 BLACK, CECIL RHETT January 12, 1944 -November 7, 2012 Cecil R. Black died on November 7, 2012 at the age of 68. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Kathy; his three sons, Christopher, Richard (and wife Michelle), and Michael Black; brothers and their wives, Chuck and Helen Gray, and Greg and Sharlene Black; his brother Richard's wife, Ale Gray; his mother, Jane Gray; mother-in-law, Mary (Mom) Bunker; sisters-brothers-in-law, Jane Bunker and Mason Morfit, Emily and Tim Joyce, and John Bunker and Cammy Watts; as well as many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Black; his stepfather, Bill Gray; his brother Richard Gray; and the grandparents who raised him, Vain and Clara Snyder. Cecil grew up in the little town of Luna, New Mexico, and swore he had the best childhood ever. While his mother attended college in Silver City, he roamed the hills of Catron County, not always making it home before dark. An avid fisherman and hunter, he always said he was born too late. He would have loved to have lived during the settling of the Wild West. He read every Louis L'Amour book three or four times, and spent the last months of his life comforted by the shows on the Western Channel. Cecil graduated from Cobre High School in Bayard, New Mexico, and served in the US Navy from 1962 to 1968, completing two tours in Vietnam. He spent 15 years as a telephone man for Ma Bell in California, where he met Kathy. His second career was as a heavy equipment operator for industrial construction in Texas and New Mexico, and he had yet a third career as a trim carpenter for residential housing projects in Albuquerque. On retirement, he continued to use his carpentry skills by designing and building a house for his wife on their retirement property near Pie Town. He said it was his proudest achievement. Special thanks go to his hospice nurse, Amie, who bonded with him and helped him navigate the world of comfort care, and to his dear friends, Roxanne, Eric, and Jeremy, who provided respite care and watched over him as he courageously accepted the progression of terminal cancer. When the phone rings now, we will all miss hearing, "Hey Outlaw!" A Celebration of his life will be held at the Community Center in Luna, New Mexico, Saturday, November 17, 2012, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Catron County Food Bank.
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