James C. Ritchie, Jr.
James C. Ritchie, Jr., 72, of Alto, passed away Saturday, Oct. 27, in Ruidoso.
He was born May 5, 1935, in Newport, R.I., to Bella and James C. Ritchie, Sr.
He attended school in Newport, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from May 1953 until 1956 during the Korean War.
He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1960 where he played Ole Miss football from 1957 thru 1960.
He earned a Master's Degree from Eastern New Mexico University in 1977.
Ritchie was a retired school teacher, having taught for 35 years at various places in the United States including Nob Hill School in Ruidoso from 1975-1976.
He moved back to Lincoln County in July 1993 from Las Vegas, Nev.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Terry Jane Gray Ritchie of Alto;
Other survivors include an aunt, Rosalind Ferris; cousin, Francis Ferris and family of Newport, R.I.
The family will have a memorial service at a later date.
They have requested memorials to the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.
Reverend Edwin F. Griffith
Beloved Priest, Pearl Harbor Survivor
Edwin F. Griffith, 85, joined the Lord and saints Nov. 7 in Alamogordo. Fr. Ed, as he was affectionately known, was a Pearl Harbor survivor having been on the first ship bombed that fateful Sunday in 1941, the USS California.
He was only 17 at the time and lived through many harrowing experiences throughout the war.
He believed the Good Lord had saved his life because He had a mission for him to fulfill on earth.
As a result, Fr. Ed went into the priesthood and devoted his entire life to serving the Lord and his parishioners.
Fr. Ed was born in Trinidad, Colorado to Anna Diemer and Edwin Fred Griffith. He was predeceased by a sister, Julia Harnish. His surviving sister, Wilma Garlutzo lives in Denver, Colo.
Fr. Ed is survived by a niece, Darlene Garlutzo and her husband, Steve Barnhill of Aurora, Colo.; a nephew Larry Garlutzo and his wife Greta of Centennial, Colo.; a nephew Arnie Alishio and his wife Cheryl of Golden, Colo.; and a nephew, Harvey Harnish and his wife Debbie of Trinidad, Colo.
In addition, he is survived by 13 great nieces and nephews, and his devoted caregiver, Ann Berry.
In 1940 Fr. Ed enlisted in the Navy during World War II and participated at Pearl Harbor, in the Coral Sea and Midway Sea battles, and later in the landings at Tarawa.
When he was discharged in 1946 he returned to his native Colorado and became active in church work.
He joined the Holy Name Society, St. Vincent de Paul Societies and the Knights of Columbus, but always felt he was doing so little for the Lord.
While working for Continental Airlines, he made a stop in El Paso and went to St. Patrick's Cathedral.
He felt he was too old to become a priest but met a priest who encouraged him to enter the priesthood.
He was the oldest member of his class. He entered St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colo, for studies in philosophy in 1958.
He was ordained in El Paso on May 20, 1964.
His parishes included St. Catherine's Parish in Pecos, Texas, and then he joined the Diocese of Las Cruces.
He served as pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Immaculate Conception Church, St. John the Apostle, St. Joseph's and San Isidro.
In addition, he served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Truth or Consequences and Santa Rita Church in Carrizozo.
His latter years he spent as an active parishioner at St. Jude Mission Parish in Alamogordo where he proudly gave his ordination chalice to Fr. Wayne Herpin, S.J., Pastor.
He developed a close relationship with Fr. Wayne until his death.
Until his death, he loved his Lord, his family, the mountains, the birds and children.
He loved to smoke his pipe and talk about the "days gone bye."
His sweet smile and witty humor will be sorely missed by those that loved and respected him.
Visitation will be held at 5 p.m. at St. Jude Mission Parish on Sunday, November 11.
The Vigil Wake will begin at 7 p.m. followed by the recitation of the Rosary led by the Rosary Society. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, C.S.B. at 9 a.m. at St. Jude Mission Parish on Monday, Nov. 12.
