Stanley Elkins, 87, of Glenwood, New Mexico, entered eternal rest on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at his residence. He was born on March 25, 1938, in Winters, Texas. The family moved to Santa Rita, NM when his mother Ida Mathilda Deike married James Louis Elkins, when the children were very young.
Throughout the years they moved dozens of times within the area and in several states. He graduated from Cliff High School in 1956, where he was an outstanding athlete, he played basketball, winning the state championship in his senior year and also set some state records in high jump. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1961 serving two years stationed at West Point. He was assigned to the automotive transportation division and often told stories about all the generals he would chauffeur. He went to work for Medley Construction where they traveled and built schools on several Indian Reservations in several states. On one such occasion in Gallop, New Mexico, he met and married Mary Helen (Chela) Sanchez, and they had one daughter Rachel Killough and step son, Teddy Lucero.
Stanley and Chela moved to Glenwood, New Mexico and he went to work for Hollimon Brothers Construction as a heavy equipment mechanic, but was also a jack of all trades and talented at problem solving, taking nothing and making something out of it. He had a fantastic mind for reading and interpreting service manuals as he often rebuilt engines, etc. on all heavy equipment. He and Chela divorced in 1988, and he never remarried.
He also enjoyed fishing, flying kites and remote-control airplanes. After 57 years, he was still employed with Hollimon Brothers at the time of his passing, driving back and forth to Buckhorn, New Mexico, as he was not ready for retirement and enjoyed working.
Survivors include his daughter Rachel Killough (Jay) of Silver City, NM; his step-son Teddy Lucero (Valerie) of Gallup, NM; his one sister Valera Hollimon of Glenwood, NM; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Mathilda and Louis Elkins; stepsisters Rita Hays, Betty Donaldson; sister Virginia McCauley.
Cremation has taken place at Terrazas Crematory.
Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trusted care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.
