Dick Blakey, 46
Services: 10 a.m. Friday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales.
Dick Blakey, 46, of Silver City and Andrews, Texas, died Monday, April 10, 2005, in Silver City.
He was born on March 10, 1959, in Portales, to Joann and Buster Blakey.
He grew up in Causey and attended school in Causey and Dora. He graduated from Dora High School in 1977. After high school, he worked at B&B Livestock. He had been employed at the gold mine in Winnemucca, Nev. and for the past month he had been working in the copper mines at Silver City. He married Lesli Davis on Jan. 3, 2005, in Winnemucca, Nev. Family members said he enjoyed playing golf, dancing, was a very outgoing man, and loved visiting, telling stories and jokes. He was a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife of Andrews, Texas; a son, Kyle Blakey of Clovis; two step-sons, Chisum and Shane Dolgener, both of Andrews, Texas; his parents of Causey; two brothers, Larry Blakey (and wife, Sandi) of Portales and Kim Blakey (Kim Louise) of El Paso, Texas; three sisters, Judy Reid (Terry) of Clovis, Rita Blakey of Las Cruces, and Doris Welch (Jeff) of Portales.
Leroy Thomas and Mark Moreland will officiate the services.
Burial will be at Causey Cemetery.
Pallbearers are David and Jeff Welch, Terry Reid, Kody Vaughan, Kasey Vaughan, Don Doak, and Montie and Kim Howard.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Robert Evans, 72
Services: 3 p.m. Saturday at Kenna Community Church.
Robert Eldon “Bob” Evans, 72, of Kenna, died Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell.
He was born on Dec. 15, 1932, in Conemaugh, Pa., to Rose and Charles Evans.
He joined the Army at age 16 and during his 21-year military career, he was stationed at numerous locations around the world. He served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, attaining a final rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2. His many awards included three Purple Hearts and the Army Commendation Medal. After retiring from the military in 1971, he joined Bradbury Stamm Construction Company in Albuquerque, and for 22 years was employed as their yard superintendent. He married Jene McDowell on Aug. 4, 1984. He was a member of the Sandia Mountain Lodge AF&AM in Albuquerque.
He was preceded in death by his parents; 13 brothers and sisters; and a son, David.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Roger Evans of Albuquerque; a daughter, Brenda Archuleta of Albuquerque; a grandson; his mother-in-law, Thelma McDowell of Kenna; a sister Barbara Jean McKee of Johnstown, Pa.; and several nieces and nephews.
The Rev. Michael Rinne will officiate the services.
Burial will be at Kenna Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Billy Frank Good, Adam Anthony, Bud Bilberry, Herb Martin, Tommy Holmes, and Jimmy Dale Ward.
Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. Saturday at Kenna Community Center.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Kathryn Coffman, 91
Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales.
Kathryn Coffman, 91, of Portales, died Wednesday April 13, 2005, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales.
She was born on August 4, 1913, in Red River County, Texas, to Nellie and George T. Hale.
She married Leslie Worth Coffman on Nov. 29, 1936, in Portales.
She grew up in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico and graduated from Floyd High School. She married Leslie Worth Coffman on Nov. 29, 1936, in Portales. In the mid-1960’s, she worked for Eastern New Mexico University in the cafeteria and later for Roosevelt General Hospital as a cook. She was a member of University Drive Church of Christ. Family members said she enjoyed cooking and sewing.
She was preceded in death by her by her husband; her parents; three brothers, Rufus, Buford, and Vernon Hale; three sisters, Lera White, Lillian Collins, and Carrie Dwiggins.
Survivors include a son, Leslie W. Coffman Jr. (and wife, Barbara) of Las Cruces; a daughter, Pam Shafer (Donald K.) of Portales; six grandchildren, Laura Pavatt, Shawn Carter, Sindi Davis, Michelle Nixon, Creig Coffman, and Skyler Smith; five great-grandchildren, Coby and Chesney Carter, Brandt and Brennen Davis, and Cadel Nixon; a sister, Louise Dodson of Harlingen, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
Kenneth Morrison will officiate the services.
Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Laura Pavatt, Larry Pavatt, Shawn Carter, Alan Carter, Sindi Davis, Darrell Davis, Creig Coffman, Michelle Nixon.
Honorary Pallbearers are all family members.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Mary Peatschman, 78
Services: Have been held.
Mary “Myrt” Catherine Good Peatschman, 78, of El Paso, Texas, died Sunday, April 3, 2005.
She was born on March 23, 1927, in Kenna, to Dora Howell and Benjamin F. Good II.
She grew up on the family ranch in Yeso and went to school in Fort Sumner. She went to college at New Mexico State University. She earned her masters degree at UTEP and worked on her doctorate at Texas Tech. She married her college sweetheart, Robert L. Peatschman in 1949. She was employed by the Ysleta Independent School District as a teacher and then the principal of Sageland Elementary School. She was a past president of the Teachers Association and a member of the Ysleta Hall of Fame.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a brother, Ben Good; and a sister, Betty Jo Luck.
Survivors include five nieces, Bennie Crist, Terri Tucker, Kathy Longbreak, Cassy Luck, and Diana Luck; a sister-in-law, Jeanne Good; a brother-in-law, Dr. Ben R. Luck; and two cousins, Sammy and Judy Howell.
Burial was at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in Texas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Battered Women Shelter, P.O. Box 26219, El Paso, Texas 79926.
Arrangements were by Hillcrest Funeral Home-Carolina of El Paso, Texas.

