Howard Harkey

Howard Elvin Harkey was born June 1, 1929 in Carrizozo, New Mexico to E. I. Sparkey Harkey and Rose Bingham Harkey and passed away on October 3, 2012. He attended grade school at Ancho, NM and graduated from Carrizozo High School as salutatorian in 1947. He played football and basketball in high school. He graduated in 1951 from New Mexico A M, majoring in Animal Husbandry and was a member of the Theta Chi Fraternity. While in college he worked for Prichards Stationery store as a typewriter mechanic.

Howard and Barbara Wahl were married August 19, 1951 in Las Cruces and recently celebrated 61 years of marriage.

After Howard and Barbara were married, they moved to north of Carrizozo to build a home. Howard worked at several jobs during this time and started acquiring land with his father to become the ranch that we know as the Harkey Cattle Company today. His greatest joy in life was working on the ranch and tending to livestock.

While building the ranch Howard also went to work for the Soil Conservation Service starting in 1956 and retired after 32 years of service. Following Howards retirement from the Soil Conservation Service, he received recognition from the USDA and the South Central Mountain R C D. He received the GoodyearNACD Conservation Award of Merit in 1989 and 1990 for his contribution to soil conservation. In 1999 he received a Public Land Stewardship award from the NMACD Region VI.
Howard was a charter member of the Community Presbyterian Church of Ancho.

Howard is survived by his wife, Barbara, two sons Dan and his wife Wei of Fremont, CA Steve and his wife Donna of Carrizozo three daughters Susan Truitt and her husband Rob of Las Cruces LuEllen Dockray and her husband Ralph of Alamogordo and Carol Parra and her husband Abie of Mimbres twelve grandchildren and eleven greatgrandchildren. He is also survived by a brother Warren and his wife Marylin of Las Cruces his sister Marilyn Gioannini of Las Cruces brotherinlaw Larry Gioannini of Las Cruces sisterinlaw Ellen Harkey of Hots Springs Village, Arkansas brotherinlaw Fritz Wahl and his wife Jan of Omaha, NE four nephews and three nieces. Howard is predeceased by his parents and brother Richard.

Funeral service will be Saturday, October 6, 2012, at 11:00 AM at the Ancho School
House.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Scholarship Fund, Carrizozo Soil and Water Conservation District, P.O. Box 457, Carrizozo, New Mexico 88301 or the charity of your choice.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lagroneruidoso.com.