Eugene William Schmitz

EUGENE WILLIAM SCHMITZ A lifelong resident of Mountainair, 98, passed away on March 8, 2016. Gene’s parents came from Ohio to homestead south of Mountainair, where he was born on November 25, 1917, and the last of 7 children. Growing up, helping on the farm, and attending Mountainair Schools he graduated and went to work with a local contractor. Called to service in 1941, Gene said they told him he was “selected by his friends and neighbors to serve 1 year in the service of our country”, he was actually released 5 years later. He fought in the Philippines, was captured, survived the Bataan Death March and 3 1/2 years as a Prisoner of War. Upon release, he came home to marry Earline Blalock. He became a licensed contractor, building many new homes in the area. They had one daughter, Genie. Survivors include her and her husband, Leon Monk, their son James and wife Chanda and their son Christopher. After Earline’s death in 1974, he married Clota Rice Bates and they spent many years going to Arizona as snow birds. She died in 2008. Her son, Crandall preceded them in death. Her daughters Pam, and husband Jim Breeze, and Aleta Cooper, and their families survive him, along with Crandall’s daughters and their families. He is also survived by sister in law, Lory and husband Bill Vernon, several nieces, one nephew, and their children, special people - Keith and Julie, Dick and Mary Faith, and Sabrina. He was a Past American Legion Commander, Fire Chief, School Board President, gold medal winner in the Senior Olympics. He spent the past 7 1/2 years living, very contented, with his daughter and son in law on what he called “The Ranch”, gardening, digging up stumps and algerita bushes. It was a highlight for him to get to attend the Annual Bataan Death March Memorial at White Sands each year. He enjoyed his neighbors, playing shuffleboard, card games and gardening. He will be missed by family members, friends and neighbors that knew and loved him. A Viewing is scheduled for Thursday March 10, 2016 from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at the Harris Hanlon Mortuary in Mountainair, NM. The Rosary will be recited on Friday March 11, 2016 at 2:00 P.M at the St. Alice Catholic Church in Mountainair, NM with the Celebration of Mass to follow at 3:00 P.M. Interment will be at the Mountainair Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be David Young, Aaron Garoutte, Shawn Cain, Jared Garoutte, Greg Arnold and Gary Miller.