All Obituaries

The Honorable Craig J. La Bree, 63, of Hobbs, NM, passed away May 30, 2020, at his residence. He was born in Washington D.C on December 3, 1956, to parents Jack and Michelle La Bree. Craig is preceded in death by his father John E. La Bree. He is survived by his mother Michelle V. La Bree, wife Rita M. La Bree, daughter Jennifer Meister (Bella Vista, AR), son Nathaniel Riley (Lubbock, TX), and grandchildren Chloe, Pearl, and Opal. Craig was a Father, an Eagle Scout, a Lawyer, and a Judge....

On Thursday, May 28, 2020, Leon Cecil Thompson, loving husband and father of three children passed away at home at the age of 92. Leon was born on February 15, 1928, to Evelyn and Randall Thompson in Amarillo, Texas. He served in the United States Army with the 82nd Airborne during World War II. At the war’s end, Leon entered Texas Tech where he fast tracked a business degree, but Tech is also where he began dating Alyce Joyce Byrom. They married December 26th, 1950 in Hobbs, New...

Jesus took our father James Lynn Walker home on May 24, 2020. He was born December 23, 1926 in Ethel, MS.  After his service ended with the Merchant Marines and the Coast Guard during World War II, Lynn followed his sister to the oilfield booming town of Hobbs, New Mexico in 1948. He landed his first job as a mechanic for Tidwell Motor Company and later landed his career job as the main mechanic for Marathon Oil Company where he worked for 40 years until retirement. Landing a job...

Sherrill “Sherrie” Ann Denton was granted her Angel wings and went home to Jesus on May 23, 2020 at the age of 71. Sherrie was born to Leslie Earl Smith and Vila Valerie Smith on August 26, 1948 in Levelland, Texas.  As a teenager, she won many beauty pageants including Miss Muleshoe, Most Beautiful and Miss Sand Hill Crane. She graduated High School in Muleshoe, Texas where she was a cheerleader and sang in the choir.   As an adult she worked in banking, finance...

Vedie Ann Noseff went to be with her “Lord” on May 15, 2020.  She lost her battle for life after an extended illness. Ann was born on June 28, 1929 in Abilene, Texas.  She was one of three daughters and one son born to Ludie and Josephine Gatewood.  Ann grew up in and around Anson, Texas and later moved to Abilene, Texas. It was there she met Tommy Lee Choate, her husband and father of her three children. They were married on May 24, 1947 after Tommy returned from...

Evelyn Ruth Wynne, 96, of Carlsbad was born Aug. 27, 1923 to Mary French and M.L. McAnally in Brady, Texas. She passed away at a Hobbs nursing facility on May 15 after a brief illness. Evelyn graduated from Brady High School in 1941. She married Marion Claude Wynne in 1947 and the couple moved to Carlsbad where five children were born of the marriage. After a lifetime career as a GTE switchboard operator, including several years in Texarkana, Texas, she retired and moved back to Carlsbad...

Abraham Espinoza Abraham Espinoza 84, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away on May 13, 2020 in Hobbs, NM.  He was born in Villa Hidalgo, Dgo, Mexico on October 09, 1935 to Luis and Lupe Espinoza.  He was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers, Tavo, Fernando, Pedro, Elias, and Andres.  He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Maria Espinoza; six sons, Ubaldo, Octaviano, Armando, Luis, Abraham, and Joaquin; five daughters, Lucia, Lupe, Yolanda,...

Ivey D. Massey was born in Vernon, Texas on February 6, 1927.  His childhood and school years were spent in various oil field towns.  He moved to Portales, New Mexico where he graduated from high school.  Ivey attended Eastern New Mexico College just long enough to meet his future wife, RoJean.  Soon after, he joined the Navy because of the war.  He returned on leave and they were married on May 11, 1945.  After the Navy, Ivey worked in the oil field.  The...

Janice Jones passed away May 13, 2020, a warrior against cancer to her last days.  A memorial service will be held at a future date.   Born October 22, 1944, Janice grew up in Hobbs with her brother Royce and parents Frank and Clair Eades.  She graduated from Hobbs High School in 1963.  She married Jack Jones on May 12, 1967.  Janice and Jack raised their son Brian Jones in Hobbs.  Janice enjoyed a long career as a legal assistant in Lea County, working...

Linda Darnell Jones Baugh age 73 of Hobbs, NM passed away from natural causes and went to be with the Lord in the evening of Monday, May 11th. Linda was born to Jack and Doris Jones April, 7th, 1947 in Loraine, Tx. They Lived in Oklahoma and Texas but she spent the majority of her life in Hobbs and always called Hobbs home. She graduated from Hobbs High Class of 1965 and married Dennis Baugh March, 10th 1966. They have three children: Kerry Baugh, Amy Henry and Christopher Baugh. Linda was...