Carl Draper

ON DECEMBER 21, 2015, OUR FAVORITE COWBOY, CARL DRAPER SUDDENLY PASSED AWAY AT HIS HOME IN RUIDOSO DOWNS. HE WAS TRULY LOVED AND RESPECTED BY MANY, AND WAS ADORED BY HIS FAMILY - NEAR AND FAR.

CARL WAS BORN MARCH 22, 1939 IN CARRIZOZO, NEW MEXICO AND GRADUATED FROM ROSWELL HIGH SCHOOL IN 1958. BY THEN HE WAS RIDING BULLS, ROPING AND GOING TO RODEOS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHWEST. IN 1978, HE MADE THE DECISION TO TRAIN RACE HORSES AND THAT CAREER WAS HIS THRILL OF A LIFETIME. WIN, LOSE OR DRAW HE ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT AND ESPECIALLY LOVED HIS HORSES (OF COURSE THERE WAS ALWAYS THAT TRAINER'S "EXCUSE" IF THE RACE DIDNT GO RIGHT). IN HIS OWN WORDS, HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN HIS LIFE WAS HIS FAMILY, AND HE INSTILLED IN THEM HIS STRENGTH AND COURAGE EVERY DAY.

HIS SURVIVORS INCLUDE HIS WIFE, FREDDA HELENA; CHILDREN, ROBYNE HELENA AND DALLAS DEAN (WIFE ROBYN); GRAND CHILDREN, JASMYNE HELENA ROGERS (HUSBAND ADAM), ISABELLA SOPHIA AMEZCUA, JAXON DRAPER, JORDON WRIGHT; GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, PAIGE JOY HELENA ROGERS AND LUCAS ADDISON ROGERS; HIS AUNT, NELLIE JONES; SISTER, JAN DAVIS (HUSBAND WAYNE); BROTHER, RONNIE DRAPER; AND SEVERAL NIECES AND NEPHEWS. HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS PARENTS, LUCILLE AND EULAS DRAPER.

WE WERE SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU IN OUR LIVES AND WILL FOREVER CHERISH THE MEMORIES THAT YOU BESTOWED UPON US.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE MAKE DONATIONS TO YOUR CHOICE OF A CHILDREN'S CHARITY.

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR CARL WILL BE HELD ON MAY 1, 2015 AT RUIDOSO DOWNS RACE TRACK, WHERE HIS DREAMS CAME TRUE.