Interment will follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery with full military honors.
A luncheon will follow in the Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Renovation and Maintenance Fund at St. Jude Mission Parish would be greatly appreciated.
Father Ed was always concerned about St. Jude Mission Parish and it was his wish that it be restored to its original beauty.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Alamogordo Funeral Home.
William Roger Marshall
William Roger Marshall, 69, of Portales passed away Wednesday Oct. 17, 2007.
He was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, and good friend to many.
Roger was a Charter Member of the Ruidoso Jay Cees and Evening Lions Club.
He also was a little league coach for many years.
Everyone knew him as the sweetest, kindest, most fair man they had ever met, and an amazing athlete who always put it all on the line.
He will be greatly missed by all that knew him.
He is survived by his loving wife Sandra Marshall, children, Karen Collazo, Nina Pedroni, Roger Marshall Jr., grandchildren Dusty Justus, Carmen Hernandez, Mara Justus, Alexi Hernandez, Kara Espinosa, Isabella Bronstein, Ty Marshall, Kymbra Espinosa, and Dillon Marshall, great grandchild Alita Bella Breckenridge, and brother Mike Marshall.
Danny Chavez
Funeral service for Danny Hernandez Chavez, 70, of Douglas Flats, Calif., will be Monday, May 12, at 10 a.m. in St. Jude's Catholic Church at San Patricio.
Burial will follow at the Hondo Cemetery.
Mr. Chavez passed away Friday, May 2, 2007 in Douglas Flats, Calif.
He was born March 5, 1938, in Hondo to George and Julia Chavez.
He attended school at Hondo graduating in 1957. He worked for a short time at the Fort Stanton Hospital then moved to California and worked in construction.
He is survived by a sister, Jose Chavez; brothers, George Chavez, Jr., and Olojio Chavez.
He also has numerous cousins in Lincoln and Chaves Counties.
He was especially grateful to his cousin Esky Benavidez who took care of him in the good and bad times.
He will be missed by all who had the opportunity to know him,.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary; brothers, Ambrosio, Augustine, Victorio and Philip.
Pedro Valdez
Prayer service for Pedro "Pete" Valdez, 70, of Mescalero were Tuesday, Oct. 9, at St. Joseph's Mission where the funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, with burial to follow at the Mescalero Cemetery with the Rev. Paul Botenhagen officiating.
Mr. Valdez passed away Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007 in Mescalero. He was born July 8, 1937 at Mescalero and had lived there all of his life.
He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict in the 82nd Airborne Division.
He was a retired surveyor for BIA Forestry and attended St. Joseph's Mission.
Survivors include his children, Louann Cochise, Miriam Antoine, Cindy Valdez, Denise Matcher, Gaberiel Valdez, Daniel Pete Valdez, and James Ellery Valdez, and 22 grandchildren.
Terri Powers
A memorial service for Terri Powers, 47, of Carrizozo will be held at a later date in Tucson, Arizona.
She passed away Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007 at her home.
She was born Oct. 1, 1960 in Norwich, N.Y. and moved to Lincoln County in 1994 from Tucson, Ariz.
Ms. Powers is survived by her son, James Laino; and her parents, Wendell and Elaine Powers.
Terri had a heart of gold and was a friend to many people in Ruidoso and Carrizozo.
Jerry D. Rice
Jerry Rice, 56, of Ruidoso, passed away at memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces Friday May 18, 2007.
Jerry, one of five children, was born Jan. 10, 1951 to Felton and Beulah Rice in Oklahoma.
His siblings are a brother, Don Rice of Minnesota; sisters Shirley Simpson, Becky Smith and Jeanette Wingfield, of Durant, Okla.
Jerry lived a very rich life with many close friends and family. He was an artist, teacher of many subjects, a musician, friend, father and grandfather.
Among his greatest loves were his amazing art collection, extensive guitar collection and of course, the Rolling Stones.
