Funeral services for Lela Jo Halliday, known to most people as “Red,” will be held at 2:30 PM, Mon., Feb. 6, 2017 at the Elida Methodist Church with Pastor Darryl Tenefos officiating. Burial will follow on the Wall Ranch in the family cemetery. Those desiring to make memorial contributions in lieu of flowers, may send them to the Red Halliday Scholarship Fund, c/o of the New Mexico Bank and Trust in Portales.
Lela Jo Halliday was born June 8, 1939 to the home of Doris (Tusha) and Embry Wall, and died at her home on the family ranch on the morning of Feb. 2, 2017. Lela Jo grew up in Elida, and graduated from Elida High School in 1957. On June 12, of that same year in Elida, she was married to Bill Halliday. Shortly after they were married, they moved to California. After a few months there they moved back to Portales to attend college, and later went to NMSU in Las Cruces. Over the course of several years they lived in Santa Fe, Socorro, Artesia and Truth or Consequences before coming back to Elida in 1973.
Red worked for many years for the State of New Mexico in the Employment Office until her retirement in the late 1990’s. For her “fun job,” Red organized rodeos in West Texas and all over the state of New Mexico. She acted as Secretary, Treasurer, truck driver, and any other duties that were necessary to make the rodeo a success.
Lela Jo was an accomplished artist, and painted countless oil paintings. She was an excellent cook, and especially made great enchiladas and other Mexican dishes. She always enjoyed going to a dance, or any social event. Red loved people, and through the years, she and Bill provided a home to over 30 young people. In later years, she was very active in the Elida Senior Citizens, driving the van and providing rides for people to get wherever they needed to go. When her children were in school, she was an active 4-H leader. For several years she was a member of the Elida Woman’s Club.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Vannie and Janette Halliday of Lipan, TX; her daughter and son-in-law, Kay and John Moses of Belle Plaine, KS; seven grandchildren, Justin Moses, Kistin Pedersen, Ashley Moses, Chancey, Tallen, and Jacee Halliday and Scottee and Nathan Broward; eight great-grandchildren, Jobi Queen, Layla Moses, Trent Moses, Emma Moses. Hope Rumfeldt, Kaladin Broward, Avi Broward and Derick Hlliday; and countless people that she had “adopted” through the years. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Cleo Wall, as well as by her beloved husband, Bill who died Nov. 24, 1988.