Nathan Earl Hite

It is with great sadness that we annouce the passing of Nathan Earl Hite on Thursday, June 25th, 2026; he was 83. Nathan was born on November 10, 1942 in Roswell, NM. He was the third of five children and spent his youth ranching many parts of the state as a 3rd generation New Mexican. He was raised in a rich ranching legacy that shaped his values of hard work, dedication to his family, and a love of nurturing plants and animals. Following high school, Nathan enlisted in the United States Airforce and served as a fire control systems mechanic overseas in Japan. After tragically loosing his hearing in one ear during his military service, he returned stateside and was honorably disharged after finishing his term. He then moved to Las Cruces where he met his first wife Pattsy Martin and married in 1968, raising two children as dedicated to family and hard-headed as him. In the early 1970s, he moved to Roswell where he met and married Hazel Strawn in 1973. Together they welcomed 6 more children, raising nine children in total. All his children successfully graduated high school or higher education and pursued promising careers ranging from the sciences to the humanities. His proudest moments were watching his children succeed in education, career, or family. Nathan started his career as a hard working telephone lineman with Mountain Bell and retired 33 years later from Qwest. During his time working in communications, he was a proud member of the CWA Union, serving as Union Secretary and picketing at different times to bring higher wages and benefits for his coworkers. His career highlighted his natural abilitity to fix the unfixable and always give a little cowboy guidance when he saw anyone struggling. He provided and deeply cared for his family giving each of his children a nickname that showed his love and sense of humor; Rocket Dud, Sissy or Laylo, Windjammer, The Fox, Leanclaneske, Kafoof, Aa, Wed-tech, and Juicy Juice. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and camping, many of which he shared with his children on various adventures. It was a collossal task to get all his kids in the car for these road trips often leaving later than planned and coining the term "Hite Time". His children continue these passions each year meeting together in the Sacramemto Mountain range of New Mexico to camp and laugh about who is the worst about being on "Hite Time". In retirement Nathan spent his time reading about history, volunteering with the local Democratic party, submitting scientifc research for Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CocoRaHs) to track weather patterns in the Southwest, and operating his own "Shade Tree Mechanic" shop for each of his kids' cars at various time throughout their lives. He liked visiting his extended family, teasing his grandchildren, trading stories about his life, or tinkering on things to fix up. He spent his later years working on his house, gardening, and doing yard work, often checking in on neighbors, classmates, and friends in the community. Nathan leaves behind nine children and one step-child: Roy, Laura, Tracey, Wendy, Addie, Lena, Kathy, Aaron, Wesley, and Joshua. Grandchildren: Christopher (Sock-em-some-eye), Jacquelyn (Pumpkim), Daniel (Chicken bone Dan-o), Charley (Butter suck) and Fletcher (Big Boy) Eight Great-grandchildren: Shelby Rose, Jaxson, Breanna, Lyla, Athena, Misty Ann, Mason, and Jaxon As well as close family friends: Cousin Frank and Sharron. Nathan is preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Helen Hite of Deming, NM, and his four siblings, Larry, Lois, and Helen of Las Cruces, NM and Hazel of T or C, NM. He was the last of his generation. Nathan's legacy of bull-headed and stubborn kids running on "HITE time" will forever be a testiment of the values he lived by, the sense of humor he saw in most things, and the gentle nature he walked through this world with. A private family service will be held at a later date at the Baca Campgrounds near Capitan. Please take a moment and share a kind thought or memory with the Hite family at www.anndersonbethany.com. Nathan's memory was written by his family.

Nathan Earl Hite

November 10, 1942 - June 25, 2026