Obituary notices.

Juanita Klement, 92, a resident of Silver City, NM - pending

Juanita Klement, 92, a resident of Silver City, NM, entered eternal rest on Saturday April 27, 2024 at Fort Bayard Medical Center.  Arrangements are pending with Terrazas Funeral Chapels ~ 575-537-0777.

Jacqueline Michele “Jacqui” (Kerby) Merrill, 54, a resident of Silver City, NM

MerrillJJacqueline Michele “Jacqui” (Kerby) Merrill, age 54, passed away on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in El Paso, Texas.  She was born August 26, 1969 to her parents, Jacques and Billie Jayne (Sweet) Kerby in Gardena, California. 

She was a bright light to everyone who loved her, especially her husband.  Jacqui adored her dogs.  Her favorite place was the family ranch, where she found peace in the beautiful sunsets.  She will be tremendously missed. 

She is survived by her husband, Ray Allen Merrill, Sr.; her daughter, Katrina Nelson of California; her four sisters, Kathie Courtney, Monica Lambert, Elizabeth Jones, Jenny Souder; her numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Mary Jayne Nelson. 

Memorial services will be held on May 4, 2024, at 11:00am at Messiah Lutheran Church in Silver City, NM, officiated by Pastor Joseph Pellegrino.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity of your choice in Jacqui’s memory.  

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Esther JoAnn Duncan, 86, a resident of Fort Bayard, NM - pending

Esther JoAnn Duncan, 86, passed away Monday, April 29, 2024 at Fort Bayard Medical Center. Arrangements are pending under the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Esther JoAnn (Lanphere) Duncan, please visit our floral store.

Miriam R. Richer, 84, a resident of Silver City, NM

RicherMMiriam R. Richer (born August 27th, 1939) died from injuries after a fall in her house on April 11th, 2024. She was a lifelong and fierce champion of justice and fairness, but always hoped people would remember her humor more than her anger. She spent her career as a social worker, and cared deeply for those she believed others had forgotten. She was also an extravagant lover of animals, especially cats, and will be deeply missed by the stray cats that lived in her neighborhood. 

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Douglas Earl Hanson, 83, a resident of Silver City, NM

HansonDDouglas Earl Hanson, 83, of Silver City passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at Gila Regional Medical Center. In accordance with his wishes, cremation will take place.

Doug was born October 21, 1940 in Casper, Wyoming to Norman and Jean (Moore) Hanson.

He spent his childhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Always outgoing, Doug was hugely popular in school and passionately active at so many things. Following high school graduation, Doug worked three jobs in order to pursue higher education at Harvard University, where he played the French horn in the school band and rowed crew. In later years with his family, holidays became great parties. He kept his frog-strewn Christmas tree up year round! Doug’s loved ones will remember fondly his zeal for life.  As a lifelong businessman and entrepreneur in the health insurance field, Doug always looked forward, excited by new projects and ideas.

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Victor Andre Pena, 54, a resident of Ansbach, Germany

PenaVjrVictor Andre Pena went to be with the Lord on April 21, 2024 in Ansbach, Germany in an automobile accident due to inclement weather conditions.  He Born July 31, 1969 to his parents Victor and Maria Pena. 

Victor is survived by his wife Karin Peña, his parents, his two sisters Diane Vaughn and husband Dennis Vaughn, Joanne Perez and husband Jerry Perez, and nieces and nephews Jason Peña and his wife Tula, Jacob Gray and his wife Mikayla, Augustine and Yzabella Vaughn, and Honesty Peña.

Although Victor was raised in Silver City, he traveled for school at NM Tech in Socorro and upon completion transferred from being in the National Guard to active-duty service in the Army which took him to Germany where he decided to stay after finishing his service to our country. In the 31 years living and working in Germany he ended up being an Engineer, an Interpreter, a member of an Astronomers Club, and founder of an organization which assisted the widows and families of American Military members who have passed. He was a devoted Catholic and was unashamed of his faith even under insult and ridicule of those around him.

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Rosalie Mae Baker, 85, a resident of Arenas Valley, NM

BakerRosalieRosalie Mae Baker, 85, a resident of Arenas Valley, NM went to meet with her Maker on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at Sunset Vista Assisted Living in Silver City, NM. 

Rosalie was born in Niles, Michigan on March 29, 1939, attended school there and after school spent some time in Europe. She was a very talented lady and after spending some time in Europe she returned to the states and took a position with the Hughes Aerospace company in White Sands, NM. She helped design, test and work on missiles at White Sands Missile Range.  After a period of time there, the work reduced and they transferred her to Tucson to continue working on missiles.  Growing tired of working on missiles, she was approached by Pima Community College to teach the MOSFET and transistor technique of soldering and design. Later on, she took a position with IBM working at the Tucson site.  Her experiences were many but she did not speak of it very often. She was proud of her service to the younger people at Pima College and to the country at Hughes Aerospace. She will be missed by all of us.

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Xaqueline Shaden Bynum, 5, a resident of Silver City, NM

BynumXXaqueline Shaden Bynum, 5, we announce with great sorrow, the unexpected passing of our sweet daughter, Xaqueline, who entered the arms of our Lord on March 10, 2024.  She was born to her Papa, Matthew Curtis Bynum and her Mommy, Music Lee Adame on February 27, 2019 in Hanford, California. 

Xaqueline Shaden Bynum was beautiful & fierce & insanely strong. She loved spiders, & her fearless spirit made spiders act curiously friendly. She's named after her grandmother, Jacqueline, an incredible woman & much like her, she was an incredible girl. Her taste in music was eclectic & impeccable, her legs were long & lithe with absolutely beautiful arches, her eyelashes reached her eyebrows & her gorgeous, sparkly brown eyes taught me how to finally love my own. God sure is groovy for blessing our lives with her grace. We love her so much...

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