Thomas Rutledge

Graveside services are scheduled at 10:30 AM Friday, January 31, at Twin Oaks Memorial Park for Thomas LeRoy Rutledge, Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Rutledge, 70, died Wednesday, January 29, 2003 at Artesia General Hospital. Pastor Rob Gerst will officiate at the services. Mr. Rutledge was born on August 30, 1932, in Hope, New Mexico; the son of Martin Hughes Rutledge and Dixie May Tarkington Rutledge. On June 30, 1951 he was married to Jeanette Lunsford in Artesia. He came to Artesia in 1936 from Hope. He was a miner in the Potash mines for Amax Chemical. He was a member of the New Mexico Game Fowl Breeders, and the United Game Fowl Breeders. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Mary Rutledge, brothers Charles, George, Dale, Marvin, and Clyde Rutledge. Survivors include his wife Jeanette Rutledge of the family home; son Donnie Rutledge of Artesia; daughters Sherry Wyatt of Artesia, Angie Miller of Artesia, and Priscilla Rutledge of Artesia; brother Alford Sam Rutledge of Ouitman, Texas; 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.