All Obituaries

Floyd Schnitzer, 93, of Ruidoso passed away Monday, September 9, 2019 in Las Cruces, NM.  He was born November 4, 1925 at Alva, OK.  He served in the Army during World War II.  He moved to Ruidoso in 1994 from Haysville, Kansas and was known as the Greeter at Walmart.  He was a member of the Forgotten Truth Church in Michigan.  He married Dorothy Hindman in January 4, 1975 at Enid, OK. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; a daughter, Joyce Walker of Edmond, OK; two...

L. Ray Nunley, 81, of Las Cruces and formerly of Ruidoso passed away Tuesday, September 3, 2019 in Las Cruces.  He was born October 21, 1937 in Jacksboro, Texas.  He graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1962 and moved to Ruidoso in 1965 and owned and operated the Nunley Pharmacy from 1965 until 1982.  He also worked at the Walmart Pharmacy from 1986 until 2014. He served as County Commissioner for Lincoln County from 1992 until 2002, Ruidoso Village Council from...

Lifelong Lincoln County resident, David Bonnell passed away Thursday, August 29, 2019 at the age of 88.  David was a farmer, rancher and sand & gravel business owner.  He is survived by Della Bonnell, his wife of 61 years; three children, Ruth Elaine Little, Joel Scott Bonnell and Paul Allen Bonnell, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents and infant son, Glenn David Bonnell. His funeral service will be Friday, September...

Ellen Dean Bolding Haynes, 95, of Ruidoso passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2019.  She was born July 12, 1924 at Lovington, NM to Douglas and Helen Bolding who both have preceded her in death.  She married Archie C. “Speedy” Haynes on March 24, 1938 and he preceded her in death on January 9, 1998. She was a member of the J Bar J Church in Ruidoso, a lifetime of the Christian Science Mother Church in Boston, Mass. and attended the Christian Science Church in Hobbs,...

Lyle A. Valdez, 60, of Tularosa and Mescalero passed away Monday, August 26, 2019 in Tularosa.  He was born May 24, 1959 at Mescalero and had lived in Otero County all of his life.  Lyle loved to ride horses, go hunting and watching John Wayne movies. He is survived by his brothers, David Marden, Jordon Valdez, James Valdez, Warren Valdez, Paul James Valdez, Robert Mendez and Frank Gonzales; sisters, Annette House, Melba Saenz, Rose Walker, Violet Valdez, Edith Walker, Jamie...

Hector Bautista Jr. was born on February 9, 1958 in El Paso Texas to Hector and Genette Bautista. He departed this life on August 17, 2019. Hector was raised in Southern California and moved to Ruidoso Downs New Mexico in 1995. Hector worked for The Mescalero Apache Tribe as Security at The Inn of the Mountain Gods, as the Tribes Process Server, The Tribal Child Support Division and Assistant Tribal Prosecuted.   Hector married Earlene Strafing on December 28, 1998 and had twin...

Mary Lou (Karnes) Dolphin of Ruidoso, NM passed away on August 16, 2019 at the age of 90. Mary was born in Oxnard, CA on March 30, 1929 to Mary Elizabeth (Beal) and Jess Ellis Karnes. She graduated from Ventura High School in 1947 and Ventura Junior College in 1949 with an AA degree in Commerce. Mary worked in banking and then for the Ventura County recorder’s office. She married Richard M. “Dick” Dolphin on November 3, 1951 in Santa Maria, CA. After settling in...

Ray Dean Carpenter, 79, of Ruidoso passed away Saturday, August 10, 2019 at his home with his loving wife, Patricia by his side.  He was born December 13, 1939 at Mescalero to Cora and Ray C. Carpenter who both precede him in death. He was Past Master and endowed member of Roswell Lodge #18, Past Master of Felix Lodge #29 in Hagerman; past secretary of Ruidoso Lodge #63.  He was a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason of the Santa Fe Scottish Rite, served as Grand Master of Masons in...

The Lord took Bruce Fausten Mark Home on Sunday, July 28, 2019. Bruce was born on July 4, 1960 in Tucson Arizona to Albyn Mark and Sue Mark Davis. He graduated in 1978 from Mayfield high school in Las Cruces and attended one year of college at the University of New Mexico. Bruce later moved to Ruidoso Downs a place he had spent many summers with his grandparents the late Bruce and Georgia Griffith. When he wasn’t home raising his family, he was helping out his parents Sue and Smokey...

Rev. John W. Penn, 82, of Ruidoso passed away Wednesday, July 24, 2019 in Ruidoso.  He was born September 1, 1936 in Tulsa, OK.  He was ordained as an Episcopalian Priest in 1967 and he retired in 2003.  He moved to Ruidoso in October, 1989 from El Paso, TX and was at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Mount until his retirement. He is survived by his children, David Penn, Lisa Driscoll, Michael Penn and Joel Penn; two grandchildren, Lauren Penn and Lindsey Penn and one great...