George L. Blackwell, 86, of Canyon, Texas, died Wednesday, Jan. 6, at his home.

George was born on Dec. 9, 1923, in Moriarty. He was raised on a ranch in Santa Fe County. After graduating from Stanley High School, George attended business school in Santa Fe. He joined the Marine Corps in 1943. He served with the Marine Raiders in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, George met Georgia Holt. They were married March 11, 1947. George received a bachelor's degree in science and a bachelor's degree in arts from West Texas State University. He purchased a small insurance company from T.S. Stevenson Sr. in 1953, which later became Blackwell and Associates. One of George's greatest joys was serving the Canyon High School senior class at First Baptist Church for more than 30 years. He was the charter president of the Canyon Kiwanis Club and served as the lieutenant governor of the 6th District of the Kiwanis in 1967-68.

George was preceded in death by his parents, George T. and Cecil (Stephens) Blackwell; and a brother, Grant C. Blackwell. Survivors include his wife, Georgia, of the home; two sisters-in-law, Ann Root and Virginia Cotton; three nieces, Stephanie Dawdy, Vanessa Markham and Celia Winchell; two nephews, Floyd C. Blackwell and Tom Dawdy; two great-nieces; four great-nephews; and numerous cousins, as well as three daughters of the heart, Ruby Moultrie, Supasiri Amataykal and Sirisupa Kulthanan.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at the First Baptist Church of Canyon, with Dr. David Lowrie officiating. Private family burial will be at Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon. Honorary pallbearers will be Floyd Blackwell, Tom Dawdy, Ronnie Hager, Scott Markham, Barrett Winchell and Craig Winchell.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to First Baptist Church of Canyon, 1717 4th Ave., Canyon, TX 79015, or the Talking Boots Program, P.O. Box 12927 Austin, TX 78711-2927, Attention: Ava Smith.

To sign the online guest register, go to www.rectorfuneralhome.com.

EARL ROSCOE BURNS

Earl Roscoe Burns, 85, passed away at his home in Mountainair on Tuesday, Dec. 29, surrounded by his loving family. He was born May 9, 1924, in Tinnie, N.M., to Roscoe and Willie Clyde Burns. Earl proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.

Some of the happiest times of his life were camping, fishing and playing dominoes. "Grandad" spent hours teaching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to play 42.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother C.T. Earl is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Leta Marie; daughter, Kathy; son, Kenny and wife Letha; grandchildren, Steven and fiancée Elizabeth, Travis and wife Anita; great-grandchildren Briana, Chaselyn and Matthew; sister, Pearl Goar; brother, Raymond and wife June; and a large extended family. Services were Jan. 2 at Harris-Hanlon Mortuary Chapel, with burial afterward at Mountainair Cemetery.

The Rev. Doris Jaquess and Shirley Sweat officiated.

Harris-Hanlon Mortuary

VERA NELL MEECH

Vera Nell Meech passed away Tuesday, Dec. 29, after a lengthy illness. Vera was preceded in death by her husband, Charles A. Meech Sr. She is survived by her son Charles Meech, daughter Cindy Meech, granddaughter Samantha Tapia, grandson Charles Tapia; and numerous other relatives and her loving family from the Stanley Union Church. Vera was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother. Vera was greatly loved by those who knew her and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Odyssey Hospice Care. There was a viewing at Harris-Hanlon Mortuary in Moriarty on Jan. 2. A funeral service followed at Stanley Union Church in Stanley, with Pastor John Nash officiating. Pallbearers were Jimmy Collier, Jeremiah Turner, Jordan Turner, Roy Eubanks, Steven Edwards, Jimmy Edwards, Danny Meech, Robert Meech, Walter Lee Meech, Felix Tapia and Charles Tapia.

Harris-Hanlon Mortuary

BETTY ROSE WILLIAMS

Betty Rose Williams, 84, of Albuquerque passed away Saturday, Dec. 26. Betty was born April 27, 1925, in Baird, Texas, to Jack and Norma (Collup) Elsasser. Betty was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her daughters, Kathy Fink and her husband, Tom, of Edgewood; Georgeann Hughes of Talihina, Okla., and Patricia Fox of Vancouver, Wash.; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. There was a memorial service Jan. 4 at the Mountain Valley Church on Dinkle Road in Edgewood.

Harris-Hanlon Mortuary

DEBRA ANN (LOVEJOY) PRESSLY

Debra Ann (Lovejoy) Pressly, a resident of Sandia Park, passed on to heaven at the age of 45 from breast cancer on Thursday, Dec. 31, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Debbie arrived in this world Nov. 16, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas, to proud parents Jerry and Pat Lovejoy.

She graduated from Belton High School in the Class of 1983, where she met her sweetheart and husband of 23 years, Gary Pressly. She obtained a BS in education from Central Missouri State University and moved to Florida to start her marriage and career as an elementary school teacher. After obtaining her MS in special education from the University of South Florida, she moved to New Mexico where she has been a teacher in the Moriarty School District for the past 13 years. She was certified in visual impairment and orientation and mobility, then developed and led the district's program for the blind and visually impaired. With the Lord's guidance, Debbie changed the lives of numerous students by tailoring the instructional methods to meet each child's needs.

She enjoyed hiking with her dogs, camping and auto racing with family, and vacationing with loved ones across the country.

She is survived by her husband, Gary Pressly; parents, Jerry and Pat Lovejoy; brothers, Mike and Tim Lovejoy; grandparents, Dallas and Florence Roberts; in-laws, Mary and Bruce Pressly; and her dog, Dixie.

Although Debbie lived most of her life with the threat of cancer, it only made her will stronger in the devotion to her family, marriage and career. Debbie would like to especially thank her parents and in-laws for their continued support throughout her battle against cancer. Now that Debbie has started her new journey in heaven, she will serve the Lord with the same vigor as she did on Earth.

Debbie was cremated in Houston, and memorial services will be Saturday, Jan. 9, at Mountainside United Methodist Church, 4 Penny Lane, Cedar Crest. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m., with a memorial service directly following at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, Deb's wishes would be for others to seek out a family who has a loved one battling cancer, or some other terrible disease, and assist them in her honor. Other tributes to Debbie would be donations to the following organizations: CaringBridge, www.caringbridge.org; the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, www.bcrfcure.org; Mountainside United Methodist Church, www.mountainsidemethodist.org; or the National Federation of the Blind, www.nfb.org.

Harris-Hanlon Mortuary