In Loving Memory of Wesley Kendrick

Wesley Kendrick passed away on March 18, 2017, at his home in Raton, NM, surrounded by his family and friends. He was 88 years old. Wesley was born in Cimarron, NM on November 29, 1928, the second son of Clyde Kendrick and Lula Gavin Kendrick. Wesley and his family lived on a farm near Levi, NM, north of Wagon Mound, and raised pinto beans like the rest of the local farmers.

After the death of his brother Heber in 1940, the family moved to Raton. Wesley had many jobs as a teenager in Raton. Since his house had a telephone, he got a job as a call boy for the Santa Fe railroad, riding his bicycle to wake up engineers and conductors to go to work. After school, he drove a grocery truck for K & S Grocery, delivering groceries to houses around town. For a short time, he was a fire boy for The Santa Fe railroad, and got to ride a few steam engines over Raton Pass. Later, Wesley drove a greyhound bus to Denver and Amarillo. This was a quite short lived occupation. He also worked for the Colfax County Road Department and several construction companies in the Farmington and Chama area.

Wesley enlisted in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1954 during the Korean War. He was assigned to the construction battalion, or Sea Bees. After a short time in San Diego, Wesley was deployed to Guam, where he operated large cranes at Apra Harbor, loading and unloading military cargo.
After the Navy, Wesley worked for the New Mexico Highway Department. He married Margaret Van de Valde in 1962. In 1966, he left the highway department to start Colfax Construction Company. He worked for many ranches in the area, building roads, dams, stock tanks, water lines, or whatever was needed. Wesley semi-retired in 2004, but his official retirement was last Saturday, March 18, 2017.

Wesley was preceded in death by parents Clyde and Lula, brother Heber, wife Margaret (Peggy), and step son Ed Luksich.

 

He is survived by stepchildren Ricky Freeman, Jerold Luksich, Margaret Owen, children Susan Butt, Wesley Ted Kendrick and their families. He also leaves 12 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Public viewing will be Tuesday March 21, 2017 at 5:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Yaksich-Long Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral services for Wesley Kendrick will be held at the Yaksich Long funeral home at 10:00 on Wednesday, March 22. 2017 Interment will follow at Fairmont Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Rusty Luksich, Travis Luksich, Wesley Kendrick, Randy Butt, Chris Hatfield, and Wesley Butt.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the NRA or a charity of your choice.

A pot luck dinner will be held at the residence immediately following the service.

Funeral services and celebration of love for Wesley Kendrick are under the direction of the Yaksich-Long Funeral Home of Raton.