Pecos Finley

Pecos Finley, 92 of Melrose, NM died Sunday, December 30, 2007 at his home. Pecos was born October 20, 1915 in Elida, NM the son of Richard and Mozella (Egan) Finley. He attended grade school at Elida and graduated from Portales High School. Pecos married Eleanor Cater on August 31, 1940. They made their home at Taiban, NM from 1946-1994. Pecos was a cowboy and worked on ranches in De Baca and Chaves County including the John Shipley Ranch, CE Ranch, Good Ranch, LX Ranch and Ben Hall Ranch. Pecos also worked for the NM Game and Fish Department was a New Mexico Brand Inspector and worked as a police officer for the Artesia Police Department. Pecos was a horse trader; he enjoyed caring for his horses. His pastime beside his horses was reading he spent many hours reading books by Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey. Pecos and Eleanor made their home at Fort Sumner from 1994-2007 and in January of 2007 moved to Melrose, NM. Pecos is preceded in death by his parents; two daughters Loretta Burk in 1987, Dixie Connell in 2004, a sister Lorene Allison and two brothers Bryce and Dude Finley. Survivors include his wife Eleanor Finley of the home in Melrose; a daughter Arlie Mitchell of Melrose; a brother Norman Finley of Los Lunas, NM; five granddaughters Dana Holman of Dardanelle, Arkansas; Jackie Grimes of Farwell, TX; Coy Joe Burk of Santa Fe; Suzette Howard of Melrose; Tomi Lavender of House, NM; three grandsons Wayne Carter of Grady, NM; Kyle Carter of Dimmitt, TX and Tyson Henry of Fort Sumner. Also surviving are seven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren along with many good friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 2, 2008 from the Fort Sumner Church of Christ with Gary Good and Otho Rogers officiating. Burial will follow in the family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will his grandsons Tyson Henry, Wayne Carter, Kyle Carter, Korey Carter, Sterling Howard, and Brody Grimes. Honorary bearers will be all his family and friends. The family will be at 510 N. Seventh Street in Melrose, NM. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (505) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com