18 minute read
In Memoriam
Tony Gabel
March 17, 1942 - November 21, 2021
Tony Ray Gabel, 79, died November 21, in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Tony was born in Lamesa, Texas, on March 17, 1942, to George and Doris Gabel. He was the oldest of four siblings. Tony is survived by his beloved wife, Fran, Logan; two daughters, Roxanne Erramouspe, Corona; Toni Williams and her husband, Patrick, Wolfforth, Texas; son, Jad Gabel and his wife,
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Jeanne, Canyon, Texas; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister, Anna Halencak, Canyon, Texas; and two brothers, Clay Gabel, Wildorado, Texas, and Kent Gabel, Lubbock, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. Tony was devoted to his family. In all that he did, his wife and family were the foremost of his decisions. He loved them with all his heart and spent his life taking care of them.
Tony grew up in a loving, Christian family and spent much time playing with his brothers, sister and cousins. Tony was raised in the farming and cattle industries, so it was a natural choice for him to choose that way of life. He was involved in various aspects of the farming and ranching business throughout his life.
In 1967, he met the love of his life, Fran Irlbeck, in Dimmitt, Texas. They married on July 3. For their whole married life together, he and Fran were the epitome of true love, and devoted to each other.
Tony moved his family several times through the years. Every place they lived, Tony and Fran were active in their community and always made finding a church home a priority. From the Texas Panhandle to West Texas and New Mexico, Tony and Fran made dear friends, and Tony knew everyone in the country. His young kids often were the cowboys of the operation. They rode and worked the cattle right alongside their Dad.
In 1996, Tony and Fran moved to Tucumcari where Tony operated the Clabber Hill Farm and Ranch. While there, he and Fran operated the Adobe Belle Resort, the duplexes owned by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. People from all over would stay in the duplexes during the year and enjoy fishing and water activities at Conchas Lake. In 2006, Tony was a participant in the construction of the Tucumcari Feedyard and managed the yard until 2012.
Tony was an active member of the Center Street Methodist Church. He and Fran help serve wherever needed. Tony served on various committees through the years and loved helping with the annual Pumpkin Patch Project.
For the last 10 years of his life, Tony melded his people skills and his extensive knowledge
of farming and ranching into a successful ranch real estate career. He also had a ranching and farm inspection service business. He conducted inspections for several banks in New Mexico and Texas. These ventures allowed Tony to do two things he loved – travel and visit with people.
Tony was the epitome of a gentleman, devoted husband and father, and friend. He was ornery and loved to tease people he loved. Tony also loved a good game of cards or dominoes with his family and friends. A man often described as genuine, honesty, integrity and kindness were qualities that Tony embodied every day of his life. His legacy is evident in his family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Tony Gabel to the Center Street Methodist Church, 402 East Center Street, Tucumcari, NM 88401, or your charity of choice. May 1, 1932 - November 24, 2021
Clifford Copeland was born on May 1, 1932 in Lubbock, Texas. He was the first born of Jack and Mary Alice Griggs Copeland. Clifford and Barbara Jean Mullins were married on June 22, 1952 in Ft. Sumner.
He is survived by his wife Barbara of 69+ years, son Cliff and wife Pat, grandson Matt and wife Alyssa, and great-granddaughter Cally Jo, all of Amistad, New Mexico; his brother Ernest and wife Brenda of Santa Rosa; his sister Patricia Ritch, Clovis; his sister-in-law Barbara Jean Copeland, Clovis; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Otis, his brother-in-law Hugh Ritch and nephews.
The family moved to Dumas, Texas when Clifford was about four years old. Jack worked at the Shamrock Refinery and later opened a Drug Store in Dumas and started a small herd of Hereford Cattle. Riding several miles on
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He showed his first 4-H calf at the New Mexico State Fair in 1945, and never missed another State Fair until the 1990s. During that time, he not only showed cattle, but won practically all the awards the State of NM had to offer in the 4-H program. Several trips (by train) to Chicago to the National 4-H Convention, where he was honored by being asked to address the Steak & Sirloin Club of Chicago where in the speech he told those men that “New Mexico was as Big as Texas, just not rolled out as thin”!
