Obituaries (Nov. 4)

Ernestina Barela

1925-2021

Ernestina Barela, age 96, a resident of La Joya, N.M., passed away peacefully on Nov. 1, 2021.

Our mama is survived by her children, Mary Ann Ortega, Jean Chavez, Gilbert Barela, Pauline Tafoya, Selma Barela, Joseph Barela, Mary Lou Vigil, Shirley Schmock and Maxine Schmock.

A public visitation will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church at 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 5, and a Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. A final visitation will be held at La Joya Catholic Church at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 6, with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at La Joya Catholic Cemetery.

Please sign Ernestina’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.

 

Nikki Dimmitt

1947-2021

Nikki Dimmitt was born Jan. 29, 1947, to Arther and Patricia Dimmitt.

She was a hairdresser and masseuse. Nikki had a shop on Main Street for many years. She drove a school bus for 18 years for Los Lunas Schools. Nikki had a great love for children and loved her job.

She was a balloonist, was a proud member of the Adams Family and she loved all the Angel balloons.

Nikki started as a crew member with Sam Baxter one of the godfathers of ballooning in the ’90s with her brother in Sunrise Angel.

Most recently with Justin Hodge in Archangel. She was an observer for Top Gun Ballooning competition as well as the launch director at the Balloon Fiestas for many years.

Nikki loved dressing up in her Zebra outfits and blowing that whistle making fiesta happen. She will be greatly missed by many friends.

She is survived by her brothers, Bill and Lester; and many nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.

Urn bearer will be her friend, Steven Montoya.

Services were held at Peralta Memorial United Methodist Church on Nov. 1, presented by Pastor Ricardo Rodrigues.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., 505-864-4448, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.

 

James Jaramillo

1967-2021

James Jaramillo, age 53, of Los Lunas, went to be with our heavenly father on Oct. 12, 2021.

He was a strong man and his faith was stronger. James was loved and respected by many because of his humor, character and huge heart. He was a proud papa to his grandkids.

James enjoyed “smokin” BBQ, and was a huge Dallas Cowboy fan. He proudly served in the U.S. Army, and worked 26 dedicated years at ARA on Kirtland Air Force Base.

James is preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Jennie Briones and Ray and Romona Jaramillo; and father-in-law, Patrick Garcia.

He is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Tanya Jaramillo; children, Dustin, Brandon and Austin Jaramillo; grandkids, Colton and Kimber Jaramillo; mother, Mary Jaramillo; father, Nash (Jackie) Jaramillo; sisters, Debbie Sanchez and Connie (Vince) Garcia; mother-in-law, Margaret Garcia; brother-in-law, Robert (Sarah) Trujillo; and many loving nieces, nephews, godkids, cousins and family.

Services will be held on Friday, Nov. 5, at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, beginning with a visitation at 9 a.m. and a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery at a later date.

Please sign James’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.

 

Eulala M. Jones

1927-2020

 

Eulala M. Jones passed away on Aug. 6, 2020, and was buried at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe.

There will be a memorial service for her at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6, at the First United Methodist Church, 75 Manzano Expressway, Rio Communities.

 

Robert Nicholas

1940-2021

Memorial services for Robert Nicholas, 81, of Portales, will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 5, in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Rusty Kenyon officiating, assisted by Rev. Brad Morgan.

Robert Lewis Nicholas was born July 6, 1940, in Padernal, N.M., to the home of Ruby Grace (Simpson) and Jesse Lewis Nicholas, and died early on Sunday morning, Oct. 24, 2021, in Lubbock, Texas.

He grew up in Belen, and graduated from Belen High School in 1958. He went on to attend New Mexico Tech and later UNM.  On April 14, 1962, in Belen, he was married to Donna Sue Beene. For 25 years, he drove for Hadley Auto Transport in Belen.

He enjoyed riding horses and farming when he wasn’t hunting for arrowheads. Through the years, he had built a large collection. He was a very private man, whose whole life was enjoying and assisting his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mr. Nicholas and his wife moved from Belen to Portales in 2019.

He is survived by Donna, his wife of nearly 60 years of their home in Portales; his daughter and son-in-law, Melody and Rick Pierson, of Portales; four grandchildren, Cami (Stoney) Shoemaker, of Ima, N.M., Cori (Sam) Robin, of Brookhaven, Miss., Cali (Sky) Bradshaw, of Alamosa, Colo., and Tanner (Rose) Nicholas, of Belen; six great-grandchildren, Cutter Howl, Cash Lewis Howl, Parker Robin, Elizabeth Robin, Bryar Shoemaker and James Shoemaker; and a sister, Janette Lowell, of Belen; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, James Allen Nicholas and Gerald C. Nicholas; and by his son, Alan Lewis Nicholas, who died in 2018.

Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to either the ENMU Foundation or the New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch.

 

Fred Walton Weahkee

1948-2021

Fred Walton Weahkee was born Jan. 14, 1948, in Siloam Springs, Ark. He went to his heavenly home on Oct. 16, 2021, at Ozark Medical Center, West Plains, Mo., at the age of 73.

Fred was the son of Fred Fidel Weahkee and Harriet Julia (Neal) Weahkee.

​In Vietnam, Fred served his country as a Marine in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969. He was a tunnel rat with 21 wounds and four Purple Hearts. Fred’s wounds went deep, and he brought these back with him stateside. He shared stories about those years the remainder of his days.

Those who served with “WEE,” as he was known, remember that no matter what he was involved with he was going to do the best or not do it, and he wanted the men who followed him to do the same. To this day, the respect runs deep for this extraordinary man among the veterans who know him.

​Fred would always speak his mind; if you didn’t like it that was fine with him.

Oral traditions were the way Fred was brought up with his Native American family. With Fred’s photographic memory of events in his life, you might hear one particular story 10 times, yet each time the details remained the same.

Fred never met a stranger. If he embraced you, you would become family.

A unique soul, a character, to some a legend, Fred left his mark on all he met. He was seminary educated. He gave out Bibles and ministered God’s word to as many as would hear. Fred gave his money, his time, and his prayers to help anybody whom he thought to be in need.

​Fred is preceded in death by his parents, and by his son, Fred Walton Weahkee Jr.

Fred is survived by two sisters, Mary L. Williams, of Socorro, and Diane Weahkee Hinson, of Rock Hill, S.C.

Fred dearly loved his four service cats.

​Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Ava Family Funeral.