Obituaries for Luna County New Mexico

DEATH OF WALTER E. FOWLER
     Walter E. Fowler, a resident of Deming since 1912, died at his home here on Saturday evening, the cause of death being tuberculosis, from which he had suffered for a long time. Funeral services were conducted under the auspices of the Masonic lodge, with Rev. Hugh T. Mitchelmore, former pastor of the Presbyterian church here, conducting the exercises, and interment was made in the Mountain View cemetery. Walter C. Rawson had charge of the funeral arrangements.
     Mr. Fowler was born at Greenridge, Mo., on June 30, 1885, and was married in January 1911, to Miss Myrtle Cleverdon at Brookville, Kansas, moving to Deming the following spring. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fowler, one of which predeceased him. The other child, Caroline, survives, as does the widow. His father, Dr. W. E. Fowler, makes his home at Brookville, Kas., with a half brother and sister. Mr. Fowler was a member of the Congregational church and passed away fortified by a strong and beautiful Christian faith.
     Ever since coming to Deming Mr. Fowler had been associated with the leading business men of the city, and stood high with everyone who knew him. During the past year he had engaged in business for himself and was making a success of his business when his health compelled him to give up active work.
     The sympathy of his man friends is extended to his widow and daughter in their bereavement.

Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico July 5, 1918

©Shauna Williams

Mrs. Thomas R. Taylor Dies
     Mrs. Thos. R. Taylor passed away at her home early this morning, following an attack of pneumonia. Hopes had been entertained for her recovery and it was reported last night that her condition was improved, but she succumbed to the illness this morning. Besides her husband, she is survived by her little daughter. The news of Mrs. Taylor's death came as a great shock to her many friends here, and the sympathy of all of them has been extended in the fullest measure to the bereaved husband and daughter.
     Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon, and interment will be made in Mountain View cemetery.
     J. A. Mahoney, Inc., has charge of the arrangements.

October 18, 1918 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

©Shauna Williams

Arthur McKinley Buried
The funeral of Arthur McKinley, who died suddenly last week, was held here on Saturday, interment being made in Mountain View cemetery. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. E. C. Lindsey, the Presbyterian pastor, and the arrangements were in the hands of J. A. Mahoney, Inc.

October 18, 1918 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

©Shauna Williams

COL. M'GRORTY PASSES AWAY
Exposure Hastens Death of One of Deming's Foremost Citizens
     Col. J.P. McGrorty passed away at the Ladies' Hospital in this city Saturday afternoon from shock occasioned by exposure. He had wandered some two miles from town Wednesday evening, remaining out all night, without even an overcoat, and being missed friends began a search, finding him Thursday morning. He was brought to the hospital, where he was tenderly cared for, but his advanced age, 89 years, hastened his demise.
     Colonel McGrorty for the past 50 years was a prominent figure in New Mexico. He was the youngest of his father's family, an older brother recently dying at the age of 99 years.
     Deceased was a man of extensive interests, owning stock in the Deming National Bank and the First National Bank of El Paso, besides valuable real estate holdings.
     His death occasioned sadness in the hears of all Deming people, who knew him as a man of kind and charitable disposition, and his familiar figure will be missed on our streets.
     Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon at St. Luke's Episcopal church, as were also the services of the Masonic order, after which the remains were shipped to Danville, Ky., for interment.

January 24, 1919 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

©Shauna Williams

Death of Frank Siebold
     Frank Siebold passed away Tuesday at the Ladies' Hospital, where he was taken more than a week ago to the be treated for Bright's disease. For the past 18 months Mr. Siebold has been a salesman at the J. A. Mahoney store.
     Mr. Siebold was one of the early residents of Deming, having arrived here from Canton, O., in 1882, connecting himself with the first bank that was established about that time. Later the banking business was reorganized under the name of Commercial Bank, now known as the First National Bank. In 1893 he severed his connection with the bank and engaged actively in mining industries in Old Mexico, where he remained until the revolution started about four years ago, when he returned to the states for a few months. He was then sent to British Columbia to look after other mining interests, remaining there until the early part of 1917. At that time returning to Deming among his old friends, he was immediately engaged in the Mahoney stores, where he was an active member of the sales department up to a few weeks ago, when he was taken down with Bright's disease.
     Mr. Siebold was held in highest esteem by all who knew him. The funeral services were conducted Thursday morning from the Church of the Holy Family and was attended by a large number of the older residents and friends of deceased. Interment was in Mountain View Cemetery.

Feb. 7, 1919 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

©Shauna Williams

Mrs. McCallister Dies
     Mrs. Lillian McCallister, the wife of W. J. McCallister, died at her home here last Saturday morning, the cause of death being pneumonia. Funeral services were conducted from the Rawson undertaking parlors Sunday afternoon by Rev. W. C. Childress, pastor of the Methodist church, and interment was made in Mountainview Cemetery.
     Besides her husband, Mrs. McCallister is survived by two sons, Rosco and Leroy, who have been serving with the American army in France. The latter returned to his home here last Wednesday and was with his mother when she passed away, but will have to return to Fort Leavenworth at once to await his discharge from the army. The other son, Roscoe, was not able to reach home in time to see his mother.
     Floyd Eugene McCallister, another son, died here on March 10th from pneumonia and was buried last week, and the double bereavement has cast a gloom over the many friends of the family here who are well known and respected by a large circle of acquaintances.

