A rosary was held on September 19 at Assumption Catholic Church for Betty L. Kelly, 67 years of age, who passed away on September 17, 2011 surrounded by family and friends at a local hospital.

The Resurrection Mass was held September 20 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Joe Pacquing officiating. Interment was September 21 from Frisco Catholic Cemetery near Reserve, New Mexico. Father Bill McCann officiated.

Betty Lou was born December 11, 1943 in Albuquerque, New Mexico to William Kelly, Jr. and Fannie Romero-Kelly, who have both preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas Kelly and Wilford J. Kelly.

She was raised on a ranch between Glenwood and Reserve, NM (AKA "Gut Ache Mesa"). She went to grade school in Glenwood and graduated from Reserve High School.

Betty was proud to have been a lifetime resident of New Mexico and had resided in Roswell for 40 years. For more than a decade, she served as one of the nursing faculty members at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell (ENMU-R). She was also an alumni of ENMU-R receiving her A.D.N. degree in 1988.

Joe Rice Hooker 1923 - 2011

Joe Rice Hooker, 88, of Cliff, passed away Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, at Silver Care Center. He was a resident of Bee Hive Homes.

A funeral service was held September 27 at the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Cliff, New Mexico, and interment followed at Mesa Cemetery in Gila with full military honors.

Mr. Hooker was born Christmas Day, 1923, to Joseph Horace Hooker and Ethel Gladys (Rice) Hooker. He is survived by daughters Joella McNally of Cliff, Toni Wetzel of Ruidoso, and Jennifer Ehrman of Los Angeles - a sister, Mary Agnew of Cliff - six grandchildren - 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bright Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Nancy Gail Jackson 1946 - 2011

Nancy Gail Jackson passed away on September 27, 2011 in Lordsburg, New Mexico at age 65. A Memorial Service was held at the Lordsburg Special Events Center in Lordsburg, NM on October 3, 2011. Bright/Lordsburg Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Nancy was born May 4, 1946 to James W. (Bill) and Daisy Phelps in Fall River, Massachusetts where she resided the first 10 years of her life. Nancy spent the summers at her grandparent's cottage on a private beach, called horseneck beach, on the Atlantic Ocean where she ran wild and barefoot through the sand and surf.

The winter of 1955-56 brought 2 blizzards within 1 week that left snow drifts to the eaves of their 2 story home. Her parents decided then to move to a warmer climate. The summer of 1956 her family and grandparents moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where they lived for 3 years. Nancy got her first horse here and learned to ride.

In 1959 her father got a job in northern Utah and the family and grandparents moved to Hyrum, Utah in Cache Valley.

In December of 1963 they all moved once again to Pleasanton, California and Nancy spent the last half of her senior year here. Her father went to Saudi Arabia for a year x-raying welds on oil pipe lines. While he was there the family decided to move back to New Mexico and got in touch with a real estate broker named George Jackson, Sr. In June of 1964 they rented a house from Mr. Jackson in Gila, New Mexico.

It was there that Nancy met the love of her life, George Jackson, Jr., and they were married December 24, 1964 in Gila. Nancy and George spent the next 46 years residing in Grant and Hidalgo counties in Southwest New Mexico ranching and the Insurance and Real Estate business. Nancy was not only George's wife but his partner, friend and lover.

She was very active in the New Mexico Farm and Livestock bureau, the New Mexico Cattle Growers , the Copper Cowbelles and the Tabosabelles. Nancy was the arena director and chairwoman of the Cliff-Gila Fair Junior Rodeo Committee for many years. She also was in charge of the beef concession stand for the Taboasabelles and Cattle Growers at the Hidalgo County Fair.

Nancy is survived by her husband George Jackson, Jr. and daughters Stacy Zunich and Connie (Stewart) Rooks. Four grandchildren Todd (Elsie) Jackson, Sammi Zunich, Calvin (Amy) Rooks, Kelsey Rooks and three great grandchildren Keith Jackson, Tyler Jackson and Callie Rooks.

She is also survived by her father James W. Phelps, Sr., stepmother Grace Phelps, mother -in- law Dorothy Jackson and Sister Linda (Richard) Hall. Brothers -in-law Tom (Thorma) Jackson, Joe (Melba) Jackson and Sandy Phelps sister-in-law and numerous nephews and nieces.

Nancy was preceded in death by her mother Daisy I. Phelps, brother James W. Phelps Jr. and Father-in-law George Jackson Sr.

