Obituaries

Russell Schad, known to his loved ones as "Russ", peacefully passed away on July 28, 2024, in King George, Virginia, at the age of 87. He was born on September 28, 1936, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to the late Charles Conrad and Viola Emily Pearl (nee Saubert) Schad.

Russ was a beloved son, brother, father, uncle, and grandfather. He had a way of connecting with anyone he met, whether sitting down with them in the lobby, traveling, or eating in restaurants. Russ started conversations with everyone, flirted with all ladies, exchanged stories and got everyone around him to smile and laugh. Russ was everyone's favorite and genuinely enjoyed people from all walks of life. His life- long love, however, was Mary, whom he met by happenstance at a party. Russ and Mary were inseparable for nearly 60 years when Mary passed away last year on 04 August 2023.

Russ had a multifaceted career. Following the footsteps of his father who served as a dentist in the US Navy in World War II, Russ entered the US Army in 1956 as a radio operator tech specialist until 1962. After an honorable discharge, Russ graduated from UW-Milwaukee in 1963 with a B.S. in Economics and began working for Shell Oil Corporation as a salesman.

Janet Carolene Gill, 90 of Tucson Arizona, formerly of Siver City passed away peacefully in Tucson on July 30, 2024 surrounded by her family.

Janet was born April 1, 1934 in Douglas, Arizona to Rece and Hazel Maddux. Carol met and married Donald B. Gill. She had worked as a secretary for many years at the copper mines.

She is survived by two daughters, Candy Dawn Milam and Leisa Karol Pauley; five grandchildren, Shane Gill, Joshua Gill, Lun Allen, Eric Frisby and Kari Flores; six great grandchildren, Derick Frisby, Lucas Flores, Preston Allen, Mya Flores, Ayden Gill and Ezra Gill. Carol was preceded in death by her husband Donald B. Gill; son, Lynn Robert Gill; parents, Rece and Hazel Maddux; brother, Lenard Maddux and a sister, Barbara Maddux.

Funeral Services for Janet will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon at Baca's Funeral Chapels with family friend, Joe Fralie, officiating. Concluding service and interment will follow at Memory Lane Cemetery in Silver City where she will laid to rest alongside her husband, Don and son, Lynn. Serving as pallbearers will be Shane Gill, Michael Johnson, Eric Frisby, Josh Flores, Clint Maddux and Jimmy Maddux. Honorary pallbearers will be Derick Frisby, Lucas Flores and Preston Allen.

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

Lea Donna Weaver, 61 resident of Deming passed away Monday July 29, 2024 at Mimbres Memorial Hospital. Arrangements are pending.

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

Antonio "Tony" Lopez Ortiz, 59, a beloved figure and legend of Bayard, NM, sadly left our world on July 26, 2024. He was born on April 26, 1965 to his parents, Cruz Angel and Raquel (Gutierrez) Ortiz in Silver City, NM.

Tony enjoyed his cups of coffee and regularly had coffee dates with his neighbors. Tony was the ultimate lover of Coca-Cola, coffee, trucks, baseball caps, sunglasses, radios, and batteries. He enjoyed family picnics, as long as he didn't have to get in the water and was so fond of his bicycle. Tony often blessed family gatherings with his latest singing rendition, his beautiful green eyes filled with tears, of Vicente Fernandez and some of his other favorite artists. When asked what time it was, he always responded with the same answer,"ocho". He was a loving uncle and loved his babies, he enjoyed teasing his nieces and nephews calling them "feo" or "peo" in his terms. You could often find him cruising Orchard Street donning the latest Ray Bans, Oakleys (or any sunglasses that his family left behind at his home), wearing his baseball cap with his Walkman in clutch, and his muddied-tire trucks trailing behind him. Tony was recognized everywhere he went. As a nonverbal man, he built friendships solely through charisma and kindness. On many outings he was greeted with "Hey Tony!" leaving his family puzzled as to how he knew them. Tony was a beacon of light, joy, and kindness, and a reminder of "Different, Not Less". He will be greatly missed by his family and community.

Gary Paul Emerson, 81, a resident of Tyrone, NM, entered eternal rest on Monday, July 29, 2024 at Sunset Vista Assisted Living in Silver City, NM. Arrangements are pending with Terrazas Funeral Chapels ~ 575-537-0777.

John Anthony (Juan Antonio) Velasco, 81, a Navy Veteran and a resident of Silver City, NM entered eternal rest Sunday, July 28, 2024 at his residence. He was born on October 22, 1942 to his parents, Jorge and Wilma (Wallin) Velasco. Juan was born and raised in La Paz, Bolivia, and at 18 years of age, came to the United States to complete his education, where he earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of West Virginia and a Master's Degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, AZ. He served for four years as a LTJG in the US Navy during the Vietnam era. After working in New York City as a Wall Street banker, he moved to New Mexico where he was able to live in a way which was more compatible with his philosophy of life. After working at First National Bank in Santa Fe and in Economic Development for the State of New Mexico, he moved for a short time to Boston where he managed the New England Spice company. There, he found his love for fine food and cooking when he worked with celebrated chef, Todd English. He settled into the work that fed his artistic soul by opening his own jewelry making business, "Tipuani." For his "retirement," his great joy was owning and bringing back to health an heirloom organic apple orchard in the Mimbres Valley in SW New Mexico.

Elmo Lee Amador, Sr., 68, He was born on May 15, 1956 to his parents, Belder and Mary (Garcia) Amador in Rincon, NM. The family moved to North Hurley during Elmo's childhood where he helped in the building of his childhood home built of railroad ties that his dad acquired from working on the Santa Fe Railroad. Elmo graduated from Cobre High School in 1974 and joined the U.S. Army that same year. He served his country until 1980. After his military service he went on to attend Western New Mexico University where he earned his master's degree in Arts and Interdisciplinary studies. He taught middle and high school in the Deming, Cobre and Silver School districts until his retirement in 2005.  Elmo was teaching at the Silver High Opportunity School, one of his favorite places. He touched many lives throughout his years. Students would always stop him to say "Hi" and he called them all "mi hijos and mi hijas." During his retirement years, Elmo enjoyed riding his Harley, "Gorjus" and working on his VW bug. He was always working on something in his yard and would sketch all his plans for his next build or landscape. His greatest pride and joy were his children and grand-children. The great "Grampa Memo" will be greatly missed and his legacy will live on.

Edna Ann Hutchison Feeley, 83, a resident of Cliff, NM went home to be with her Lord and Savior July 25, 2024. She was born October 10, 1940 to her parents, Ruben and Delia Boone in Quemado, NM.

Edna will be remembered for her love of her faith and the many people that she touched in her 83 years. She was an icon of her community and will be greatly missed by all. Retired from Maxwell House after 25 years and a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church for 57 years. She loved playing her bass guitar in the Reflections Band that played at the Senior Centers and nursing homes in the area. She loved her flowers, especially her 20 rose bushes. She was very active in Montosa Camp meeting which she had attended for 70 years every summer. She was very proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was the youngest of five children. She married William "Bud" Lige Hutchison in 1956 and moved to Cliff in 1967. Bud passed in 1979 and she married Patrick Feeley in 1995.