March 21, 1919 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

©Shauna Williams

Sam Schwing Passed Away Last Sunday
The announcement of the death of Sam Schwing on Sunday morning came as a great surprise to the many friends of the deceased, who had been able to be on the streets several times last week. His illness was very brief, and his advanced age, 85 years, rendered it impossible for him to over come his trouble, and he passed away at his home one Pine street. Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Tuesday afternoon, and interment was made in Mountain View Cemetery.
Mr. Schwing came to Deming about 14 years ago and invested heavily in local residence and real estate property, and at the time of his death owned a large amount of valuable property here. His wife passed away several years ago and was buried here. A niece, Miss Kate Schwing, of Los Angeles, came here to attend the funeral. Mr. Schwing was a very retiring disposition, but his character was such that he made friends easily and those who were admitted to his intimacy regarded him as a man of sterling uprightness and one whom it was an honor to know.

May 2, 1919 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

©Shauna Williams

Thomas Malone Dies
Thomas Malone, manager of the Southwestern Lumber Company on Gold avenue, died at his home here last Thursday from an attack of acute bowel trouble. He is survived by a wife and two children, who accompanied his body to El Paso where the interment was made.

May 30, 1919 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

©Shauna Williams

Death of M. H. Parsons
Miles H. Parson, a resident of Deming for several years, passed away at this home on East Birch street Saturday morning, the cause of death being a growth in the stomach from which he had suffered for a long time. Funeral services were conducted on Sunday by rev. Norris J. Reasoner, pastor of the Christian church, from the Rawson undertaking parlors, and interment was made in Mountain View Cemetery. Many of the members of the I.O.O.F., to which Mr. Parsons belonged, accompanied the remains to their last resting place.
Mr. Parsons was born in Des Moines, Ia., in 1867, and spent the greater part of his life in that state. After coming to New Mexico, he proved up on a homestead west of town and then moved into the city, where he engaged in business as a second hand merchant. His failing health compelled him to give up his active participation in the business and he admitted his brother to the active management in the store on Silver avenue. He is survived by his widow, his son Charles and his brother, C.A. Parsons.

June 20, 1919 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

©Shauna Williams

Edwin Martin Died Tuesday
The death of Edwin Martin, one of the old residents of this part of the country, occurred at his home at Cooks Peak on Tuesday afternoon, the end coming suddenly following what is supposed to have been an attack of acute neuralgia which reached his heart. The body was brought in here on Wednesday to the Mahoney undertaking rooms, where it was prepared for shipment to Globe, Ariz., yesterday morning, where interment will be made. Mr. Martin was aged 63 years at the time of his death and is survived by his widow, one son and one daughter, who lived with him at Cooks, and by two sons and one daughter at Miami, Ariz.
Mr. Martin has been in this country since the early 80's, and was one of the best known miners and prospectors in the state.

August 8, 1919 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

©Shauna Williams

Death of Mrs. Ed Bell
Mrs. bell, wife of Ed Bell, died at her home here last Thursday of pneumonia, and was buried in Mountain View cemetery Saturday afternoon. Rev. W. C. Childress, pastor of the Methodist church, assisted by Rev. W. E. Foulks, conducted the funeral services, and the arrangements were in the hands of J. A. Mahoney, Inc.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Bell is survived by two children, a boy and a girl; by her mother, Mrs. Alice Browning, and by two aunts, Mrs. S. H. Wells and Mrs. Jennie Pierce, all of whom have the deep sympathy of their many friends in Deming in their bereavement.

December 6, 1918 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

©S. Williams

Chas. L. Betts Died Monday
Funeral Services for Respected Deming Citizen Were Held on Wednesday
     The death of Dr. C. L. Betts occurred at his home here Monday morning, the cause of death being cancer, from which he had suffered for over a year. The malady became so pronounced that he was compelled to place himself in the hands of a specialist and to undergo two operations, but the disease had made such progress that his physicians could not hope to check it, and after his last visit east last fall he returned to Deming, and took to his bed, remaining there until the end.
     Funeral services were held from St. Luke's Episcopal church on Wednesday, Rev. Kenneth Houlder officiating, and interment was made in Mountain View cemetery, where the Masons conducted the burial service. The arrangements for the funeral were in the hands of J. A. Mahoney, Inc.
     Dr. Betts is survived by his widow, formerly Miss Louise Hughes, whom he had married since coming to Deming in 1908, and his sister, Mrs. Wimble, who makes her home in Rochester, NY.
     Shortly after coming here, Dr. Betts settled on a claim east of town and remained there for several years, subsequently engaging in the real estate business in town. Before coming to Deming he had served in the army as a veterinarian, and had campaigned in the Philippines with General John J. Pershing, with whom he was on terms of close personal friendship. This friendship was shown by the famous American general in 1916, when Dr. Betts was appointed, on the recommendation of Pershing, as chief veterinarian at the camp of the Fourth Separate brigade.
     Charles L. Betts was a man of retiring disposition and did not mingle to any great extent in the public life of the city, but those who know him best say that he was a man of many lovable traits and of the most uncompromising uprightness of character, and a man who observed the golden rule in every department of his social and business life, and the regret at this death among this friends who were admitted to his intimacy is of the deepest character.

