Jewel Sweet

Jewel “Billie” Sweet, 91 a longtime Fort Sumner resident and business operator died Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at her home. Jewel was born March 29, 1914 in Floyd, Texas the daughter of Robert Hendryx and the former Nora Burkhalter. As a child she moved with her family to Elida, NM in 1929; that same year they moved to Melrose. She attended school at Elida and Melrose. Jewel married Edward Sweet on January 12, 1931 in Santa Rosa. She and Ed farmed and made brooms for their living. They later moved to Fort Sumner in November of 1933 where they continued to make brooms and operated a second hand store. The family moved to Puerto De Luna, NM in the fall of 1936 where they farmed and made mattresses. They returned to Fort Sumner in August of 1939 so their son Donald could attend school. They continued to make mattresses and brooms and operated a second hand store until they built and operated the “Billy the Kid” Museum in Fort Sumner in 1952. Her husband Ed had collected antiques since he was young, hoping one day to build a museum. Jewel continued to operate the museum until her retirement in 1979. Jewel was a member of the First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner since 1940, and a member of Bethany Sunday School where she recently received a 54 year perfect attendance pin. She also taught the primary Sunday school bible class for over 20 years. Jewel loved to paint and write poetry. She was preceded in death by her husband Ed Sweet on December 5, 1974; a grandson Terry Lee Sweet on December 11, 1976; her parents; a sister O’Dell Gibson; two brothers Preston Hendryx, and Billy Wayne Hendryx, and a niece Mildred Liles. Survivors include her son Don Sweet and wife Lula of Fort Sumner; a grandson Tim Sweet and wife Pam of Clovis; two great-grandsons Kane Sweet and wife Keri of Melissa, TX and Devin Sweet of Clovis, NM; a sister Ratha Passafume and husband Phil and a brother Alva Hendryx and wife Trudy all of Las Cruces, NM. Other survivors include several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 27, 2005 from the First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner with Rev. Coy Brewer officiating. Burial will follow in the Sweet family plot, Melrose Cemetery, Melrose, New Mexico. Pallbearers will include Kane Sweet, Devin Sweet, T.J. Walraven, Dick Haynes, Robin Simmons and Johnny McMillan. Honorary bearers will be the Deacons of the First Baptist Church. The family prefers memorial contributions to the First Baptist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 287, Fort Sumner, New Mexico 88119. Visitation will be Monday from 10am to 6pm at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (505) 355-2311 www.chavezfuneralhome.com