Obituaries

Kathryn (Kathy) Sue Rankin Madrid joined our Heavenly Father on April 17, 2024 at age 80, in Silver City.  Kathy was born in Henderson, Nevada on February 8, 1944 to Milton Terrell Rankin and Joe Hurley Rankin.

Kathy married the love of her life, Sonny Lopez Madrid on March 27, 1965 in Lordsburg, NM, sharing 59 beautiful years of marriage with him. Kathy dedicated most of her professional life to Gila Regional Medical Center, retiring with 35 years of service in 2015 as a Ward Clerk. Countless lives were touched by her presence and compassion during her time at the hospital. People often approached us to share stories of how her kindness impacted them during their hospital stays. Kathy's mere presence and unwavering commitment to kindness, compassion, and love made a significant difference on everyone who met her. Kathy was an amazing cook and loved to serve her "made with love" Mexican cuisines to her family, friends, and co-workers. She was proud to share many stories of how she worked in her parents' restaurant, The Flying Twins in Fort Sumner, NM, and The Trail Pancake House in Lordsburg, NM.

Karen L. (Kelly) Sabin, 71, of Mimbres passed away at home on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Karen Lynne (Kelly) Sabin, please visit our floral store.

Leon McDaniel, 86, a longtime resident of Lordsburg passed away Wednesday April 17, 2024 at his home.  Arrangements are pending.

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

From her killer strokes on the tennis and pickleball courts to an unexpected stroke while managing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Dixie Dexter had the last ride of her life to El Paso and passed away on December 30, 2023.  And what an amazing ride it was…

She was born Dixie Lynn Grieve on August 7, 1942, in Los Angeles, California to Ivan and Hattie (Southard) Grieve, little sister to Ronnie.  Growing up in Pasadena she was always surrounded by people and life was filled with family, friends, fun and adventure.  In school, Dixie excelled in academics and loved her extracurricular activities.  Sunday potluck dinners, weekend camping, and summer trips back to her parents' hometown of Iola, Kansas, were the building blocks of her youth.  In high school, she met the man who would become her beloved husband of nearly 63 years, Doug Dexter, and still kept her focus enough to graduate salutatorian from Pasadena High School in 1960.  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Pfc. Richard G. Pitsor, 18, of Fort Bayard, New Mexico, who was captured and died as a prisoner of war during World War II, was accounted for March 20, 2023.

In late 1941, Pitsor was a member of G Company of the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December. Intense fighting continued until the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, and of Corregidor Island on May 6, 1942.

Thousands of U.S. and Filipino service members were captured and interned at POW camps.  Pitsor was among those reported captured when U.S. forces in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese. They were subjected to the 65-mile Bataan Death March and then held at the Cabanatuan POW camp. More than 2,500 POWs perished in this camp during the war.

According to prison camp and other historical records, Pitsor died Aug. 28,1942, and was buried along with other deceased prisoners in the local Cabanatuan Camp Cemetery in Common Grave 305.  

LaVergne Burr Merrill, 80, longtime Deming resident passed away Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Los Lunas, New Mexico. He was born May 2, 1943 in Ann Arbor, MI to LaVergne Merrill Sr. and Thelma Sweezie.

A graveside service will be held Monday, April 22, 2024 at 10 o'clock in the morning at Mountain View Cemetery. Al Bunting will be officiating. Military Honors will be accorded by the United States Navy.

He is survived by his wife Martha Merrill; his 3 children Russel Merrill (Jeanie Hart), Luke (Tristian) Merrill and Samantha Merrill (Harry Jackson); 5 grandchildren and a sister Vickie (Jim) Johnston. LaVergne is preceded in death by his parents and a sister Sharon Lee.

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

Rosalie Baker, 85, a resident of Arenas Valley, NM entered eternal rest Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at Sunset Vista Assisted Living in Silver City, NM.  Arrangements are pending with Terrazas Funeral Chapels ~ 575-537-0777.

Robert Costales Torres, 73, a resident of Silver City, NM entered eternal rest Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at Silver City Care Center, in Silver City, NM.  Arrangements are pending with Terrazas Funeral Chapels ~ 575-537-0777.