March 28, 1919 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

©Shauna Williams

Chas. S. Houlder Buried Yesterday
     Charles Spencer Houlder passed away at his home at St. Luke's rectory on Wednesday at noon, after a brief illness, and was buried in Mountain View cemetery yesterday afternoon in the presence of a large number of friends. Mr. Houlder was aged 72 years and 11 months and had been in failing health for the past two months. Besides the widow, he is survived by four sons and two daughters. One son, Rev. Kenneth L. Houlder, is priest in charge of St. Luke's Episcopal church, and one of his daughters, Mrs. F. F. Duncan, came here from Los Angeles a few days before her father passed away. She was accompanied by her two children.
     Mr. Houlder was born in Notting Hill, London, and spent his life there until 1895, when he came to the United States and settled in Boston. During the time he lived in England he took an active part in civic and political affairs and had risen to several positions of honor in London. He was a member of the committee that was appointed by the city of London to superintend the building of the Tower Bridge, and he was also appointed at another time as a member of an official committee that was charged with the entertainment of a number of visiting European royalties. He was an active member of the Episcopal church, holding the office of vestryman in one of the oldest churches in England.
     After remaining in Boston until 1911 he moved with his family to Idaho, living there until 1918, when he went to California, coming to Deming in March of this year when his son was appointed priest in charge of the local Episcopal church. Soon after coming here his health began to fail and the efforts of his family and his medical attendants were powerless to prolong his life.
     Funeral services were conducted from St. Luke's church yesterday afternoon by Rev. Fuller Swift of El Paso, the arrangements being in the hands of J.A. Mahoney, Inc. The pallbearers were H. D. Green, C.A. Allison, Eugene Morehead, Ralph A. Lynd, D. P. Flambert and Jas. C. Sands.

June 20, 1919 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

Death of W. B. Taylor
     Walton B. Taylor, one of the leading goat ranchers of the county, died at his home here Wednesday afternoon and was interred in Mountain View cemetery yesterday afternoon from the Rawson undertaking parlors, Rev. W. C. Childress officiating.
     Mr. Taylor has been associated with his brother-in-law, W. E. May, in the ranching business for a number of years, and for some time past had been engaged as night watchman by the Murray & Layne Co. here. His death was due to paralysis, his age being 52 years. He was born in Alabama, and is survived by two sisters, Mrs. May and Miss Ella Taylor, who is employed with H. Nordhaus & Sons Co. as milliner.
     The pallbearers were chose from the Knights of Pythias lodge, of which order Mr. Taylor was a member.

July 4, 1919 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

Mrs. Brown Dies At The Family Home In Deming
Mrs. J. W. M. Brown, a health seeker, died at her home, 119 South Platinum avenue, last Thursday, and the remains were interred in Mountain View cemetery, the next day. Leila Scott Brown was born in Henderson county, North Carolina, May 12, 1881, died at Deming February 9, 1921, aged 39 years, 7 months, 27 days. She was married to J. W. M. Brown at the age of 16 years, and to this union was born four children, two of whom with the father survive. The dying testimony of Mrs. Brown was another evidence of the goodness of Christianity and hope of future life.
Mr. Brown and the daughter, Miss Willie, will continue for the present to reside in Deming.

February 18, 1921 Deming Headlight, Deming New Mexico

Dr. Stephens, Dies at Deming N. Mex.
Mrs. Lou P. Stephens of West Elm street, was today informed of the death of Dr. Robert Stephens of Deming, New Mexico. He was 80 years of age and death was due to heart trouble. He was the father of Mr. Stephens of Lima, and for three years had been located in New Mexico.
For many years he was engaged as a dentist in Lima and was a prominent resident of the city.

May 25, 1916 Lima Times Democrat, Lima Ohio

J. A. Farrow Dead In New Mexico
Relatives here have been notified by telegraph of the death of Mr. J. Farrow at 8:00 o'clock Tuesday night at Deming, New Mexico. The body will be brought to Commerce and burial will be made Friday afternoon.
The deceased was a pioneer of the Commerce community and was a highly respected citizen. He was 75 years old the second of last February. Besides numerous other relatives he is survived by six children as follows: Mrs. C. L. Jones, Commerce; Mrs. W. L. Tittle, Dallas; Mrs. Annie Randle, Truscott, Texas; Mrs. Sam Wester, Plainview, Texas; C. E. Farrow, Commerce; Willie Farrow, El Paso.

June 29, 1928 The Commerce Journal, Commerce Texas

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