CNJ staff Steed-Todd Funeral Home will cohost a special grief seminar for the public and the professional caregiver at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Steed-Todd chapel at 800 E. Manana. The seminar is presented by Alan Wolfelt, who has written more than 20 books on adult and childhood grief and has appeared on national talk […]
Rodeoing family tradition

CNJ staff photo: Liliana Castillo Curry County resident Jo Hughes’ granddaughter Hannah Hughes competed in the 9- to 12-year-olds goat tying event Saturday in the High Plains Junior Rodeo Association Finals at the Curry County Events Center. Liliana Castillo As a girl raced toward the first barrel on her trusty steed, Sally Bland yelled “Go […]
Neely, Bernice
Bernice Neely, 77, of Clovis died Wednesday, May 10, 2006, at Laurel Plains Healthcare. Arrangements will be announced by Steed-Todd Funeral Home.
Reyna, Leonora
Leonora Reyna, 56, of Clovis, died Saturday, March 25, 2006, in Clovis. She was born Dec. 26, 1949, in Littlefield, Texas, to Severiano and Lucia Rodriguez. Family members said she was a homemaker and enjoyed shopping, and her greatest love was being a mom and grandmother. They said she will be missed. She was preceded […]
Valdez, Christopher B.
Christopher Benito Valdez, 4 months and 26 days, died Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, in Clovis. He is preceded in death by his great-grandfather, Angel Martinez; and his great-uncle, Lupe. He is survived by his mother, Dellia Romero of Clovis; father Benito Valdez of Clovis; a brother Gustavo Angel Valdez of Clovis; grandparents Fred and Tita […]
Torres, Angel
Angel Kaiden Torres, infant, of Clovis, died Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at Plains Regional Medical Center. Survivors include his mother, Sonya Aragon; father, Joseph Torres; a sister, Keirra; a brother, Jayden; maternal grandparents, Anastacio and Mary Helen Urioste; paternal grandparent, Corine Gallegos; four uncles, Hiame, Anthony, Gene and Andrew; six aunts, Mary Helen, Diana, Suzy, […]
Lavender, Mary
Mary Lavender, 68, of Cerritos, Calif., died Monday, Nov. 14, 2005, at her home. She was born July 28, 1937. Survivors include her husband, John G. Lavender; a son, Joe G. Lavender of Melrose; a daughter, Cindy Lavender of Cerritos, Calif.; a brother, Joe H. Richards of Clovis; and three grandchildren, J.B., Jessica and Victoria. […]
Dickenson, Melvin Ray
Melvin Ray Dickenson, 74, died Monday, Oct. 24, 2005, at the Retirement Ranch. He was born Feb. 9, 1931, at Smyer, Texas. He moved to Clovis from West Texas in March 1948. He attended Clovis High School and was drafted by the Army in 1951. After serving two years at Fort Bliss. He returned to […]
Hunter, Jerry L.
Mr. Jerry Lee Hunter, 59, of Las Vegas, N.M., died Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, at Las Vegas Medical Center in Las Vegas, N.M. He was born Jan. 31, 1946, in Clovis to Clay Francis and Helen Calder Hunter. Survivors include his sister, Edith Winegeart of Tucumcari; brother, Johnny Hunter of Nowata, Okla.; uncle, Jack Calder […]
Kerr, Everett E.
Mr. Everett Earnest Kerr, 84, of Clovis, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2005, at the Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis. He was born Aug. 30, 1921 in Springfield, Mass. He married Cammella Cicerchia March 8, 1943 in Springfield, Mass. He was preceded in death by his mother, Rita “Gramma” Gadett. He is survived by his wife, Camella […]
Ronquillo, Willie
Mr. Willie Ronquillo, 72, of Texico, died Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2005, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis. He was born June 29, 1933, in Los Ojitos. He served in the Army from 1956 to 1959 and in the Army National Guard from 1959 to 1979. He was the city marshal of Texico in the […]
Ward, Janice
Janice Ward Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at the Steed-Todd Chapel. Janice Gayle Ward, 51 of Rio Rancho, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005, at her home in Rio Rancho. Miss Ward was born March 3, 1954, in Clovis to Henry Allen and Dorothy Marie Fisher Ward. Family members said she was diagnosed with mental retardation at […]
Lawrence Thurman
Lawrence Thurman Services: 2 p.m. Saturday at the Steed-Todd Chapel in Clovis. Lawrence (Bob) Thurman, 91, of Farwell, Texas, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005, at Farwell Convalescent Center. Mr. Thurman was born Jan. 8, 1914, in Hopkins County, Texas, to Robert and Dollie Thurman. He came from a large family in which he had 11 […]
Saiz-Sanchez, Espira
Espira Saiz-Sanchez Services: Have been held. Espira Saiz-Sanchez, infant, died Sunday, July 31, 2005, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis. She was born on July 31, 2005, in Clovis. Survivors include her parents, Roberto Sanchez and Nancy Saiz; a brother, Matt Saiz; two sisters, Nichole Lujan and Ave Sanchez; her grandparents, Macario and Adela […]
Recipient of Clovis’ first burial up for debate
By Don McAlavy Five single brothers were the first settlers in what is now Clovis. Alfred Liebelt, the oldest brother of the Liebelt brothers, came from Bunzlau, Germany, to America at the turn of the 20th century and went to San Francisco in 1902. Alfred was sent by a doctor to Las Vegas, N.M., for […]
Steed-Todd Funeral Home changes hands

Steed-Todd Funeral Home changed hands Tuesday when Houston-based Service Corporation International sold the funeral home to Legacy Funeral Services of New Mexico, LLC, also based in Houston. (Staff photo: Eric Kluth) By Ryn Gargulinski: CNJ staff writer Some things have been associated with Clovis since its inception in 1907 — the railroad switch, prairie grass […]
Tafoya, Eloy
Eloy Tafoya Services: Have been held. Mr. Eloy Tafoya, 85, of Clovis, died Saturday, April 23, 2005, at Laurel Plains Healthcare in Clovis. He was born on April 22, 1920, in Tafoya, to Samuel and Emma Tafoya. He worked as a farmer and rancher. Family members said he loved being a cowboy and was an […]
Cox, Walter
Walter Cox Services: Have been held. Mr. Walter Wendell Cox, 101, of Plano, Texas, died Tuesday, April 26, 2005, in Plano, Texas. He was born on Jan. 13, 1904, in Belton, Texas, to Thomas and Rose Cox. He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He owned Shaws Jewelry until the early […]