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Richard Johnson passed away May 9, 2017.  His Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, May 21st at 11:00 am at Fenton Lake State Park.  A reception to follow at 2:00 pm at Turtle Mountain Brewing Company located at 905 36th Place SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124.

On Wednesday, March 15, 2017, after 59 years, the loving and fun-filled life of Ernie Salazar quietly came to an end. Ernie patiently waited and pursued the love of his life Josie and throughout a beautiful 37 years of marriage they remained inseparable. Amongst a life of love and laughter together they raised two daughters, Tara, and Stacy. Ernie was a generous man both with his money and his time. Ernie devoted his life to his family, which included coaching his daughters in sports, barbecuing on the weekends, waking up early to cook breakfast for his wife, and traveling. Ernie has amassed an abundance of friends throughout his 59 years in which he has shared his love for the Dallas Cowboys and horse racing. Ernie was well known for his social nature and infectious laughter. He was his family’s rock and his friend’s life of the party. Ernie loved his immediate and extended family deeply and his caring and kindness for friends was heart felt. Not only was Ernie a loyal family man but also loyal to his employer Grant and Associates for 37 years as a Plumber’s Foreman. In his retirement, Ernie enjoyed the simple things in life by visiting his daughters, remodeling his house, and ultimately being the best husband for his wife. The family gives thanks to all who touched Ernie’s life, and thereby touched ours.

Ernie is preceded in death by his beloved grandfather, Tircio and grandmother, Ignacita Lopez; his uncles, Isias and Jerry Lopez; and his wife’s father and mother, Jose and Sarita Leyba. He is survived by his wife, Josie; his daughters, Tara and Stacy; and his beloved dog Pampers; his parents, Andrellita and Herman Madrid; sisters, Connie (Juan) Madrid, and Laurie Vigil; his brothers, Herman (Erica) Madrid Jr. and John (Amanda) Madrid. He leaves behind his cherished aunts, Domi Ulibarri, Lorraine Abeyta, and Virginia Lopez; and his dearly loved nieces, nephews, cousins, the Leyba family, and countless friends.

A Rosary followed by a Memorial Service will be held Friday, March 24, 2017, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at FRENCH – Wyoming. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Risen Savor Catholic Church, 7701 Wyoming Blvd. NE in Albuquerque, NM. Honorary Pallbearers are Ronnie Ulibarri, Ted Ulibarri, Eric Lopez, Ray Madrid, Ronaldo Ulibarri and Nathan Madrid.

FRENCH – Wyoming
7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE
(505) 823-9400

Winford L. (W.L.) Walker, age 91, a resident of Rio Rancho, NM, passed away Friday, February 10, 2017. He is survived by his wife, Audrey L. of the family home; daughter, Marsha J. Kirby and husband, Jack of Colorado Springs, CO; son, Gary L. Walker and wife, Cindy of Phoenix, AZ; step-daughter, Sandra B. Byer and husband, Randy of Corrales, NM; step-son, Steve W. Smith of Corrales, NM. He leaves three loving grandchildren, William Byer and wife, Rene, Kathryn B. Ortega and husband, Sam, and Buffy M. Keahey and husband, Brad of Gilbert, AZ; and six great-grandchildren who lovingly called him “Papa” – Kyle, Ryan Byer, Ariel, Eric and Ashlea Ortega, and Zac Keahey; and great-great-granddaughter, Charlea Ortega.

Born November 27, 1925 at Talmo, GA, to Irwin A. and Doris Walker, Winford was the 11th of 12 children and he outlived them all. W.L. was a proud veteran of WW II serving with the U.S. Navy and stationed at Perth, Australia for 16 months and then he spent eight months in Cape, Australia. A member of UA Local 412 Plumber’s Union for 70+ years, he retired in 1987 after 42 years working in construction and repair plumbing. He enjoyed bowling for a number of years and held a life membership with the Good Sam’s Campers club spending many years camping with families and friends of the IOF Campers and Desert Drifters Campers.

Memorial Services will be held Tuesday, February 21, 2017, 10:00 a.m., at FRENCH – Wyoming. Ennichement will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to a veterans organization of their choice.

George Robert “Bob” Goodwin, Jr. 79, of Earth, died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016 at the Lynwood Manor Nursing Home in Levelland. His body was donated to Texas Tech Medical School in Lubbock, for Alzheimers research. No formal services will be held, and at his request, his body will be cremated following the research.His ashes will be taken to Wichita, Kans., where he was born on Aug. 23, 1937 to George Sr., and Helen Edwards Goodwin. He graduated from East High School of Wichita, Kans, and later was the oldest member of the 1989 South Plains College Class to receive an Associate degree in Electronics Technology. At SPC, he was treasurer of the Teacher-Student Board, was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Fraternity, and an honor student on the Dean’s List in 1986, and on the President’s honor list in 1987 and 1988. He and Barbara “Bobbie” Thompson Burch were married July 26, 1970, when they combined his five children and her four children into one family. Bob was a long-time resident of Earth, after he moved from Lubbock to work at the Tolk Generating Station as an ironworker. He was a member of Ironworkers Local 412 Pipefitters/Plumbers Union of New Mexico. He retired in 2009. Surviving are his wife, Bobbie Goodwin of Earth; his two sons, Micheal “Mike” Goodwin of Rio Rancho, N.M. and Bill Goodwin of Lubbock; and three daughters, Jeannie Lolley, Lori Welch and Felicia Goodwin, all of Wichita, Kans.; 40+ grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Jaci; and his step-children: Danny Bob Burch of Norman, Okla., Twyalia Voyles Crabb of Littlefield, Wesley Burch of Winfield, Mo., Jeffery Burch of Lubbock, and Robert Goodwin of Bledsoe.

Larry “Rex” Brasell died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday November 17, 2016 of kidney failure at the age of 72. He was born in Seagraves Texas, but considered Lubbock to be his childhood home. He moved to New Mexico to join the UA Local 412 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union in Albuquerque and spent 10 years as a pipefitter before running for Secretary Treasurer of the Union. He served two three-year terms and then served two terms as Business Manager. He remained a loyal member of the union to the very end. He was a committed pragmatic progressive who believed in working within the existing political system to improve people’s lives. To this end he was the founding president of New Mexico PROPAC, a progressive political action committee, that had a positive impact on New Mexico politics that endured for many years. He served on many boards and committees, both in Albuquerque and nationally for his union.

Rex met his wife Elinor Gollay after retirement. They moved to St. Petersburg FL, traveled around the world, and eventually settled in Portland OR. Shortly after he learned his kidneys were failing. Elinor gave him a kidney and the two of them were able to continue their world travels for more than six years. Even as his health was failing, he continued to be an avid reader, to follow politics, and be a loving father, friend and husband.

He leaves behind two daughters, Brenna McJimsey and Rachel Lewis, three grandsons, Rowan and Malcolm McJimsey and Jonah Lewis, all of Albuquerque and his devoted wife, Elinor Gollay in Portland, OR.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the organization that saved his life with a kidney transplant:

Donations by check should be made payable to Good Samaritan Foundation, For: William M. Bennett Chair of Medicine Endowment, In Memory of: Rex Brasell

The mailing address is: Good Samaritan Foundation, PO Box 4484, Portland, OR 97208.

Published in Albuquerque Journal from Nov. 22 to Nov. 23, 2016