Joseph Allan “Choppo” McComb

With a smile on his lips and a song in his heart, Choppo has thrown off the shackles of his old mortal coil and ascended to his next great adventure. Greeting him will be his earthly parents, Paul and Leona Willey McComb, spouse Wyoma Bates McComb, siblings Louise, Lewis, Pauline, Marion, Paul Jr. and Evelyn. Including in-laws: Rema Irvin Bates, Sammie and Noel Pachta, granddaughter Michelle McComb, nephews Lewis McComb Jr, Danny Strode, and Ron Cherry. 

 Those left behind to continue the legacy are Choppo and Wyoma’s two daughters: Susie McComb and Tina McComb Harrison (Ken), and one son Russell McComb (Meredith), sister-in-law Paula Bates, brother-in-law Charles Bates. Choppo’s grandchildren: Audra Williams, Christopher Harrison (Celeste), Michael Harrison, Zach Gaines, Jacob and Matthew McComb, and Julian Price Jones. Great grandchildren: Nicholas Slape, Dylan McComb, Isaac McComb and Evie Harrison. A special shout out to Choppo’s cousin Betty Ann Harrington, who always checked on him and kept him in her prayers.

 Choppo began his life on earth in 1932, a child of the Great Depression. He spent his early years roaming the Manzano Mountains of New Mexico with his siblings and cousins, specifically in the Manzano Springs/Yrsarri area where his father farmed and ranched. His family had a great love of music and their home was filled with guitar, fiddle, and mandolin melodies. Choppo was bused to Moriarty Schools in his junior and senior high years. In 1951 he was drafted into the Army, basic trained at Fort Bliss, then sent to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for special training in the SCARWAF engineering unit. He returned home from Korea in 1953 and met Wyoma Bates in 1955, a “flatlander” from Moriarty. In 1956, Choppo and Wyoma were harnessed together like a two-mule team and they began down a trail that would last sixty-four years. Choppo was employed by Mountain Bell-US West-Qwest as a lineman, installer, and PBX specialist. Although life in Albuquerque was fulfilling, it was the couple’s dream to move back to Moriarty and build their own home and they returned there in 1969.

 The couple raised not only their own children, but opened their home to many other foster children and at-risk teenagers. The center of their home and life together was an unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and they sought to honor Him by sharing church parties, holidays with family and friends, and dinners. Many times they would invite a lonely truck driver to break bread with them after church. Both were active in the community government, charitable and historical organizations, and first the Nazarene, then First Baptist Church in Moriarty where they devoted themselves in their senior years to teaching Sunday school to the toddler class. Indeed, Choppo always had a kid under one arm and a flat-head screwdriver in the other hand, ready to help others with their vehicles, plumbing, vacuum cleaners, HVAC—anything mechanical fascinated him!

 Choppo lost the other half of his team, Wyoma, in 2021 and he continued in the family home until the Lord Jesus called him home on his 92 birthday. His daughter, granddaughter Audra, and his wonderful hospice angel, Sue Chaffee-Hall were with him in his final days. Although we miss the sweetness of his soul, Choppo’s family and friends are left with wonderful memories and marvel at his ordinary/extraordinary life well lived!

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2024, 10-11:00 am at the First Baptist Church in Moriarty, NM. Simple and unpretentious, kind of like the folks!