WILLIS SLATEN Willis Slaten, who homesteaded in Roosevelt county in 1906 and worked for the famed old DZ cattle company during the early years, died Tuesday at the age of 91. Death came at the Roosevelt General Hospital where he had been a patient for about two weeks, after a long period of failing health. The funeral has been set for 2 p.m. Thursday from Wheeler's Starlight Chapel, with the Rev. clyde Chestnutt officiating. The casket will be closed before the service and will not be opened. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows will conduct a graveside service in the Portales cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jim Russell, Joe Thompson, Jim Williamson, Buster Hatch, Jamie Miller and Doyle Usrey. The family asks tat all his friends consider themselves honorary pallbearers. Mr. Slaten moved to Roosevelt county from Texas and homesteaded in what is now the Pep community. At that time this was in the midst of the open range controlled by the DZ cattle company, and Mr. Slaten was on the scene in many of the early day incidents that marked the spread of the homesteader through New Mexico. He like to recall his early experiences with such well known figures as Big John Halston, windmill man for the DZ. He moved his family to Portales in 1927 to operate a coal and seed business. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Janet, three sons and two daughters. The sons are Orville T. of Ohio, Woodrow of Denver and Leon of Portales. The daughters are Mrs. Blanche Williamson of Portales and Mrs. Berwyn Forbes of Kansas City. There are 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandchildren.
Transcribed by K. L. Rhodes on 4 May 2002 from a photocopy of an article published in the "Portales News Tribune" on 16 April 1969. Thanks go to Shereen Swanson of Portales, NM for providing me with the copy.  Click here to view scan of original obituary |
 |
Back to the Obituary Page