Obituaries

Pat Porcher passed away on Friday, August 1, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas.

A memorial service will be held for Pat and Bryan Porcher on January 23, 2026, 1pm at First United Methodist Church in Deming.

Pat was born on March 17, 1932 in Roswell, N.M. to Clarice Verhines Monk and Orly Monk. Her childhood was spent east of Roswell in the rock house with her 3 sisters and 1 brother. 

In 1940 Pat's mother married Marvin A. Horton. He was a dad by heart to Pat and her siblings.

Pat attended Roswell schools through High School graduation. She then went to college at Mary Washington College in Virginia. When she returned to Roswell, she was employed by the NM State Highway Department. During this time she met a cadet at NMMI, Frank Bryan Porcher.

On June 4, 1952 she married her best friend and love of her life Frank Bryan Porcher.

They had 3 children, Frank Bryan, Joseph Allen and Phyllis Annette.

Sarah Alicia Flores, 26, a resident of Las Cruces, NM entered eternal rest Friday, December 26, 2025 at Las Vegas, NV.  Arrangements are pending with Terrazas Funeral Chapels ~ 575-537-0777.

Whitney V. Shoup, long-time Silver City pharmacist and community volunteer, died Dec. 28. He was 91.

Shoup was born in Guymon, Okla.,in 1934, but soon his family moved to Bauxite, Ark. After graduating from Bauxite high school, Shoup ventured to Little Rock, Ark., to study at the University of Arkansas School of Pharmacy, graduating in 1957. Shoup married the former LaVera Daphne Wilson in 1958.

Their first son, David, was born in Pine Bluff, Ark., in 1959. The Shoups then came to Silver City in 1960, to run the Meadows Rexall drug store on Silver Heights Blvd. The couple at first considered the move just an adventure, but came to love the town. Soon,they had another son, Steve, in 1961, and daughter, Suzanne, in 1966. In the mid-1960s, Shoup bought the Sav-On Drug, then at Bullard and Market, and they settled into the community.

By 1976, the business had grown enough for it to move to a larger building at 1306 N. Hudson. where Whitney and LaVera worked until retirement in 1997. Whitney had a warm spot for college students, whom he often employed at the store. One of them, Rosie Humble, took over the store in 1997.

Frank M. Morales, 56, of Silver City passed away on Sunday, January 4,2026 at the Silver City Care Center.  Services are pending.

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

Kenneth Howard Leck, 84, a resident of Silver City, NM entered eternal rest Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Gila Regional Medical Center.  He was born July 25, 1941 to Fredrick Leck and Frances Howard in Fullerton, CA. 

He was an avid golfer and auto racing fan.  He and his wife Marie played golf and attended Formula 1 and motorcycle races through Europe, Canada, Australia and the British Isles.  When he wasn't playing golf and traveling.  He enjoyed daily walks with his beloved dogs.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marie Leck of Dewey, AZ; one son, Kerby Leck of Tucson, AZ; one daughter, Kira Leck of Bradford, PA; his sister, Jeanne Huber of Meridian, ID.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, James Leck and brother in-law, Larry Huber. 

Services will be at a later date in Dewey, AZ where his wife Marie currently resides.  Cremation will take 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. 

Esker Roland Mayberry, 63, a resident of Cliff, NM, entered eternal rest on Friday, December 26, 2025, at Gila, NM. He was born July 30, 1962, to Roland Mayberry and Verna Sloan in Benson, AZ.

Esker was a pillar of the Gila/Cliff community. He was very involved with the school/sports community as his children grew up and loved to watch their basketball games. He served as a Bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel. He completed a career in the Border Patrol and traveled to various countries as a part of his work. He was a husband, father of 5 children in whom he instilled a strong work ethic, and a grandfather to four grandchildren whom he loved to take to the farm. He loved riding horses and working on the farm. He served everyone around him and was always willing to help anyone out, no matter what that meant.

He is survived by his loving wife of thirty-nine years, Linda Denise (Christensen) Mayberry (Cliff, NM); three sons, Derick Mayberry (Sacramento, CA); Dustin Mayberry (Natalie, Edgewood, NM); Travis Mayberry (Glendale, AZ); two daughters, Kayla and Christa Mayberry (Cliff, NM); and four grandchildren, Jaxton, Emberley, Harley, and Mason; his mother, Verna Mayberry (Safford, AZ), one brother, Curt Mayberry (Joyce, St. David, AZ); two sisters, Rhonda Layton (Brent, Globe, AZ); Shanna Mayberry (Mesa, AZ); as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father.

Martin Miller (1947–2026) Martin Miller, 78, passed away on January 3, 2026. Born in Wichita, KS, to Reece and Louwanda Miller, he was raised in Arizona. A Vietnam War veteran (1970–1971), Martin married Julia, his wife of 54 years, and earned his JD from Arizona State Law and a Master's in Education from WNMU. 

After moving to Silver City 50 years ago, Martin transitioned from law to his true calling in education. He served the Lordsburg School District for 28 years as a teacher and principal. In retirement, he helped establish the local Dyslexia Center via the Silver City Masonic Lodge and was a dedicated volunteer for the ACLU and the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society. An avid historian and traveler, Martin's greatest joy was exploring the Gila National Forest and national parks with his family.

 He is survived by his wife, Julia; daughters Dorothy Miller (James Davidson) and Frances Carpenter (Jared); sister Marilyn Miller; and two grandchildren. 

Services: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 11:30 a.m. at Terrazas Funeral Chapels, Santa Clara. Interment with military honors to follow at Fort Bayard National Cemetery. Remembrances: www.historicfortbayard.org.  

Jose Barrera, 69, a resident of Silver City, NM entered eternal rest Monday, January 5, 2026 at his residence surrounded by his family.  He was born November 13, 1956 to Maximilliano Barrera and Antonia Fonseca at Mission, TX.

Jose was a loving husband to his wife of 45 years, and dedicated father to his 3 children. He was a kindhearted, patient, and dedicated family man, whose greatest joy became being grandfather to his grandchildren. Jose greatly enjoyed working and growing his landscaping business, which he started in 1989, where he drew great satisfaction from developing customer friendships through his work. He had an altruistic human touch, always lending a sympathetic and compassionate ear to anyone who was in need.

He is survived by his loving wife, Carmen Barrera of the family home; his son, Jose A. Barrera Jr.,  and wife Lisa Marie of Oro Valley, AZ; his daughter, Priscilla Barrera of Bayard; three grandchildren, Andres Esteban Perea, Isabella Claire Barrera, and Yaretzi Antonia Barrera; eight brothers, Felipe Barrera and wife Chelo of Mission, TX; Max Barrera and wife Maria of Corpus Cristi, TX; Billy Barrera and wife Alma of Corpus Cristi, TX; Jose Israel Barrera and wife San Juana of New Iberia, LA; Bobby Barrera of Mission, TX; Demencio Barrera and wife Julieta of Mission, TX; Ray Barrera and wife Margie of Mission, TX; Ricky Barrera and wife Lisa of Mission, TX; three sisters, Ramona Barrera of Mission, TX; Gloria Martinez and husband Carlos of Las Cruces, NM; Diana Barrera of Dallas, TX; numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Jesus Barrera; three brothers, Arturo, Edelmiro and Jesus Barrera; one sister, Antonio Barrera.