Michael Gerard Fuentes

Michael G. Fuentes, 64 of Portales, NM passed away Saturday, May 2, 2015 at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, TX following an illness. He was born June 6, 1950 in Clayton, NM to the home of Adolfo and Clorinda (Vigil) Fuentes. Mike attended high school in Clayton, NM. He served in the U.S. Army from June 7, 1969 until his honorable discharge with the rank of Sergeant on December 17, 1972. Mike received his military Infantry Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and his Airborne training at Ft. Campbell, KY. His citations include the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Sharpshooter citation, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachute Badge, and Good Conduct Medal. Mike attended Clovis Community College where he received a Associate of Arts Degree, he also attended E.N.M.U. Portales. Mike worked as a groundskeeper at E.N.M.U. for several years. He later worked for E.N.M.U. Police Department before joining the Portales Police Department. He married Sonya Wells on September 15, 2006 in Portales. Mike has been in ill health for the past few years, but continued to work as "a jack of all trades", he enjoyed woodworking, Harley Davidson motorcycles, weight lifting, and was a great story teller. He loved spending time with his family. Mike was a member of V.F.W. Post 9515, V.F.W. Post 3280 and their Motorcycle Riders Group, and American Legion Post 25 in Clovis. He is preceded in death by his parents, and a brother Edward Fuentes. Survivors include his wife Sonya Fuentes of Portales, one son Dean Woulard and his wife Grace of Albuquerque, six daughters Terra Lee and husband Jack of Billings, MT, Fawn Hinton and husband James, Amanda Hon, Trisha Mullins, all of Portales, Samantha Mullins of Dennard, AR, and Gina Harless of Portales. Also surviving is a brother Tom Fuentes of Santa Fe, and 21 grandchildren. Visitation hours will be Friday, May 8, 2015 from 1-6pm at Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, May 9, 2015 at VFW Post 9515, 316 S. Main Avenue, Portales, NM. Burial with military honors will be at 11:15 am Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe. Pallbearers will include Tony Stanford, James Hinton, Glenn Johnson, Chris Smoker, Ethan Chambers, Fawn Hinton, and Samantha Mullins. Honorary bearers will include all his fellow brothers he served with in the Army. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com