Kildee Herring

L.R. “Kildee” Herring, 89 of Fort Sumner, NM died Friday, March 20, 2009 at his home following an illness. Kildee was born October 10, 1919 in Elmer, Oklahoma to the home of E.E. and Ruby (Martin) Herring. He spent his early years in Elmer, Oklahoma and Muleshoe, Texas at the age of 15 he drove a heard of horses to Fort Sumner. Kildee married Callie Tyler Meadows on November 8, 1974 at Hagerman, NM. Kildee worked as a farmer and rancher. He was a professional Rodeo Cowboy, Team Roper, Calf Roper, Hazer and Bronc Rider, he loved to Rodeo. Kildee worked for 22 years as a Ford Dealer in Fort Sumner. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, bowling and traveling. He and Callie spent several “Snow Bird” winters in Yuma, AZ. Kildee was a U.S. Army Veteran, he served with Battery H, 200th Coast Artillery, his military specialty was Anti-Aircraft Artillery and Automatic Weapons. He served in the Philippine Islands where he became a Japanese Prisoner of War. He is a Bataan Death March Survivor. Kildee was honorably discharged on March 20, 1946. His decorations and citations include Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, American Defense Ribbon with One Bronze Star, Philippine Defense Ribbon with One Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation with Three Oak leaf Clusters and a Purple Heart. Kildee was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, VFW Post Clovis, NM; and the American Legion Post #24 in Tombstone, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter Barbara Schrader; two brothers, Wilbur Herring in 1936 and Durwood Herring in 2004; two sisters Myrldean Broddie and Rella Wilson and a son Chris Meadows in January 2009. Survivors include his wife Callie Herring of Fort Sumner, NM; three sons Pat Herring and wife Debbie of Lubbock, TX; Mike Herring of Clovis, NM and Billy Meadows of Big Spring, TX; a daughter Karen Foster and husband Lee of Fort Sumner, NM; a daughter-in-law Marie Meadows of Roswell; sister-in-law Debbie Herring of Clovis along with 12 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and many friends. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Wednesday, March 25, 2009 from the Fort Sumner Church of Christ with Mr. Skip Clark officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Herring family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Bob Addison, Darwin Miller, Bill Herring III; Jack Winn, Erik Turnbough and Bill Bohannan. Honorary bearers will be all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family prefers memorial contributions to Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 180, Fort Sumner, NM 88119; or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com