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Raymond Beverage, 79, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away Tuesday, July 20, 2004 after a short illness. Born January 20, 1925 near Davidson Oklahoma he is preceded in death by his parents C.D. and Emma Beverage; sisters, Ruby, Audrey, and Naomi; and brothers, Fred, Harold and Phillip. In 1932 the Beverage Family moved to Roswell, NM where Raymond attended the Berrendo School before the family moved near Elk, NM where his father was a farmer. Leaving Hope High School, Hope, NM, in 1943 he joined the United States Army Air Corps where he served as an Armorer and Mechanic on B-17 and B-29 bombers. After being discharged in 1946 he attended the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now NMSU) in Las Cruces. He was a national founding member of the Theta Chi fraternity and nationally ranked college wool judger before graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture. Returning to Southeastern New Mexico he farmed in the Roswell area before moving to Flying H New Mexico. Raymond met and married the former Mary Haag of Artesia on July 28, 1961. He continued farming until 1966 when he joined the United States Department of Agriculture's Farmer's Home Administration (now the Farm Service Agency), serving as an Assistant County Supervisor in Carlsbad, NM and later as a County Supervisor in Fort Sumner and Bernalillo. Retiring in 1986 he devoted himself to his greatest passion in his life, his gardens. A Master Gardener, every place that he lived was transformed into a showcase of flowers, fruits and vegetables. He is survived by his wife, Mary of the family home; sons, Fred Beverage and wife Carline of Show Low, AZ, and Kevin Beverage of Mesa, AZ; sisters, Malynda Webb and Phyllis Sykes of Roswell, NM, and Beverly Thornton of Clayton, NC. He is also survived by grandchildren, Bobbie, Jason, Brittany, Justin, and John of Ramah, NM, and Karlline of Show Low, AZ. In addition, there are numerous nieces and nephews who will miss their "Uncle Raymond." The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the giver's favorite charity. French Mortuary 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE 823-9400
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