He also won the prestigious Award of being one of four 4-Hers in the State to go to Washington, DC and New York City. Clifford was a quality person all of his life, a sweet and loving son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He cared deeply for his family, his church, and his Hereford Cattle. He was always FOR his Amistad community, and among other things was instrumental in forming the Amistad-Hayden Fire Dept. He called the meeting of the community 41 years ago. He was the first Fire Chief and served as Chief for several years. He also was among those who fought for the Amistad School for over 30 years when the District was trying to shut down the school, and also joined the fight to keep the Amistad Post office open.
He was a lifelong member of the American Hereford Association, and member of the NM Hereford Association, NM Cattle Growers’ Association and the Amistad United Methodist Church. He served as the Secretary of the Union County Fair Board for many years.
Clifford and Barbara were long-time advisors for the NM Junior Hereford Association and the NM Junior Cattle Growers’ Association. They were honored to receive the Buck Ramsey Award from the Nara Visa Cowboy Gathering. Clifford and Barbara were inducted into the American Hereford Association Hall of Fame recognizing a lifetime achievement. He was a loyal and faithful friend to his neighbors, most of whom have preceded him in “Going Home” as well as those who still remain.
Memorials may be sent to the Amistad United Methodist Church, Box 325, Amistad NM 88410 of the Little House Museum.
Mark D. Hackler
September 17, 1957 - November 12, 2021
Mark D. Hackler, 64, Clovis, passed away on November 12, 2021, surrounded by his family at his mother Sarah’s home.
Mark was born and raised in Carlsbad. He got his GED in 1975. He worked on ranches all over New Mexico and Arizona. It was in Arizona he met his wife Karie Wantland, Globe, Arizona. They married in October 1979 at Roosevelt Lake Ranch, Arizona. Mark and Karie had 42 good years of marriage together. Mark always did everything the old way, “The cowboy way!” from branding calves, to building fences, to doctoring cattle in the pasture. He was a good welder. He built several sets of corrals.
Mark was a good husband and father. He loved his two children; Casey and Amanda, very much. He lived all over the state of New
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Mexico and parts of Arizona, he raised his kids on a Ranch in Pie Town. His kids went to school in Quemado. They didn’t have school on Fridays, and were always together on the ranch working with Mark over the weekend. They helped feed the cattle and break ice in the winter. In the summer they branded calves. When their cousins came up and helped us, it was a family affair. Lots of good times were made in those days.
There are many wonderful memories from Pie Town. It was a great place to raise kids and watch them grow up. He later moved to Old Horse Springs, on Benny and Sarah’s Ranch. His kids were both homeschooled, and both graduated and received their diplomas their last two years of high school. As Benny and Sarah were getting older, they decided to retire. They sold their ranch and moved to Clovis to be closer to doctors. In 2000, everyone packed up and moved to Clovis, where Marks sister Stacy Potter lived.
We bought our first home in Clovis. Mark and Karie still reside there at the time of his death. In the year 2020, when COVID hit the country, we were blessed with our fifth grandchild, our fourth granddaughter to Amanda and Carlos; Blakely Arias. Our grandchildren have been such a joy to have. They loved to come and spend the night and play crazy eights with Mark.
Mark loved his family very much. He retired in November of 2020 and was looking forward to relaxing by fishing and playing with the grandkids. Mark always knew how to entertain them!
Mark was a Deputy Cattle inspector for 12 years in Cantron County. He worked under Tommy Padilla, Cattle inspector of Quemado. Tommy and Mark were good friends for many years and worked cattle together over the years.
Mark is survived by Sarah Hackler, 89, Clovis; his wife; Karie 61; his sister; Stacy and her husband; Allan Potter, Clovis; Dena and her husband; Jere Stell, Clovis; son; Casey Hackler and his wife Patty, Show Low, Arizona, Daughter; Amanda Arias and husband Carlos, Clovis, five grandchildren; four nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews.
