Maurita Knollene Mcdaniel

Maurita Knollene Lovelace McDaniel, 74, crossed over to Glory on April 18, 2015 in Albuquerque, NM. A third generation rancher and grassroots advocate for land rights and conservation efforts, Knollene was born April 20, 1940 in Anthony, KS to the ranch pioneering Lovelace family. She spent her entire life fulfilling that legacy in the Corona/Claunch area raising horses, cattle and sheep where her grandfather first set down roots in the 1890s. She was preceded in death by her husband Dale Fred McDaniel, son Knollin Dale McDaniel, daughter Maurita Roby Ericson, Brother Gary Lovelace and parents Knollin and Maurita (Morrison) Lovelace. She is survived by grandsons Quirt Knollin McDaniel and wife Natty of Claunch, NM, E.W. Ericson of North Richland Hills, Texas, and granddaughter Susan Cathers, Rockford, IL, a great-grandson Zachary Ziewacz as well as nephews Gary Joe and Jerry Lovelace and niece Sis Lovelace. She attended grade school in Corona, NM and then her freshman year of high school in El Paso, TX, then back to Corona and on to Arizona. At her grandfather’s direction, she also attended two years of girls’ school in Mississippi where she said with a laugh that they “finished” her. As a longtime member of New Mexico Cattle Growers and New Mexico Wool Growers Associations she made many miles promoting the livestock industry. She served as secretary for the local People of the West chapter, was highlighted in the New Mexico Stockman and EcoLogic magazines as well as other multiple land use and property rights interviews. She served on the Carrizozo Soil and Water Conservation board as supervisor for 12 years –three as secretary/treasurer and three as chairman. In 1998 she was recognized by the district for 56 years of participation. In 1994 she was given the Steward of the Year award from the Bureau of Land Management. She was a member of New Mexico CowBelles for more than 50 years where she served a term as State Secretary as well as two terms as president for her local chapter, Canyon CowBelles. She was the driving force behind the creation of the NM CowBelles’ educational new letter for kids, Range Rider. Through her local chapter she helped create and promote the Cream of the Crop program to reward county fair livestock participants for raising their own livestock projects. Knollene was also a 4-H leader for cooking, sheep, dairy cattle and more. She also was responsible for bringing together the three Lincoln County CowBelle Chapters (Crown, Canyon and Corriente) to pay for a monument at the Lincoln County Fair Grounds that holds the United States and New Mexico flag poles. Knollene was a member of the Ancho Community Church and was involved for years with the Walk to Emmaus, and Kairos Outside program as well as being involved in a prison ministry. She was also a member of the United Presbyterian Women and a Sunday school teacher. Her strong, unwavering faith in God was contagious and encouraging to all that knew her. Knollene understood about hard times and hard luck but greeted both with a smile and deep-rooted gritty determination. She knew she stood in the gap between the last generations and the next with a century of heritage on line. She attributed her “I can do it” belief to her Lovelace upbringing and intended to pass that on to those that came after her. “No silver spoons around this outfit,” she would say. No stranger to heartbreak and heartache, she stood as a testimony to her sustaining Faith in God. No stranger to hard work, her greatest accomplishment according to her was that she was a rancher. She often said she didn't care if she didn't have a dime, all she wanted was to stay right where she was and take care of her cows. There will be a Memorial Service to celebrate Knollene’s life on May 6, 2015, 11 a.m., at the Corona High School Auditorium. Wendell Wells will officiate. A potluck luncheon will follow in the school recreation room.