Sherry Richardson, 48
Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at Melrose Cemetery.
Sherry Ann Richardson, 48, of Clovis, died Sunday, April 10, 2005, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.
She was born on Sept. 2, 1956, in Clovis, to Walter C. and Dorothy Ward Powers.
She worked at the Portales News Tribute and was a member of Sacred Heart Church.
She is survived by her mother, Dorothy Bohannan of Clovis; a sister, Rhonda Thompson (and husband, Dwight) of Clovis; two nephews, John and Mark Thompson of Clovis; and a great-nephew.
Father Sotero Sena will officiate the services.
Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.

Service Pending
Betty Maye Hill, 61, of Deming, died Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at Mimbres Memorial Care and Rehabilitation Center in Deming.
Arrangements will be announced by Baca’s Funeral Chapels of Deming.

The post 4/14 Obituaries appeared first on Portales News-Tribune.

Services Pending
Marie Fenton, 85, of Portales, died Tuesday, April 26, 2005, in Friona.
Arrangements will be announced by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Raydean Terry, 82, of Portales, died Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at her home.
Arrangements will be announced by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

The post 4/28 Obituaries appeared first on Portales News-Tribune.

Ruby Beeckler
Services: 10 a.m. (CDT) Saturday at Robertson Chapel of Memories in Clarendon, Texas.
Ruby Beeckler, 95, of Clovis, died Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.
She was born on July 18, 1909, in Elida, to Billy Latth and Mary Elizabeth Stewart Moffitt.
She was a salesperson at Casual Corner in Atlanta and a member of the Church of Christ.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, C.J. Beeckler.
Survivors include two nephews, Dr. O.T. Rozzell (and wife, Lola) of Clovis and Harold Moffitt (Molly) of Memphis, Texas; and two nieces, Mary Yost (Bill) of Edmund, Okla., and Sandra Finchom (Jerry) of Amarillo.
Burial will follow at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley, Texas.
Pallbearers are Bill Carson, Jack Moreman, Don Reeves, Charles Neal, Bufford Holland, Connie DeBoard and Gene Sheets.
Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon, Texas.

Monte Jones
Services: 1 p.m. Saturday at Community United Methodist Church on Haynes Canyon Road in High Rolls-Mt. Park.
Monte Jones, 63, formerly of Clovis, died Thursday, April 21, 2005.
He was born on Aug. 24, 1931, to Agrie and Elva Jones.
He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He earned a bachelor’s, master’s and an education specialist degree from Eastern New Mexico University. He did post graduate work at Colorado State College in Greeley, Colo. He taught his first year at Capitan in 1957-58, then he moved to Alamogordo, where he was an elementary school teacher and principal for many years. He developed the special education program for the Alamogordo Public Schools, according to family members. Then he was special education director for the Gallup-McKinley County Schools. While in Gallup, he owned and managed an Indian jewelry business. He taught for the Richland, Wash., public schools until his retirement. At various times in his career, he coached tennis, basketball and football.
Family members said he was an avid outdoorsman.
Survivors include a son, Monte Lynn Jones (and wife, Carol M.) of Las Cruces; and two sisters, Gervadene Hughes (Marion) of Pasco, Wash., and Lona Mae Waldo (Dwight) of Clovis.
Cremation has taken place.
The Reverend Lowell Swisher will officiate the services.
Arrangements are by Professional Crematory Services of Alamogordo.

