John Michael (Mike) Whitehead

On January 30, 1952, John Michael (Mike) Whitehead was born to Addie Mae Seeds (Whitehead) and Eugene Lemke in Roswell, New Mexico. He gained his dad Walter E. (Gene) Whitehead on January 23, 1959. He attended Deming High School and graduated in 1970. He married Donna Gayle Yates on September 14, 1974, in Deming, New Mexico. He was a church member of First Baptist Church, Roswell, New Mexico. He was involved in Sunrise Optimist, 4-H, Rodeo and Chaves County Sheriff’s Posse. Mike retired from the New Mexico State Highway Department as the assistant director in April of 2002. After his retirement from NMSHD he worked at various jobs and spent many years with Ag Services doing construction work then he went on to work at Main Trailer Sales until his passing. Mike was a loving husband to Donna for over 47 years and a one-of-a-kind dad to his 4 girls. Mike was extremely proud of his 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. There wasn’t anything that Mike wouldn’t do for his family. Mike enjoyed going on hunting trips with his friends, taking vacations with Donna and the girls, riding his Harley and he always had a project going. Mike will be missed by his family and friends. Mike is survived by his wife Donna Whitehead; his four daughters Myckie Jacobsen (Brian), Jennifer Hoover (Jody), Kim Ramier and Jayme Elftman (Wade); his grandchildren Tyler Ortiz, Zach Selonen, Kaelyn Selonen, Bailie Asher, Savannah Asher, Jaxon Hoover, Trent Hoover, Savannah Hoover, Makenzie Cooper, Gracelyn Ramier, Gavin Elftman and Riley Elftman; and 6 great grandchildren; his parents Gene and Mae Whitehead; father-in-law James Yates; his siblings Patrick Whitehead (Julie), Belinda Johnson (Carlton), Howard Lemke, Joey Lemke (Pam); his brother in laws Jay Yates (Shelly), Phil Hibner (Pat); his uncles George Seeds (Lynn) and Al Whitehead (Lacy) ; his aunts Hattie Webster, Patrique Gryvnak, Peg Pick and Betty Lou Snyder; as well many nieces, nephews and cousins. Mike is proceeded in death by father Eugene Lemke; brother Allen Gene Whitehead; mother-in-law Aletta Yates; sister-in-law Paula Hibner; Aunts Betty Ann Elliott, June Langdon and Dottie Moore(Ellery) and Uncle Henry Pick. The family of Mike wishes to extend sincere thanks to Barbra Whitten for the special care she showed Mike, the staff at Covenant Hospital System in Roswell, NM and Lubbock, TX who cared for Mike for over 23 years, Roger Burnett who was a close friend to Mike, lifelong friend Doug Talbert, the men in Mike’s FBC Sunday school class, the Sunrise Optimist Club, his friends at Main Trailer Sales and the many prayer warriors who covered him in prayer. The family suggests donations be made to the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, 2200 South Avenue I, Portales, NM 88130 or Sunrise Optimist Club, P.O. Box 66, Roswell, NM 88201. A memorial service will be held, January 15, 2022 at 10:00am at First Baptist Church in Roswell, NM. Mike’s tribute was written in his honor by his family.

John Michael (Mike) Whitehead

January 30, 1952 - January 6, 2022