DATELINE: – Amistad, New Mexico
NAME: Clifford Copeland, age 89, died on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at his home near Amistad, New Mexico.
SERVICES: Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, November 29, 2021, at the Amistad Methodist Church in Amistad, New Mexico with Rev. Kenneth W. Tidmore and Rev. Jay Jones officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton, New Mexico. Please visit www.hassfuneralhome.com to view the online obituary and sign the guest book.
BACKGROUND: Clifford Copeland was born on May 1, 1932, in Lubbock, Texas. He was the firstborn of Jack and Mary Alice Griggs Copeland. Clifford and Barbara Jean Mullins were married on June 22, 1952, in Ft. Sumer, NM. He is survived by his wife Barbara of 69+years, his son Cliff and wife Pat, grandson Matt and wife Alyssa, and Great-granddaughter Cally Jo, all of Amistad, NM. His brother Ernest and wife Brenda of Santa Rosa, his sister Patricia Ritch of Clovis, his sister-in-law Barbara Jean Copeland of Clovis, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Otis, his brother-in-law Hugh Ritch and nephews.
The family of three moved to Dumas, Texas when Clifford was about four years old. Jack worked at the Shamrock Refinery and later opened a Drug Store in Dumas and started a small herd of Hereford Cattle. Riding several miles on horseback to look after those Herefords became Clifford’s job at age 7 or 8. Thus his love of Hereford Cattle began and continued when his Dad and Grandad, in 1943, established the Copeland Ranch six miles south of Amistad, NM. Clifford told of how very happy he was to now live on a real ranch! At 9 years old he began his life of service to his Dad and family by doing chores of milking the cows, feeding the livestock, and so on before and after riding the school bus to school at Amistad. He also joined the Amistad TNT 4-H club which would form a great deal of his life. He showed his first 4-H calf at the New Mexico State Fair in 1945, and never missed another State Fair until the 1990s. During that time, he not only showed cattle but won practically all the awards the State of NM had to offer in the 4-H program. Several trips (by train) to Chicago to the National 4-H Convention, where he was honored by being asked to address the Steak and Sirloin Club of Chicago wherein the speech he told those men that “New Mexico was as Big as Texas, just not rolled out as thin”! He also won the prestigious Award of being one of four 4-Hers in the State to go to Washington DC and New York City. Clifford was a quality person all of his life, sweet and loving son, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He cared deeply for his family, his Church, and his Hereford Cattle. He was always FOR his Amistad community, and among other things was instrumental in forming the Amistad-Hayden Fire Dept. He called the meeting of the community, which met in the Historic Amistad United Methodist Church basement, 41 years ago. He was the first Fire Chief and served as Chief for several years. He also was among those who fought for the Amistad School for over 30 years when the District was trying to shut down the school, and also joined the fight to keep the Amistad Post office open. He was a lifelong member of the American Hereford Association, and member of the NM Hereford Association, NM Cattle Grower’s Association, and the Amistad United Methodist Church. He served as the Secretary of the Union County Fair Board for many years. Clifford and Barbara were long-time advisors for the NM Junior Hereford Association and the NM Junior Cattle Grower’s Association. Clifford and Barbara were honored to receive the Buck Ramsey Award from the Nara Visa Cowboy Gathering. Clifford and Barbara were inducted into the American Hereford Association Hall of Fame recognizing lifetime achievement in the Hereford industry. He was a loyal and faithful friend to his neighbors, most of whom have preceded him in “Going Home” as well as those who still remain.