Topper Thorpe
October 18, 1942 to December 1, 2021
Topper was born in Camp Atterbury, Indiana on October 18,1942, to Martin and Eleanor Thorpe.
Alongside his brother and sister, he was raised on a cotton, alfalfa, and livestock farm in Dona Ana, New Mexico, and attended New Mexico State University where he earned both
a Bachelor of Science and Master’s degree in Agriculture Economics. In 1965 Topper married Sandra Turner.
Before earning his master’s degree, Topper served as First Lieutenant in the Army and was honorably discharged in August 1966.
Topper, with Sandra, (who died in 1999) moved to Denver, Colorado in 1968 to work for CattleFax as one of the first two employees of the startup company. Topper helped pioneer a database of information designed to help CattleFax members make market-based decisions for their operations, by providing more accurate, and timely, industry-wide forecasting tools than were available anywhere else. He spent years traveling across the country speaking to cattle producers, feeders and associations sharing information and forecasts about the cattle market. He became known for giving detailed speeches about the market without using any notes and in a way that was straightforward and easy to understand. He treasured and established many long term relationships with the people he met during his travels. Topper worked for 30+ years as CattleFax’s General Manager/CEO, during which time CattleFax grew to become the nation’s premier market information, analysis, research, and education service owned by cattle producers and feeders.
During this time, Topper and Sandra started a family and raised their three children, Destre, Terra and Slade, while being actively involved in the PTA and volunteering as 4-H leaders and on the local fair board. After Sandra’s passing in 1999, Topper married Leeann Herdman Shelley, and shortly thereafter retired from CattleFax. After retirement, Topper and Leeann moved back to her farm in Gila, where Topper spent his retirement farming and serving his community. He volunteered tirelessly for 20 years to ensure that water rights for agricultural and local entities were allowed to be put to beneficial use and protected for future generations, specifically for the Gila/San Francisco water system and throughout the state of New Mexico.
Topper was appointed by the Governor as a Commissioner on the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, and during the years he served on this Commission, strived to be the voice for agriculture and local entities in New Mexico. Topper was a man of unwavering integrity, with the highest of expectations for excellence in all he did. He was patriot and a staunch believer and defender of the freedoms his beloved United States offered. Topper spent a lifetime passionately supporting and protecting agriculture, serving his communities, and serving God. He was a brilliant mind, hospitable and kind, intimidating, caring and compassionate. Topper was a very loving family man and loyal to a fault to his friends. He will be dearly missed by many!
Topper is survived by his loving wife Leeann, and daughter Destre Shelley (Dale) of Cliff, New Mexico along with grandchildren, great grandchildren and nephews.
Danny Jack Prather
September 4, 1970 – December 1, 2021
Danny Jack Prather, 51, passed away on December 1, 2021 in Willard, New Mexico. He was born on September 4, 1970 in Clovis, New Mexico. Danny was a lifetime resident of New Mexico and a member of the 1st Baptist Church of Estancia, New Mexico.
Danny loved his Mama and she was the first priority in his life. You couldn’t be around them without noticing the extraordinary kindness he displayed for Delma every day. Danny thought his niece, Lindsey, and nephew, Wyatt, hung the moon. When Judy, Wyatt and Lindsey would come to Estancia the rest of the world was put on hold so he could spend time with them. His deep love for Sis, Wyatt and Lindsey showed in everything he did.
Danny was a big man with a big heart. He was a friend to everyone. Danny was always willing to lend a helping hand with anything people in this community needed. There was nothing Danny enjoyed more than being on the ranch and working cattle. Danny loved his church and his pastor, Jonathan Richard. When there was something needing done Danny was one of the first to volunteer. He took on many tasks for the church that no one knew about. He never looked for recognition for his generosity.
Danny was the kind of man you could lean hard on……..He never weakened.
He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and community. Danny is survived by his mother, Delma Prather; sister, Judy Prather Bell; nephew, Wyatt Bell and niece, Lindsey Bell.