Raydean Terry
Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Third and Kilgore Church of Christ in Portales.
Raydean Terry, 82, of Portales, died Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at her home.
She was born on Feb. 7, 1923, in Albuquerque, to Rosa and Thomas W. Brazil.
When she was 5, the family moved to Alaska and at the age of 15 they moved to the Arch community. She married Lynn “Pete” Terry on July 20, 1940. Their first home was a chicken coup on her father-in-law’s farm. Later they moved to Portales. Soon after moving into town, she began driving a school bus and started sewing for the public.
Family members said she was an amazing seamstress, a talented carpenter and an excellent cook.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Herbert Brazil; two sisters, Mae Ciccereli and Fay Hoffman; and her husband.
Survivors include three sons, Bobby Terry (and wife, Neva) of Brownfield, Texas, Joe Terry (Barbara) of Clovis, and Herb Terry (Reba) of Cleveland, Tenn.; two daughters, Kathy Terry and Judy Santillanes (Apple), all of Portales; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a brother, Clyde Brazil of Fort Pierce, Fla.; and a sister, Gloria “Peggy” Swepston of Amarillo.
Scott Jarvis and David Bennett will officiate the services.
Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Jim Chandler, Johnny Lieb, Curtis Breshears, Jack Merrick, Ernie Marshall and Buddy Blue.
Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of Third and Kilgore Church of Christ.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Vista Care Hospice, 2700 N. Prince, Clovis.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

The post 4/29 Obituaries appeared first on Portales News-Tribune.

Services Pending
Rosa J. Wofford, 96, of Gracedale, Upper Nazareth Township, Pa., died Thursday, May 19, 2005, in Gracedale, Upper Nazareth Township, Pa.
Arrangements will be announced by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Dora P. Lucero, 68, of Hereford, died Saturday, May 21, 2005, at Baptist Saint Anthony’s Hospice in Amarillo.
Arrangements will be announced by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis.

The post 5/22 Obituaries appeared first on Portales News-Tribune.

Elfigo Montano, 56
Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Helen Catholic Church in Portales.
Mr. Elfigo Montano, 56, of Portales, died Friday, Aug. 5, 2005 in Portales.
Mr. Montano was born June 21, 1949, in Portales to Rosa and Juan F. Montano. He lived in Portales all of his lived. He served in the New Mexico National Guard for several years, and was transferred to active duty. During active duty he served for a time in Germany.
He worked for several years as a mechanic and a carpenter, but had been disabled and unable to work for the past several years.
He was a member of St. Helen Catholic Church.
He enjoyed playing his guitar and singing, family members said.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Connie Montana.
He is survived by two sons, Anthony Elfigo Montano of Amarillo and Teofilo Juan Montano of Portales; two daughters, Mary Ontiveros (and husband, Chris) of Portales and Tina Lee Moore (Andre) of Temple, Texas; four grandchildren, Alexandra and Montano and Mireya and German Ontiveros; four brothers, Seferino Montano, Isaac Montano and Rudy Montano, all of Portales, and Jerry Dean Montano of Bossier City, La.; four sisters, Nina Baca and Rose Carter, both of Portales, Patsy Jaquez of Hobbs and Lucy Cancino of Roswell.
A rosary will be recited 7 p.m. Monday at St. Helen Catholic Church.
Tobin Hitt will perform the services.
Pallbearers will be Seferino Montano, Isaac Montano, Rudy Montano, Jake Lopez, David Montoya, Steven Ryen and Jerry Montano. Honorary pallbearers are family and friends.
Burial will follow at Portales Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Victoria Lesly, 44
Services: No formal services are planned at this time.
Mrs. Victoria Lesly, 44, died Friday, Aug. 5, 2005, at her home in Portales.
Mrs. Lesly was born Dec. 18, 1960, in Clovis to Nadine and Rodney Tidwell. She lived her entire life in Clovis until a short time ago, when she moved to Portales to assist in the care of her mother, who was seriously ill. She was employed as a home health care worker in Clovis.
Family members said she was a devoted daughter and mother and was always outgoing and fun-loving.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Randy Tidwell.
She is survived by her parents (though her mother died the following day); a grandmother, Velma Dana of Portales; her husband, Ivy Lee Lesly of Estancia; a daughter, Natalie (and husband Joseph) Cimarron of San Felipe Pueblo and one grandchild, Karissa Hall of Germany.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Services Pending
Mrs. Nadine Tidwell, 64, of Portales, died Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005 at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.
Arrangements will be announced by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Obituary Policy
The Portales News-Tribune does not charge to publish obituaries. Space constraints and deadlines may limit what is published. Information for obituaries must come from funeral homes.

