Raymond Brown

Raymond Clifford Brown, 80 a resident of the Fort Sumner valley passed away Friday, November 8, 2013 following an illness. His family was at his bedside. Raymond was born July 6, 1933 in Taiban, NM to the home of Jesse Brown and the former Pauline Vaughn. He was raised at Taiban and Tolar, NM. He attended school in Taiban and Melrose. While in high school was drafted into the U.S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged on May 26, 1954. He received the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Raymond married Joyce Hume on July 3, 1965 in Portales, NM. He worked 40 years as a truck driver for several companies including El Rancho Feeds, AMPI Milk Transport, Furr's Supermarkets, and retired while working with K. Barnett and Sons. He received numerous Safe Driving awards and twice received the “Million Mile” award with no accidents. Raymond was known to his many trucking friends by his C.B. handle “Hot rod”. Raymond farmed in the Fort Sumner valley for over 41 years. He was a member of VFW Post 3015 in Clovis, and a longtime volunteer firefighter with the Fort Sumner Valley Fire District. His pastimes included raising cattle, truck driving, farming and telling stories to his grandchildren. Raymond is preceded in death by his parents, a son Raymond Clifford Brown in 1991, a grandson Joshua Robert Crispin, two brothers Leslie Otis Brown and Melvin Brown. Survivors include his wife Joyce Brown of the home, five daughters Pauline and husband Herbert Finney, Linda and Cotton Boyd, Rita and Ralph York of Fort Sumner, Colleen Brown of Lubbock, TX, Elaine and Ken Roberts of Portales, three sons Joe Felty of Fort Sumner, Robert Brown and wife Norma of T or C, NM, Ronnie Brown of Albuquerque, four sisters Viola Pickle of Clovis, Thelma McCarty of Reserve, Etha Mae Pricer of Durango, CO, and Helen Pate of Post, TX; and one brother Marvin Brown of Altus, Oklahoma. Also surviving are thirteen grandchildren Dwayne Finney, Keri Boyd, Guy Wayne York, Jason Felty, Lynita Lovorn, Randa York, Jessica Felty, Justin Boyd, Jessie Davis, Cody Roberts, Heidi Brown, Jaimie Roberts, Amber Edwards, along with ten great-grandchildren. Visitation hours will be Sunday 1pm to 6pm at the funeral home and Monday from 10 am until service time. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm Monday, November 11, 2013 at the Chavez Funeral Home Chapel with Buddy Hall officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Dwayne Finney, Justin Boyd, Guy Wayne York, Jaron Jones, Rayland Lovorn, and Jimmy Lovorn. Honorary bearers will be all his many family, friends, and co-workers. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book, go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com