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WILLIAM R. A resident of Rio Rancho, NM since 1997, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2011 at his home, surrounded by his wife and children. Bill was born in Chadron, Nebraska on April 24, 1925. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Lena Brewer Hendley; brother, James Hendley; and sisters, Ollie Mae, Otsey, Mabel, and Macy. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Virginia; son, Chris, his wife, Pamela and their sons, David, Adam, and Aaron of Keller, Texas; daughter, Jana and husband, Joe Sorroche Jr. and their children, Kathryn and Michael of Albuquerque; son, Gregory and his wife, Mary Helen Short and their children, Will Hendley, Laura-Ann Duran, and Jakob Short of Jarales. Bill's maternal grandfather, Tom Brewer, was, as an infant, the only member of his family to survive a Comanche raid in west Texas. As a girl, his mother, Lena Brewer, participated in the Oklahoma Land Rush. Bill grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and worked as a cowboy, rodeo clown, and guide on a dude ranch. After leaving school at 16, he participated in a trail drive of horses from Chadron, Nebraska to eastern Colorado. He worked on a ferry on Lake Michigan in 1941 as a seaman. Bill was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, where his specialization was construction foreman. He came to New Mexico to operate heavy equipment and assist in building a research complex - later named Los Alamos National Laboratories, so that nuclear weapons research could be conducted. He was then assigned to the White Sands Missile range, where he witnessed the detonation of the first atomic bomb in July 1945, and the beginning of America's missile program. He escorted German rocket engineers and helped build the V-2 Rocket Launch Pad. Bill was also a qualified sharpshooter, and was awarded the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged in October 1946. Bill returned to Michigan where he worked for the Dean of Admissions for the University of Michigan as a ranch hand. He persuaded the Dean to admit him to the University, without a high school diploma, promising that if he received a grade lower than a B, the Dean could dismiss him. Bill kept his part of the promise, and using the benefits the G.I. Bill, earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in 1951. He then earned his law degree from the University of New Mexico in 1956. He was admitted to the Bar in Michigan in January, 1957 and the Bar in New Mexico in April, 1957, where he remained a member for more than 50 years. Bill entered private practice in Albuquerque, first with Tonkin, Cotter, and Hendley, and later with Cotter, Farley, and Hendley. He was active in the State Bar of New Mexico, chairing the Continuing Legal Education Committee in 1963, serving on the New Mexico State Bar Foundation from 1966 to 1967, and serving on the Board of Bar Commissioners from 1967 to 1968. Bill was a private pilot, and enjoyed flying to Mexico and around New Mexico. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman. He played slow pitch softball with "The Bad Guys". In 1968, Bill was elected to the Court of Appeals. During his tenure, he served as Administrative Judge, Chief Judge, and helped establish the Administrative Office of the Courts. He left the bench in 1986, and began a long and successful career as an arbitration judge, specializing in natural resource and school personnel law until relinquishing his license in December, 2008. Bill enjoyed traveling with his wife Virginia to many destinations, including the Bahamas, Mexico, Canada, England, Spain, Kenya, South Africa, the Seychelles, Tahiti, the Cook Islands, the Marquesas, Australia, New Zealand, St. Helena Island, Ascension Island, the Canary Islands, and Panama. The Big Island of Hawaii was their favorite destination. Bill and Virginia also traveled extensively in North America by RV. They were particularly fond of Big Bend, Texas. Bill's ashes are in an urn made by his son, Chris, and will be interred at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe on June 17, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. A small reception will follow. Bill's care has been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 2400 Southern Blvd SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 (505) 891-9192. Those who wish to express their condolences may do so at www.danielsfuneral.com. If you wish to honor his memory, please make a donation to the Salvation Army, an organization that helped Bill when he was in need as a young adult. The family wishes to thank his hospice nurses, especially Ida Salazar, and all his friends and neighbors who have been so supportive.
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