The post 8-7-05 Obituaries appeared first on Portales News-Tribune.

Clayton Ford, 16, of Elkins, died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005, in Lubbock.
Arrangements will be announced by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

The post Ford obit pending appeared first on Portales News-Tribune.

Russell Grider
Services: 2 p.m. Tuesday at Third and Kilgore Church of Christ in Portales.

Mr. Russell Grider, 55, of Portales died Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005, at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock
He was born Jan. 22, 1950, in Portales to Wanda and Robert Y. Grider.

He was a farmer, rancher and self-taught historian and expert on agricultural law. He was the state ethanol fuels coordinator in the early 1980s. He coached girls youth league basketball, AAU basketball and founded the Young Guns Athletic Club Inc. He was chairman of the promotion and marketing committee of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, a member of the International Trade Committee for R-Calf USA and a former member of the Trade Committee for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association.

He was also president of the Curry-Roosevelt New Mexico Farmers Union and a member of the Board of Directors of Curry County Farm Bureau. He also served on the board of the Institute for Consumer and Rural Studies.

He was a frequent speaker to civic and agriculture groups and government organizations regarding the current U.S. economic environment and was a supporter and frequent guest on Prime Time Christian Broadcasting, according to family members.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1999.

He is survived by his wife, Shelley, of their home outside Portales; a son, Heath Grider (and wife, Ginger) of Portales; two daughters, Sommer Garrison (Brad) of Fort Worth, Texas, and Scarlett Grider of Nashville, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Leah, Samantha, Jacqueline, Braden and Brett Grider; his mother of Portales; two brothers, Paul Grider of Melrose and Kenneth Grider of Denver City, Texas; and two sisters, Vicki Ashley of Abilene, Texas, and Kathy Tivis of Floyd.

Burial is at Portales Cemetery.

The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to PTCB, P. O. Box 61000, Midland, TX 79765.

Arrangements are Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Jame I. (Junior) Massey
Services: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales.

Mr. James I. (Junior) Massey, 82, of Portales died Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005, at Laurel Plains Healthcare Center in Clovis
He was born Sept. 18, 1923, in Englewood, Calf., to Ruth and James I. Massey.

He moved to the Lingo community with his parents at a young age. He graduated from the Lingo schools in 1941. He remained in the Lingo community and was involved in ranching and farming. He married Verdena Shrock on Sept. 24, 1950. They moved to Portales, where he worked as a carpenter until his retirement in 1970.

He enjoyed his animals, and hunting with his sons, family members said.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, George and Charles Massey.

He is survived by his wife; four sons, Gary Massey, Marvin Massey (and wife, Elaine) and Stanley Massey, all of Portales, and Ronnie Massey (Peggy) of Clovis; a daughter, Gloria Blackwell (Gale) of Tatum; nine grandchildren, Tira Smith, Nicole King, Lori Cabello, Mindy Stine and Aaron, Jeremy, Justin, Jared and Renee Massey; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Bill Massey of Omaha, Neb., and a sister, Ruth Lawson of Hope.

