Cecil Mayo

Cecil Mayo, 88 of Fort Sumner, NM died Thursday, October 13, 2005 at Laurel Ridge Nursing Home in Clovis, NM following a short illness. Cecil was born July 6, 1917 in Wise County, Texas to the home of Herbert Mayo and the former Callie King. The family homesteaded in Catron County in 1930. Cecil attended school in Mountain View near Quemado, NM. The family moved to Hot Springs, NM in 1939 where Cecil met June Griffith. Cecil and June were married September 1, 1942 in Phoenix, AZ. While living in Hot Springs, Cecil worked for Carrie Tingley Hospital. He also worked at a hotel in Hot Springs. Cecil joined the U.S. Army Air Force after the attack on Pearl Harbor; he was sent to Italy and was stationed in Rome. He was honorably discharged on December 12, 1945. Cecil and June made their home in New Mexico and Colorado before settling in Fort Sumner, NM in 1956. Cecil and June opened and operated the Dariland Drive Inn for 22 years before turning it over their daughter Judy who later turned it over to Cecil and June’s granddaughter Tandela the current owner of the family business. After “retiring” Cecil and June opened the Re-Do Shop an upholstery and sewing shop they operated for 10 years. Cecil could not seem to retire; he continued working and was currently in the sewing machines repair business. His pastimes include being with his family and square-dancing. He helped raise two generations of Dariland employees along with all the friends of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Cecil designed and built the two story family home behind the original Dariland building. The new home was built around the old house. When the construction was completed the original home was knocked down and carried out in a wheelbarrow through the back door. Cecil and June were members of Square Dance Club since 1980 and he was honored by the NM Square Dance Hall of Fame in 1996. Cecil was a charter member of The Church on The Hill in Fort Sumner. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers Nolan Mayo in 1971 and Roy Mayo in 1996 and a nephew Steve Mayo. Survivors include his wife of 63 years June Mayo of the family home in Fort Sumner; a daughter Judy Bell and husband Jim of Fort Sumner; a son Clifton Mayo of Dallas, TX; three grandchildren Tandela Sena and husband Ronald of Fort Sumner; Chad Wahe of Fort Sumner; and Cristal Wahe of Denver, Colorado; also surviving are four great-grandchildren Evan and Amber Sena; Cody Wahe; and Shaiann Thunderheart all of Fort Sumner. Other survivors include a host of other relatives and many friends who knew Cecil as “Pop Mayo”, “Uncle Cecil”, or “Gaba”. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 15, 2005 from The Church On the Hill in Fort Sumner with Rev. Anna Teeter officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery. The family prefers memorial contributions in Cecil’s memory to the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 180, Fort Sumner, New Mexico 88119. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, New Mexico (505) 355-2311. For online condolences please go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com