Marleen “Tooter” Greenwood
August 25, 1972- December 4, 2021
Marleen aka Tooter was the oldest daughter of Marty and Shirleen Greenwood, and was sister to Hoakie Ulibarri and Melanie Greenwood-Kelly. Marleen was an amazing aunt for her nephews Brendon Rosales, Richie Chavez, and Daniel Kelly, as well as her niece Braidyn Ulibarri. Tooter was a great aunt to Reighlyn Rosales.
Tooter loved her nieces Braid and Rynni, she had a special bond with her girls. Marleen was a teacher of many subjects, an advisor for FFA, and a coach of basketball and volleyball. Marleen loved kids and raised two sons Mason Greenwood and Brice Rosales. She impacted many lives through her years teaching and coaching between Socorro and Magdalena. She was a big part of the Socorro County fair and served on the fair board for many years.
Marleen loved livestock shows and her friends she made along the way. Marleen spent her time helping kids with their livestock projects, teaching, running student body, and coaching. She was always giving back to kids and her community. She strongly believed “ You cannot be good at something without being passionate about it” Marleen’s passions were show steers and pigs, basketball, volleyball, and FFA, and she has had an impact on each community. Marleen’s best friends were Leslie, Shelby, Lori, and Sara Sue, but Marleen had friends everywhere she went and if you went anywhere with her you heard someone yelling “Hi Tooter!” which often led to conversations that could last hours. Marleen kept a lot of things running… while running late to all of them. Time wasn’t her strong suit but when her time had come she went with her great niece and buddy Rynni. She will be with Rynni forever watching over her and guiding her the same way she has for so many others.
Carolyn Sue (Cook) Chance
February 9, 1941 ~ December 13, 2021
Carolyn was born on February 9, 1941, in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, to Willard Lloyd Cook and Jessie Margaret (Warthan) Cook. She was the middle child with her older sister, Connie Cherie (Cook) Truelock, and her younger sister, Patricia Lane “Patty” (Cook) Snyder. Carolyn was called home to her Heavenly Father on December 13, 2021.
Carolyn graduated from Clovis High School in May 1959. Carolyn and Jack L. Wilmeth were married on September 6, 1959, in Fort Sumner, and together, they had two children, Renee (Wilmeth) Shorter and Jack Douglas “Doug” Wilmeth. For the first 14 years of their marriage, they worked on various ranches in Texas and New Mexico. They were married for 23 years until Jack’s death on September 23, 1982.
Fortunately, Carolyn met Dick Chance, and
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the couple married on March 9, 1985. Carolyn and Dick called Los Lunas their home, where they lived over the course of their 36 years together.
Carolyn began her career with the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service in 1973, where she worked as an administrative assistant for multiple counties in New Mexico until she retired in 1998 after 25 years of service. However, Carolyn’s “retirement” only lasted 2 years, and those close to her were not surprised. Then, from 2000 to 2007, Carolyn worked at the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association.
She was a fabulous cook and a staple of multiple organizations, including the Chuckwagon Cowbelles, the Extension Association of New Mexico, and the 4-H club. Carolyn was honored in Lea County by the 4-H Youth program as an Honorary Member in 1985, and she was inducted into the 4-H Foundation Hall of Fame in 2004 at the New Mexico State University for her volunteer work with the 4-H program. In 2017, Carolyn was named New Mexico Cowbelle of the Year.
Carolyn was a devout Christian and an active member of the Valley Church of Christ. She fully accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
Carolyn is survived by her husband, Dick; her two sisters, Connie and Patty; her daughter, Renee (Michael), her son, Doug, her step-sons Russell “Rusty” Chance and Shane Chance (Jennifer), her step-daughter, Kristi Lenard (Robin), several grandchildren and great grandchildren, and countless nieces and nephews.
Editor’s Note: Email caren@aaalivestock.com. Memorial donations may be sent to the Cattlegrowers’ Foundation, a 501(c)3, tax deductable charitable foundation serving the rights of ranch families and educating citizens on governmental actions, policies and practices. Cattlegrowers Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 7517, Albuquerque, NM 87194. The New Mexico Stockman runs memorials as a courtesy to its readers. If families & friends would like to see more detail, verbatim pieces must be emailed to us, & may be printed at 10¢ per word. ▫