The Rev. Roy Roachwill officiated services, assisted by the Rev. Wesley McAfee

Burial is at Portales Cemetery

Pallbearers are Mike Lee, Harlan Shrock, Clarence Massey, Jeremy Massey, Justin Massey and Vance Dewbre.
All of his family and his friends will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

Pending obituaries
•Bethel Wanda “Betty” Ball, 83, of Portales died Friday, Nov. 25, 2005, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales.
Arrangements will be announced by Muffley Funeral Home Inc. of Clovis.
•Norman Wayne Nelson, 60, of Clovis died Friday, Nov. 25, 2005, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.
Arrangements will be announced by Steed-Todd Funeral Home in Clovis.
•Louis Gauna Jr., 74, of Clovis died at his home Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2005.
Arrangements will be announced by Muffley Funeral Home Inc. in Clovis.

The post Nov. 26 Obits appeared first on Portales News-Tribune.

Steven Lynn Horton

Services: Have been held.

Steven Lynn Horton, 59, of The Woodlands, Texas, died Friday, June 9, 2006, in Houston after a long courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born May 2, 1947, in Portales, he graduated from Clovis High School in 1965. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from New Mexico State University in 1970. He was successful in his professional career beginning as a staff engineer at Exxon and retired as vice president of engineering for Duke Energy, family members said. He then founded AGIS Technology and grew it into a successful engineering company, according to his family. As successful as he was in business, his true passions were his family, his faith and his friends, family members said. A gentle soul with a big heart, he always thought of others before himself, they said. He was a caring, kind, generous and loving man and a true friend to all who knew him, his family said.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Billye.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda, of The Woodlands; son, Jeff of Thailand; father and stepmother, Leonard and Lorraine Horton of Clovis; brother, Stan Horton (and wife, Emily) of Phoenix; stepson, Travis of Houston, and nephews, Alex and Jeremy of Phoenix.

Memorials may be made to the Steve Horton Cancer Fund for Children at M.D. Anderson Hospital, (800) 525-5841.
Arrangements are by Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home, Conroe, Texas.

Verna Remay Anderson Haley

Services: Will be private.

Verna Remay Anderson Haley, 89, of Mesa, Ariz., and formerly of Portales, died Thursday, June 15, 2006, in Mesa.
Born in Los Angeles to Verna and Donald Anderson on June 17, 1916, she married Charles William Haley on May 27, 1946, in Roswell. She was an active member of Portales Nazarene Church from 1964 to 1996 and a Sunday school teacher for 20 years in Portales, where her heart lay, according to family members. She moved to Mesa in 1996. She loved family, God, flowers, birds and people, her family said.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Audrey Leonore Miller.

She is survived by four daughters, Karen Dixey Payne of Ruidoso, Shirley Ruth Smoot of Houston, and Evelyn (Ellie) Verna Campbell and Janny Heflin Enoch of Mesa; grandchildren, Jason Reynolds, Johnathan, Ben and Phillip Payne, Robbie and Susan Smoot, Aaron and Isaac Baca, Mandy Shearer, Stacey Koutsoudis, Tracy Ganatos and Danny Heflin Jr.; and 12 great-grandchildren

Arrangements are by Wyman Cremation and Burial, Mesa, Ariz.

Sharon L. Porter

Services: Will be held in Tucumcari at a later date.

Sharon L. Porter, 51, of Tucumcari died Friday, June 16, 2006, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales.
Born Feb. 18, 1955, to Frances (Shaw) and Kenneth Porter, she graduated from Tucumcari High School in 1973. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1984. She taught special education in the Las Cruces area for many years before returning to Tucumcari in 2002, following her mother’s death. She loved animals and had been involved in various animal rescue organizations while residing in Las Cruces, according to her family.

She was preceded in death by her mother.

She is survived by her father, Kenneth L. Porter (and his special companion, Helen Henning) of Tucumcari; her brother, Frederick F. Porter of Tucumcari; her sister, Patricia Stull of Portales; a niece, Ashley Porter of Augusta, Ga.; three nephews, Ricky Porter of Ashville, N.C., Robert Jones of Augusta and Michael Stull of Portales; five great-nephews and three great-nieces in Georgia and North Carolina; and a special cousin, Karen McIntire of Gretna, La.

Memorials may be made to Helping Hands Hospice, 615 S. Second, Tucumcari, NM 88401 or Heartland Continuing Care Center’s Living Design Aviary, 1700 S. Ave. O, Portales, NM 88130.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

The post Obituaries for June 18, 2006 appeared first on Portales News-Tribune.

