Butch Carnell

Butch Carnell, age 79 passed away on January 13, 2016 at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, TX following an illness. He was born Lucian Leroy Carnell on November 5, 1936 in Halls, Tennessee to the home of Ivan Hall Carnell and the former Juanita Pearl Talbott. He was born during the great depression and his family moved across the country before settling in Corona, NM in 1950. Butch attended school and graduated from Corona High School in 1955. He attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. Butch married Wanda June Thomson on January 19, 1957 in Corona. Butch worked in the family business at Corona as a wholesale gas distributor for many years. He later became a licensed insurance agent for Farm Bureau Insurance. He and Wanda made their home in Fort Sumner in 1975 where they owned and operated Fort Sumner Insurance and Real Estate for 10 years. Butch later served for several years as a marketing representative for Nationwide Insurance and also worked as a real estate appraiser for the State of New Mexico. During all these years Butch farmed and ranched in the Fort Sumner valley. He raised and sold show sheep for several years. Butch retired in 2001. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner, a past member of the Vaughn Optimist Club, Fort Sumner Lions Club, and Fort Sumner Rotary Club. He enjoyed league bowling, hunting, fishing, and B.S. Butch is preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law Ward Thomson in 1999. Survivors include his wife Wanda Carnell of Lubbock, TX, three sons Leslie Carnell of Bartlesville, OK, Brett Carnell of Washington, DC, Gregg Carnell and wife Susan of Tigard, OR, two daughters Cheri Sapp and husband Fred of Paris, TN, and Cristi Props and husband Erick of Lubbock, TX, one sister Inky Thomson of Fort Sumner, six grandchildren Brandy Carnell of Hydro, OK, Meghan Wuichet and husband Caleb of Aurora, OR, Katy Carnell of Tigard, OR, Ryan Carnell of Tigard, OR, Payton Props and Caylee Props of Lubbock. Also surviving are six great-grandchildren Elle Infante and John Saenz of Hydro, OK, Isabelle, Emma, Audrey, and Jacob Wuichet of Aurora, OR, two nephews Perry Thomson and Timmy Thomson, and a special aunt Pat Williams of Norman, OK. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Monday, January 18, 2015 at First United Methodist in Fort Sumner with Rev. Mike Stahl officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery; pallbearers will include Leslie Carnell, Brett Carnell, Gregg Carnell, Ryan Carnell, Fred Sapp, and Erick Props. Honorary bearers will include Rogene Alford, Willis Brunson, Bob West, Bill Sharp, Joe Gammill, Clay Crist, Adolph Lucero along with John and John D. with Butch’s instructions “I will see you soon we still have lots of tales to tell.” The family requests memorial contributions in memory of Butch Carnell to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 410, Fort Sumner, NM 88119. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311.