Robert Elliott Honeyfield, lovingly known by his family as “Uncle Bus”, passed away on January 24, 2015, after a brief illness at the Raton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Raton, New Mexico.
Robert was born May 26, 1929, in Raton, New Mexico, the son of Ed and Elizabeth (Black) Honeyfield. He was raised on the Honeyfield homestead on Johnson Mesa working on the family farm. Robert attended Center School on Johnson Mesa from first through eighth grade. The school year was in session during the months of April through December due to the severe winter conditions on the mesa. Robert then rode the bus to Raton to attend Raton High School. He graduated from Raton High School in 1948.
After graduation, Robert worked for several Raton employers. He worked for Henry Butt, moving coal camp houses into Raton; Raton Builders Supply as a salesman, and then he went on to be a welder at Romero’s Welding and then Southwestern Hollow Metal. He was a very likable person, and he was well known for his work ethic and craftsmanship. He retired in 1994. At this time Robert was able to pursue his life-long passion of cattle ranching full time. During this period he put together a small herd of limousine cattle. Due to heath issues, he reluctantly sold his herd in 2012.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Elizabeth, and a half-brother, William (Julia) Lamborn. He is survived by two brothers, Harold and his wife Valma of Davis, California, and Lloyd and his wife Wanda of Raton; eight nephews: Mark and his wife Kathy of Raton; Scott of Amarillo, Texas; Eric and his wife Janice of Las Cruces; Holin and his wife Rose of Spokane, Washington; Keith and his wife Joan, and nephew Jason all of Davis, California; Wayne Lamborn and his wife Mary; and Gary Lamborn and wife Elizabeth all of Henderson, Tennessee, as well as many grand nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life for Robert E. Honeyfield will be held at the Yaksich-Long Funeral Home in Raton. Visitation will be on Saturday, January 31, 2015, at 10:00 A.M. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 31, 2015, at the Yaksich-Long Funeral Home Chapel with Wayne Hogg officiating. Internment will follow at Fairmont Cemetery.
The arrangements for Robert E. Honeyfield are under the direction of the Yaksich-Long Funeral Home in Raton.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Raton Humane Society at P.O. Box 1321 for the care of cats in the Raton area in Robert’s name.
