Loyd Green

Obituary for Loyd Green April 13, 2012 Loyd Green was born on April 15, 1912. At sunrise on April 13, 2012, two days short of his 100th birthday, he went to be with his Lord forever. Our heroes have always been cowboys, champions, pioneers. Those with the amazing capacity to embrace life and live it to its fullest with love of God, integrity and great laughter. Loyd Green was just such a hero and true pioneer. From his barrel chest to his bow-legs, he was a cowboy through and through. He was born in Wise County, Texas to Minnie Lee and Joe Green. He had nine older brothers and sisters. The family moved to New Mexico in 1914 in a covered wagon and homesteaded near Bledsoe. His first house in New Mexico was a sod dugout until the family could build a home. As with any true pioneer family, his home was established with a lot of love and lot of prayer. Loyd remembered often seeing his father and mother holding hands and praying over their family. In his chest beat the true heart of a cowboy-born to ride and herd cattle. At age 13, he worked alongside his brother Harry as a wrangler on one of the last cattle drives from New Mexico up to Amarillo, Texas. He made the rodeo circuits in his younger days and even did some trick riding. He shod horses, worked o ranches and was jack of all trades. Loyd married and settled down in Roswell in his early twenties and worked several jobs. But even as the era of the real western cowboy dwindled, and in some areas died out, it never did in his heart. As with all heroes, he had special powers. One of these was to repair anything mechanical. He worked several jobs before becoming a Master Mechanic for McNally Hall. Later, worked for Valley Chevrolet for 32 years and also worked at Walker Air Force Base doing civil service during World War 11, overhauling ethylene glycol pumps and performing maintenance on planes and pumps. After retiring from Valley Chevrolet, he taught auto mechanics for Thykole Chemical Corporation for six years. Next he shared more than just his automotive knowledge, but also, his integrity and love of people at Dexter High School for six years until he retired in 1982. But he never really retired, because he worked until he was in his mid- nineties for his son-in-law, Jimmy Pack on the family farms. Another of his special powers was the ability to make others laugh. He was a wonderful story-teller and loved to tell stories about his life on the plains and old homestead that usually concluded in a burst of laughter. When Loyd laughed, everyone laughed along with him. He had that amazing, contagious laughter that no one could resist! For many years, until just recently, he met regularly for coffee with a group of friends that he had worked with and known for decades. They called themselves the “Old What’s –His-Name-Club,” because they would sit and reminisce about old times and try to remember who did what. Laughter was truly a gift that Loyd brought to every setting. A man of God with great integrity Loyd was never content to sit on the sidelines. He served the community as a Chaves County Sheriff’s Posse member beginning in the 1970’s. He also served in his church as a Sunday school teacher, as well as a board member for many years. His students, whether from Sunday school or from his instruction at Thykole and Dexter High Schools remembered him fondly as a man of character who really cared about them and their futures. But he never abandoned his love of being a cowboy, and he continued riding and working with horses and mules and participated in many trail rides in this area and to mountain summits in Lincoln and the Big Bend areas. He rode well into his eighties and even won awards in Mule, Western Pleasure and Reining events. He enjoyed camping, riding, ranching and spending time with his family. Loyd Green was truly one of those who embraced the life that God had blessed him with. He lived it to the fullest and yet we still feel like almost 100 years was too short of a lifespan. But perhaps it’s because just like in the moves, we’re never really ready for our hero, the cowboy to ride away. Loyd was preceded in his death and home going by his son Marshal Green, a daughter, Jill O’Neal, and a great-granddaughter Samantha O’Neal, and great-granddaughter Krystle Knowlton Stephenson, who just passed away last Tuesday, April 3rd. He is survived by his wife, Ellen(Tootsie)Green who resides at their home, daughter Wanda Pack and her husband Jimmy, son Jackie Lee Green and his wife Mary, daughter Jackie Waggoner and her husband Terry and daughter-in-law Anna Green. He has many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, as well as many, many, members of the loving extended family that consider him their “Dadsy”. Dadsy loved deeply and was very proud of his family. He leaves a rich godly heritage that remains; including many family members who work tirelessly spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Dadsy always made sure that every person he met understood that this life is only a poor shadow of the glory to come for those who have made Jesus Christ the Lord of their life. One could not be in Dadsy’s presence without acknowledging the sweet, calm spirit that exemplified his total love of God, life and of service to others. Visitation will be at “Anderson-Bethany Funeral home on Sunday, April 15th from 1:00pm-to 5:00 pm, Monday, April 16th from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Tuesday, April 17th from 8:00 am- 7:00 pm. Services will be Wednesday, April 18th at 1:00 pm at Waymaker Church, interment at South Park Cemetery. Clergy officiating are Mark Green, Mike Knowlton, and Gary Pack. Pallbearers are: Patrick O’Neal, Will Garrison, Tyler Forrester, Larry Dunlap, Nelson Broughton, and Brent Green. Honorary Pallbearers are: Mark Lewis, Dana Dunlap, Marsha Green, Doug Robinson, Tom Dunlap, Tim Wafful, Pat Bowen, Vernon Fanner, Vincent Master,Tom Wadsworth and Paul Sorensen. The family wishes to thank Advanced Home Health, Dr. Steve Mohr, Vista Care Hospice Services, Casa Maria staff and their physical therapy staff for their guidance and caring help in serving Dadsy during his time of need. The family request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Loyd’s honor to a trust established for his recently decreased great-granddaughter Krystle Dawn Knowlton Stephenson’s two children; Elijah Valor Stephenson and Zyon Alyzabeth Stephenson. The account is in their names at Washington Federal Bank.

Loyd Green

April 15, 1912 - April 13, 2012