Candace Michelle Abeyta

Candace M. Abeyta, age 9 of Fort Sumner, NM died Saturday, March 11, 2006 in an automobile accident west of Encino, New Mexico. She was born September 21, 1996 in Fort Sumner, the daughter of Josh and Elaine (Bishop) Abeyta. Her mother Elaine Abeyta also died from injuries suffered in the accident. Candace was a second grade student in Mrs. Stacy West’s class at Fort Sumner Elementary School. In an interview this school year Candace mentioned that she enjoys “hanging with her three brothers and her sister. She loves her mom’s food and sitting at the table as a family. She likes living in Fort Sumner because it is small and it is where all her friends live. She enjoys sleep-overs at her friend’s homes. Her favorite meal was a nice cold Dr. Pepper and pizza. Her favorite color was red, because it was bright like her. Britany Spears is her favorite singer. The Sponge Bob Square Pants Movie is her favorite movie to watch with her friends and family. She also likes to play Pokemon. In the winter she is most likely to throw the first snowball, probably at her brother Abel. Springtime is the perfect weather to play on the trampoline with her friends, but most of all she likes summer because that is when her birthday is and she loves to have a party and get new things from everyone. In the fall she loves to play in the leaves, raking them into huge piles, and then jumping into them. When she is at school, she likes to do her math folder and play volleyball on the playground. When she grows up, her plan is to be a teacher in Fort Sumner so she can help others to learn. If she were to become a sports star, she would be the best server in the history of volleyball. This year she is on the A/B Honor Roll. Candace is always helping others, she has a good heart and this is something hard to find sometimes.” Candace was a member of The Church on The Hill, the “Kids on the Move”, Wednesday night children’s church. Survivors include her father Josh Abeyta; three brothers including her twin Anthony, Abel, and Terrance Abeyta, a sister Ashley Bishop; maternal grandmother Bea Prather and husband Buddy of Bovina, TX; Danny Paul Bishop of Artesia, NM; paternal grandparents Louis and Laura Abeyta of Taiban, NM; maternal great-grandparents Dorothy Northrup of Melrose. Also surviving are numerous uncles, aunts, other relatives and her friends and classmates at Fort Sumner Elementary School. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 20, 2006 from The Church on The Hill with Anna Teeter officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Louis Abeyta, Chad Abeyta, Franklin Gonzales, and J.W. Daniels. Honorary bearers will include Eddie Gonzales and her classmates and students and faculty at Fort Sumner Elementary School. Visitation will be Sunday from 1pm to 6pm at the funeral home. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, New Mexico. A fund has been established for Candaces’ brothers and sister at Citizens Bank of Fort Sumner. The “Abeyta Children Benefit Fund, c/o Citizens Bank, P.O. Box 490, Fort Sumner, NM 88119. For online condolences please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com