Nancy will always be remembered for her love of life, people, her animals and her big ready smile.

Francis McKeen Wheeler passed away October 3, 2011 in Dallas, Texas at the age of 88 years. Francis was the last of her generation. She was born in Alma, New Mexico on June 6, 1923.

Her parents were Hugh and May Balke McKeen, who were pioneer ranchers in Alma. Her brothers were Hugh Brunson McKeen and John A. McKeen, and her sister was Eva Faust, all who have passed away.

Francis attended school in Alma as well as high school at New Mexico State Teachers College High School in Silver City.

She married John A. Wheeler August 24, 1942 before he was sent to Italy during World War II. They lived most of their married life in Lubbock, Texas where they owned a farm and feedlot machinery business and raised four children: Steven, David, Kathleen, and Douglas.

Francis is survived by Douglas and Steve and many nieces and nephews and friends who loved her dearly. In Francis and John's retirement, they lived in El Paso, Texas. After John's death in 1998, Francis moved to Dallas to live with her son Douglas. She could not have had better care for 6-1/2 years.

A graveside funeral was held for Francis in the City of Lubbock Cemetery, next to her husband, John A. Wheeler.

Georgia Klumker, of Glenwood, New Mexico and formerly of Toponas, Colorado, went to join our Lord on October 20, 2011.

She was born in Yampa, Colorado on November 25, 1918 to Ora Scott and Mary Jane Bird Perry, the oldest of four children. She graduated from Yampa Union High School and met and married Kelly, who was working for his sister Helen and her husband George on a ranch at Toponas, CO. They later purchased the ranch from them.

Georgia and Kelly were married on December 23, 1936 in Arvada, CO before returning to the ranch at Toponas. Upon purchase of another ranch in the same area, they moved and spent 36 years before selling and relocating to Glenwood, NM in 1974. They purchased two ranches in the Alma area, finally retiring in 1987. They were married over 70 years before Kelly passed away.

Georgia and Kelly were very active in promoting the agriculture industry. They were longtime members of the Farm and Livestock Bureau and the Klumker family was awarded the prestigious Farm Bureau Family of the Year in 2001. They also belonged to the Cattlemen's Association and various other organizations. She was a communicant of the Santo Nino Parish in Glenwood, NM.

Georgia was very active in a number of organizations in both Colorado and New Mexico. She was a 4-H leader for over 30 years, was named Colorado Rancher & Farmer "Homemaker of the Year," and belonged to the Homemakers Club. She was a director on the Catron County Fair Board for many years and was a charter member of the 'Frisco Cowbelles and the Glenwood Woman's Club. She loved showing her horses at local fair and competitions. Helping her children and grandchildren with their 4-H projects and attending their school and athletic events were some of her greatest joys.

Georgia is survived by six children - Kathleen Schuster, Richard (Peggy), Klumker, Tom (Jane) Klumker, Eileen (Jay) McKeen, Janeen Jump (Brian Richard), and Tim (Phyllis) Klumker. - Grandchildren - Mike (Toni) Gisler, Kelly (Shelley) King, Shawn (Diana) King, Alisa (David) Estrada, Missy (Gary) Romero, William Klumker, Eric (Liz) Klumker, Brian Klumker, Paula (Junior) Aley, Pam Shields, Paul (Kim) McKeen, Jayleen (Aaron) Elza, Jerry (Brandi) Jump, Kelly Jo (Cody) Sparks, and Arissa Klumker. - Great Grandchildren - Philip, James, Kirstie, Emily King, Jonathan King, Marc & Larisa Estrada, Layne Kellar, Hayley Romero, Lee Klumker, Georgia & Evelyn Klumker, Brionna Klumker, Tyrell Holloway, Koby Aley, Chandler & Breiona Elza, Kian McKeen, Clayton & Jake Jump. -Great-great Grandchildren - Hannah & James (Jr.), Kamden and Gabrielle King and her sister Ina Muntzert.

Georgia's husband Kelly, her parents, Ora Scott and Mary Jane Perry, and brothers Junior and Kay Perry preceded her in death.

Burial was at the Alma Cemetery at 10:00 p.m. on October 21st. A Memorial to celebrate her life will be held on November 5th at the Glenwood Senior Center at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the 'Frisco Cowbelles scholarship fund or the Glenwood Senior Center in her name. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.