Johns.
From her birth, Viola was taught and had a fondness and dear love for horses and cattle. Her first horseback ride was with her father, wrapped in a blanket, at just a few days old. Her love for agriculture, animals, and hard work never faltered. Viola was raised in the Virden Valley on the family farm and ranch. She attended Virden schools, where she received her education, working hard and learning what she would need to know to help her throughout life. Viola and her cousins would ride horseback starting at the river down to her Uncle’s (Lunt Dairy) where they would skate and enjoy milk nickles.
She deeply loved family and friends and was very involved in church activities, where she developed a great love and faith for our Savior Jesus Christ. On June 3, 1944, she married John Houston Moore in Clifton, Arizona. Three months after they were married, Houston received his greeting from Uncle Sam and was sent to the Philippines. While Houston was away at war, Viola delivered their first baby girl who lived for a few days then passed away. Viola planned the funeral and buried the baby while her husband was serving his country. From this heartache came Viola’s saying, “Freedom is never Free.” A few years later Houston and Viola were blessed with two daughters Peggy Ann and Mary Ellen.
The family bought their first home in 1951 in Virden, New Mexico, and in November were sealed in the LDS temple for time and all eternity. In 1953, they moved to Animas, New Mexico where they bought their first farm and ranch. Years later Wayne, Allen Vann, who passed at birth, and Johnette were born.
Viola worked at Animas schools in the cafeteria for 19 years as a cook. She would come home, fix dinner, help her children with school work and then get on the tractor where she worked with Houston until long after dark.
Viola knew how and loved to work. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She looked forward to the annual family reunion, gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and of course the family brandings; where she was able to spend quality time with her children and grandchildren. Viola was a very thrifty woman, who always put others and their needs before herself. She loved to work and
