Frank McRee

Frank McRee, 94 a longtime De Baca County rancher passed away Thursday, July 14, 2022 at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales, NM. Frank was born June 9, 1928 on the McRee Family ranch north of Fort Sumner to the home of James Paul McRee and Bess Hazel Zion. He attended and graduated from Fort Sumner High School with the class of 1946. Frank worked a variety of jobs before being drafted into the Army during the Korean War. Frank was honorably discharged on September 10, 1956. Frank married Phyllis Brockman on May 30, 1960, where they lived and he worked at the Alamogordo Dam (Lake Sumner). Frank assumed the role of taking care of the McRee Family Ranch in 1968. Frank and Phyllis moved the family to the ranch in 1973 where they raised their family. When Frank was not caring for the ranch, he loved to tinker with things, whether it be rebuilding an old pickup or seeing how far he could make a CB radio talk. He loved rodeos, horse racing, roping, breaking horses and a Louis L’amour or Zane Grey book. He always had a good dog by his side when he fed his cattle. His greatest hobby was competition shooting and he became a talented gunsmith, designing and building custom competition rifles. Frank sincerely loved and enjoyed the days his grandchildren spent with him on the ranch. Frank served several terms as a De Baca County Commissioner, County representative to the Eastern Plains Council of Government, a board member of the Fort Sumner ACSC committee and a member of the NRA. Frank is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 52 years Phyllis McRee, his brother Paul and sisters Hazel and Jamie. Frank is survived by two daughters, Lisa Walraven and husband TJ and Miki McRee and husband Steve Dimitroff all of Fort Sumner. Three grandchildren Kyla Fleming (Earl) of Portales, NM, Wade Walraven (Samantha) of Malaga, NM and Rose McRee of Albuquerque, NM. Four step grandchildren, Derek Dimitroff (Jordan) of Dumas, Texas, Cass Dimitroff (Quinn) of Ferndale, WA, Braeden Dimitroff of Manhattan, NY and Hailey Dimitroff (Christopher Johnson) of Bighorn, WY. Also surviving are ten great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews (all with a story to tell about staying with Uncle Frank and Aunt Phyllis) and a good friend Frank thought of as a son, Gordon Morris (Pat) of Melrose, NM. Visitation hours for family and friends will be Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 1:00-5:00pm at Chavez Funeral Home. Holy rosary will be recited at 6:00pm, Thursday, July 21, 2022 at St. Anthony Catholic Church. A funeral service will be held at 10:00am, Friday, July 22, 2022 at St. Anthony Catholic Church with Father Sotero Sena and Deacon Edward Sena officiating. Interment will follow in the McRee family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Rusty Morman, Kelly Morman, Cotton Boyd, Dwayne Milliron, Scott Morris and Arron Cortese. Honorary bearers will include Gordon Morris, Sach Morman, Don Sweet and Joe Tompkins. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311.