Sammy Stoneman

Visitation for Sammy Stoneman is set for September 30, from 1 to 6 pm at Terpening and Son Mortuary in Artesia. Graveside services are scheduled for 2 p.m. October 1st at the Claunch Cemetery in Claunch, New Mexico. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Close friends will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Sammy Charles Stoneman was born April 27, 1942, in Corona, New Mexico and passed away September 22, 2021, at his home in Artesia. He grew up in Ancho, New Mexico where he helped his family run a small ranch that his grandmother acquired through the Homestead Act. He attended Carrizozo Schools through his junior year. He was a great athlete, and played football, basketball, and track. He would have played his senior year, but a certain cheerleader from Corona caught his eye, so he transferred to Corona and lettered in all three sports. He graduated from Corona High School in 1960, and married that cheerleader, Terry Lee Bussey, on February 8th, 1961. They celebrated their 60th anniversary this past February

Sammy was a hardworking man and held many different jobs trying to provide for his family. He has called Artesia home since 1977. Sammy worked for Jim's Water Service where he started out as a truck driver and retired as the manager. When he finally got all his kids raised and out of the house, he was able to fulfill one of his dreams. He loved to team rope, and weekends would usually find him and Terry and sometimes a grandkid or two on the road to a Booger Barter roping. He never won the elusive pickup, but he came close a time or two. Sammy also loved to ride motorcycles. He would often times take off and ride for several hours at a time.

Sammy was a Jack-of-all- trades, and as he grew older you could always find him tinkering around behind his shop or driving around town with his faithful companion Bitsy as his co-pilot.

Sammy was preceded in death by a son, Stoney Stoneman, a son-in-law Darrell Billington, his parents Clyde and Irene Stoneman, a brother Lynn Stoneman, and his in-laws Monty and Tela Bussey.

He is survived by his loving wife Terry, son Glenn Stoneman, daughters Cassey Malone and husband Sammy, Sammie Shipley and husband George, and Tamarah Billington. One sister, Glenna Cox and a sister-in-law Peggy Proctor. Grandkids; Jefferey Bannister, Cody Davis, J.J. Stoneman, Michael LeCompte, Laci Malone, Blu Stoneman, Sam Stoneman, Roper Billington, Hazer Archer, Dallie and Raelen Stoneman and Caleb Tuttle, numerous great grandkids and nieces and nephews.