Memorial services for Daniel Weems, 75, of Portales, will be held at 2:00 P.M., Fri., May 5, 2017 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel. Kenneth Clark, Wade Davis, Jerry Madrid, Tommy Heflin, Raymond Copeland and Gayle Brown have been named as honorary pallbearers. Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to the Erin Weems Scholarship Fund, First Savings Bank, 2713 Sudderth Dr., Ruidoso, NM 88312.
Daniel Victory Weems, known to many as “Dan” or “Danny,” was born Jan. 26, 1942 in Rotan, TX to the home of Amanda Pearl (Dutton) and Wesley Spears Weems, and died April 26, 2017 at the Bee Hive Home in Portales. When he was a young boy, the Weems family came to Portales to make their home. He was a 1960 graduate of Portales High School where he played baseball. He enlisted in the Navy, and served in the Seabees until his discharge in 1963. During that time he served in Okinawa and also on Midway Island. He lived in CA for a short time after his discharge, but came back to Portales upon the death of his brother Callan, and decided to stay. He worked for a time at the R.E.A. and later as a meat packer at Swift and Co. in Clovis.
Mr Weems began taking classes in carpentry and construction in Clovis in the 1970’s, and in 1976 he was named New Mexico Carpenter of the Year. That led to him competing at the national level in Anaheim, CA. From the mid 1970’s until 2007, he worked as a construction carpenter. For most of that time he was fulfilling contracts on Cannon Air Force Base. For several years he also owned and operated Asbestos Abatement Co.
On Feb. 24, 1964 in Farley, NM he was married to Claire Langley. The couple had three sons together before eventually divorcing. While his sons were playing Little League Baseball, he acted as their coach. Mr. Weems enjoyed horse racing, and owned and bred a number of race horses. He was a master gardener, and grew a variety of vegetables organically.
He was a member of the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters Union. He also belonged to VFW Post 9515, and the American Quarter-horse Association. Mr. Weems had a special place in his heart for children, and was a regular contributor to St. Jude’s Hospital and Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. In keeping with that love for young people, he always treasured the times he was able to be with his own sons and their families.
He is survived by four sons and three daughters-in-law, Michael and Renea Weems of Lubbock, James and Ginger Weems of Capitan, NM, Kirk and Carrie Weems of Roswell and Derek Gentry of Briscoe, OK; five grandchildren, Brett, Paige, Garrison and Quinton Weems and Drew Lucero; four brothers, Warren Weems of Austin, TX, Hugh Weems of Glendale, AZ, Donnie Weems of Ruidoso, NM and David Weems of Roswell; and a sister, Prsicilla Hamilton of Portales. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Callan, Robert and Gene Weems and two sisters, Etta Pearl Stephens and Dean Levins, and by a granddaughter, Erin Weems.