Eldon E. Pete"" Estes

Eldon E. "Pete" Estes departed from this life Saturday, July 3, 2010. He was born to Royal Vernon and Jessie Lockard (Dale) Estes on Sept. 22, 1926, in Red Bank, Texas. Pete graduated from Mozelle High School in Mozelle, Texas. He was drafted into the Army and served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater with the 11th Airborne Division. He married Sarah W. Simpson in June 1953, in Dallas, Texas, and remained happily married for more than 50 years until Sarah's death in 2005. He moved from Coleman, Texas, to Bloomfield in 1957 with Brannon and Murray Drilling Company. Over the years, Pete worked for Circle A Drilling, Lucky Drilling, Cactus Drilling, Arapahoe Drilling, Smith Tool Co. and numerous other drilling companies. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Sarah; brother Clomer and sister Oleta Kile. He is survived by two sisters, Idell McKee of Austin, Texas, and Betty Adian of Fort Worth, Texas; brother-in-law, Curtis Kile of Coleman, Texas; and many loving nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his three children, Karen and husband, Cloyce Williams, of Shallowater, Texas, Ayme and husband, Hank Vigil, of Bloomfield, Guy and wife, Chris Estes, of Bloomfield; nine grandchildren, Ben Williams, Isaiah (Joy) Williams, Sarah (Allan) Van Liew, Aaron (Melissa) Fults, Sally (Greg) Valdez, Audrey Estes, Derek Estes, Dylan Estes, Tyler Estes; four great-grandchildren, Kelsey and Katelynn Van Liew, Adalyn Shull, Ryan Valdez and another great-granddaughter on the way. He was a kind, caring man and very wise. He wrote in a journal a few years ago, "I never gave it much thought when I was younger, but I now realize that every person's life you touch has an influence, positive or negative. Even a nod or a smile has a positive influence. Try to leave every person you meet feeling better about themselves and as a result, you'll feel better about yourself. It don't cost anything and it's worth a try." Another bit of wisdom was, "I've worked a lot of hands and I've worked for a lot of bosses in my life and somewhere along the way, I've come to the conclusion that a pat on the back is better than a kick in the rear, in most situations." He was a wonderful dad and he loved his family and he will be sorely missed. We love you desperately! Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, July 11, at Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St., in Farmington. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, July 12, at First Baptist Church of Bloomfield, 200 W. Sycamore, with Dr. Joe Buntz officiating. Interment will be at Bloomfield Community Cemetery. Pallbearers are his grandsons, Ben Williams, Isaiah Williams, Aaron Fults, Allan Van Liew, Greg Valdez, Derek Estes, Dylan Estes and Tyler Estes. Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home 103 E. Ute St. Farmington, NM 87401 (505) 325-8688