Obituaries

Sharon Kay Pena (formerly known as Sharon Kay Strong), 81, a longtime resident of Deming, NM, entered eternal rest peacefully on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

Sharon was born on October 11, 1944, to David and  Genevieve Strong in Savannah, Georgia.  She was a loving wife, aunt, and stepmother.  Sharon loved the great outdoors by camping, fishing, and hunting with her husband, Alfred.  She also loved crocheting, listening to music, coloring, and all sorts of puzzles, especially the "fill-in" puzzles.  Her favorite television drama was Yellowstone, and Rip was her favorite character. 

Sharon is survived by her husband of 33 years, Alfred Pena; two cousins, Denise Beltz and Cheryl Marshall, both of Iowa; three stepdaughters, Barbara Aguilar and spouse Daniel, Tina Pena and companion Andy, and Valerie Flores and spouse Enrique, and numerous step-grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

She is preceded in death by both of her parents and one sister, Janeen Frankauser.  Sharon will be reunited with her precious fur baby, Molly, her Yorkshire Terrier.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sharon Kay (Strong) Pena, please visit our floral store.

Ruby Jacqueline Jones, 96, a resident of Silver City, NM entered eternal rest Monday, January 12, 2026 at the Siler City Care Center.  Arrangements are pending with Terrazas Funeral Chapels ~ 575-537-0777.

An obituary is not available at this time for Marcos Antonio Elian Zavala. We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marcos Antonio Elian Zavala, please visit our floral store.

At age 93, Betty L. Yount Pack entered her eternal rest on January 8, 2026, after more than ten years of living with dementia. She passed peacefully at Haciendas at Grace Village Assisted Living in Las Cruces. Betty was the daughter of John D. and Josephine Yount. Following the divorce and remarriage of her parents, her family expanded to include two sisters, Freda and Susan, through her father John and his wife Rena Yount, and a third sister, Jaucqlin, through her mother Josephine and her husband Wesley Walker.

Betty was a long-time resident of Hurley, New Mexico. She was born December 2, 1932, in Sioux City, Iowa, and was raised in a Midwestern farming family that later moved to California, where she attended Anaheim High School in Anaheim. She met her husband, Gerald "Jerry" L. Pack, who served in the United States Marine Corps.  After they married they moved to Hurley New Mexico, where they raised their family. They were married for 63 years until Jerry's passing on November 2, 2012. Together they had three sons: Ronald L. Pack (who entered eternal rest in 2020), Steven L. Pack, and George Pack.

Richard Fletcher, 78, of Santa Clara passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at Fort Bayard Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.  Services are pending.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Fletcher, please visit our floral store.

Bruce C. Hartline, 97, a Navy veteran of Silver City, passed away Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Genesis Silver City Care Center. Arrangements are pending under the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bruce Coit Hartline, please visit our floral store.

Jerry Myrl Huff, 80, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, December 30, at Mountain View Medical Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Jerry was born on March 10, 1945, in Silver City, New Mexico, to Melvin and Billie Beth Huff. His family moved to a farm in Gila when he was five years old, where he lived until age nine, before relocating back to Silver City. Jerry graduated from Silver High School and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Western New Mexico University.

After graduation, Jerry began his career with Scott Electric, becoming a journeyman electrician. During this time, he worked on several notable projects, including wiring the newly built Playas townsite. After leaving Scott Electric, he worked in California and Prescott, Arizona, before eventually returning to Silver City. There, he held various jobs and volunteered as an ambulance driver.

Jerry later worked for Brown and Root in the mines and then for James Hamilton Construction, where he served as Hot Plant Supervisor and Electrician. He retired after nearly 30 years of dedicated service. Even after retirement, Jerry continued working, taking consulting jobs in Wyoming and Nevada as a journeyman electrician. Eventually, he returned to his cowboy roots, working with Jessie Baker on a ranch near Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Debra Lea Melder, 71, a resident of Mimbres, NM entered eternal rest Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at Fort Bayard Medical Center.  Arrangements are pending with Terrazas Funeral Chapels ~ 575-537-0777.