By Glenda Price: New Mexico columnist

Most families make special arrangements to get together for Thanksgiving or Christmas. There’s a belief that family gatherings are joyous, love-filled events.

Maybe not.

I know one family that pretty much decided that love-filled stuff was a myth. The last such gathering they had, several years ago, left them wondering if their family is somehow abnormal. Since then, though, they’ve heard of other families with similar problems.

First problem is the weather, most always atrocious that time of year — cold, maybe snowy, probably windy. Still, for many years everybody braved the foul weather and showed up at the ranch.

Always, Grandpa had a bunch of chores saved up for the guys, all involving trudging out in the cold. That year the regular cattle feeding and ice breaking couldn’t be done until the flat on the pickup was changed. Grandpa swore that tire had been fine last night, and got upset when nobody believed him.

Inside the house, Grandma had chores saved, too. Some family members decided they’d rather be outside with cranky Grandpa instead of gushy, sweety-acting Grandma. Still, they all pitched in and fixed the leaky faucet and finished making the extra beds.

Everybody had brought food, so dinner was fairly easy to get served. Even the “kids’ table” looked nice, though every kid’s ambition was to get old enough not to have to eat at that table.

After dinner, the guys all retired to the television and the women were stuck with the messy kitchen and dining room.

Finally, after everything was presentable again the women joined the men, and the conversations began, although Grandpa’s hearing had gotten so bad they had to shout in order to be heard over the blasting television. Somebody turned it down, which upset Grandpa.

“I was watching that,” he complained.

Nobody replied and, since he was angry anyway, Grandpa turned to his daughter, “How do you like what YOUR president did this time?”

Before he could continue, his daughter decided she’d had enough of his “attitude,” and lit into him. When she pointed out Grandpa had bragged about having voted for that president, Grandma jumped in with, “That was before we knew him, really.”

The kids, cousins from 8 to 14, knew what was coming and went into another room to play a board game. In less than half an hour angry voices blasted from the game room, and the 8-year old girl ran out crying, “He cheats at every single game.” The guilty one, the 14-year old, declared his innocence, of course.

The grownups couldn’t get involved because they were in the midst of their own shouting matches. The two sons-in-law put on their heavy coats and went outside. They sat in a Suburban and listened to CDs for at least two hours.

The next morning nobody spoke during breakfast. It seems that time some comments went too far. A few days later one daughter confided to a friend: “I’m no longer going to pretend my family is normal, whatever that is.”

The post Price: Love-filled holidays myth for some appeared first on Portales News-Tribune.

Information on caring for floral arrangements, making mini-desserts with citrus fruits and making knitted jewelry will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and noon Thursday.

Michelle Robertson, a floral designer, will share some tips on making sure your beautiful arrangement stays that way for as long as possible. She is the manager of Hestand’s Floral and Gifts in Portales.

Eleisha Ensign is the executive director of TexaSweet Citrus Marketing Inc., and she will demonstrate some healthy, delicious mini-desserts for kids as she focuses on the health benefits of eating grapefruit. She’ll also talk about nutrition, varieties, selection and storage of grapefruit. She’s from Mission, Texas.

Ava Green is a designer, and her company is Terri’s Yarns and Crafts in Sevierville, Tenn. She’s going to demonstrate how to make knitted jewelry, and she’ll show lots of beautiful pieces of jewelry she’s made.

Information on pears, making wire-edged ribbon flowers and using the computer to make home decor will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” at noon Tuesday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Registered dietitian and spokeswoman for Northwest Pear Bureau Pat Baird will talk about different varieties of pears, share ripening techniques and tips to prevent browning, as well as discussing nutrition. She’s from Greenwich, Conn.

Author and designer Helen Gibb will show how to make beautiful lilies from wire-edged ribbons and tell ways to display them. Her company is Helen Gibb Design Inc. in Louisville, Colo.

Decorating expert Deborah Durham, a representative of Hewlett-Packard, will show how to use the computer, scanner, digital camera and printer to create rugs, frames and place mats featuring your favorite household pet. Durham lives in Santa Fe.

The post Floral arrangements featured on show appeared first on Portales News-Tribune.