The pride and light of his life were his son Keith and wife Amy and their children Jackson and Abbigale of Grand Junction, Colo.
Jerry was dearly loved by everyone that was fortunate enough to have him in their life and he will be greatly and deeply missed by all.
Please join Jerry's family for a celebration in honor of his life at 2 p.m. Friday, May 25, 2007 at Grace Harvest Church, 1108 Gavilan Canyon Rd, Ruidoso.
In memory of Jerry D. Rice
Jan. 10, 1951 - May 18, 2007
Around 1991, Ruidoso artist Jerry Rice became known as "the guy who painted the purple cow." His painting of "Hot Lips the Purple Heifer" sat in the window of Gary Garrett's Midtown gallery, located next door to Brunell's at the time, seen and remembered by everyone who passed by. "Hot Lips" quickly became a Ruidoso icon, and Jerry a sort of local art hero. His famous purple cow was the first oil pastel he'd ever made.
When he came to Ruidoso in 1982, Jerry had been a sculptor for 12 years and taught art full time at Capitan.
It was in his own classroom in Capitan that he picked up those oil pastels and created "Hot Lips" from a photo of a heifer at Gran Quivera.
Raised in Oklahoma, Jerry was strongly attracted to the Native American art he saw in the New Mexico highway magazines.
He loved the pottery of Maria Martinez and Joseph Longwolf, who carved intricate reliefs in his burnished pots. Jerry sought work in Gallup to be closer to his favorite artists of the time, Fritz Scholder and Kevin Red Star.
At the Tohatchi Reservation, Jerry discovered a world where art was a way of life.
His students never thought twice about their ability to make art and to connect to the world with the sensitivity of the artist.
Their parents were all artisans - jewelers, weavers, sand painters, fine art painters.
"My students in Capitan thought being an artist was a special gift. They didn't understand that it just takes patience."
Artists in our society are seen as special, but in the Navajo culture it's assumed that everyone has that gift, and making art is important to preserving their culture.
Jerry enjoyed his students' fearless approach to studying art.
Native American art also gave him a deeper appreciation for the use of symbolism and opened his eyes to the secret language of old European masters such as Mirot.
"They opened my eyes to the real art world," he said.
The Oklahoma boy also witnessed some of the most powerful Navajo and Hopi ceremonies and realized that the world of spiritual beliefs was greater than he'd assumed.
On the Hopi reservation, Jerry was among the last handful of white people allowed to see the sacred Snake Dance.
The Hopi banned outsiders from this ceremony for fear that it would be exploited. In this ceremony, meant to bring rain, a dancer carries a live rattlesnake or sidewinder in his mouth, and sometimes one in each hand, while his partner distracts the snake with a feather.
"I don't think that dance has ever failed," Jerry said. "They hired these dancers to come to Texas once, and they made it rain."
The Snake Dance wasn't the last miracle Jerry experienced. In 1995, he had a heart attack that lasted for 17 hours, slowly and painfully destroying 75 percent of the muscle tissue, while medical professionals repeatedly misdiagnosed the problem.
He survived a triple bypass, but three months later one of the bypasses closed, and five years later, a second one closed.
He battled the depression and anxiety that is common in heart bypass patients, even if the heart attack doesn't leave you in his condition.
Shortly after the heart attack, he completed a series of 150 abstract paintings on masonite, using a technique he developed by accident. These paintings are all about freedom of expression and dealing with minimal control, since he couldn't predict the outcome.
"I just let the paint puddle wherever, relinquishing control, letting go of judgment," he said. "And I knew I had to live my life that way.
Life is okay. You don't have to control it. You can't control it anyway."
For Jerry, making the most of every minute means being happy with himself and trying to make sure he doesn't suddenly depart this world with regrets.
He makes a special effort to take care in all that he does and says. The turmoil of current world events is, if not heart breaking, deeply troubling for him, as it is for many.
Jerry Rice died of a heart attack May 18, 2007.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Grace Harvest Church on Gavilan Canyon Road.
