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Lamar Luna, 92, a long-time resident of Fort Sumner, NM, died May 2, 2006 following an illness. Lamar was born February 28, 1914, in Norman, OK to the home of John R. Luna and Martha Lou (Humphrey) Luna. The family returned shortly to their homestead north of Fort Sumner, where he and three sisters - Opal, Laheeta, and Sybal, were raised and attended country schools through the eighth grade. Lamar attended high school in both Santa Rosa and Fort Sumner, graduating from the latter in 1932. He finished his formal education in 1940, graduating from New Mexico State College with a BS in animal husbandry. Having participated in the ROTC program he also received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army and was called to active duty soon after the outbreak of World War II. His military service was in the Alaskan theatre of command, where he served until the end of the war in 1946. As a civilian he returned to his original love, agriculture, working first as a county agent in Silver City and later moving to head the Fort Sumner office of the Soil Conservation Service. In 1963 he decided to give his full time to developing the herd of registered Hereford cattle he had been accumulating, and from that time on this was his greatest interest. Like many other small ranchers he soon found that it was helpful to have a second occupation, and he served several terms as De Baca County Assessor. In his later years he and his wife of sixty-five years, the former Melba L. Frost, have enjoyed the more relaxed life of the community, remaining active in church fellowship and local activities. In 2004 they were honored to be named parade marshals during the Old Fort Days celebration, and have enjoyed watching the various accomplishments of their growing family - their three children, Dwight and wife, Pat; Kenneth and wife, Kim; and Lou Ann and husband, Patrick Clark. Dwight's two sons are Scott and wife, Tana, and Ryan and wife, Caroline. The children of Ken and Kim Luna are Nate, Anne, and Evan. The "greats" belong to Scott and Tana and are Shannon and Dustin. Lamar was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6, 2006 from the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner, NM with Reverends Wesley Holland and Monty Leavell officiating. Burial will follow in the family plot at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Scott Luna, Ryan Luna, Nate Luna, Evan Luna, Dale Miller, and John Middleton. Honorary bearers will be all his friends. Visitation will be Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. The family prefers memorial contributions to the Methodist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 410 Fort Sumner, NM 88119. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (505) 355-2311 www.chavezfuneralhome.com
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