Bill Cones

Bill Cones, 93, died Friday, August 22, 2003 at his home in the Fort Sumner Valley following an illness. Bill was born July 4, 1910 in Norwood, Missouri to the home of John W. and Louanna Tennesse (Akers) Cones. Bills parents homesteaded northeast of New Kirk, NM in 1912 where they made their home until 1947. Bill attended school at Isidor, NM. He married Velma Caulkins in 1938 at Santa Rosa, NM they made their home in the Fort Sumner Valley in 1946. Bill was a retired truck driver, a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son Jimmy Ray Cones on April 28, 1999; two sisters Hattie Bailey, and Eathel Hedgecoke; and a brother Johnny Cones. Survivors include his wife of 64 years Velma Cones of the family home in Fort Sumner; two daughters, Ruth Randelman of Fort Sumner and LouAnna Loflin and husband Don of Plainview, Texas; one son Billy Lee Cones and wife Patricia of Fort Sumner; a brother Roy Cones of San Diego, CA; and one sister Dorothy Bruce of Phoenix, AZ; 23 grandchildren, 26 Great-grandchildren, and 4 Great-great-grandchildren also survive along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Graveside Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 26, 2003 from the Cones family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery with Rev. Sherman Martin officiating. Pallbearers will be his great-grandsons Blaine Sande, Dustin Joiner, Randy Nichols, Clay Nichols, Jason Cones, Billy Cones, and Kyle Cones. Honorary bearers will be G.A. Gunn, Lawrence Kenyon, Powhatan Carter, and all his family and many friends. Visitation will be Monday from 10AM to 6PM and Tuesday from 10AM to 1PM at the funeral home. The family prefers memorials to the Portales Children’s Home P.O. Box 629; Portales, New Mexico 88130. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 North Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, New Mexico. www.chavezfuneralhome.com