Graveside services for Melvin Thompson, 87, of Portales, will be held at 10:00 AM, Thurs., Aug. 1, 2019 in the Floyd Cemetery with Lemon Dotson officiating, assisted by Steven Hardin. Daniel Norrell, Tibor Kurunczi, Skyler Norrell, Weldon Thompson, Landon Payne and Gene Payne will serve as pallbearers. Justin Buchanan has been named as an honorary pallbearer.
Melvin Ray Thompson was born Mar. 5, 1932, in Portales to the home of Lillian Irene (Reese) and George Thomas Thompson, and died on the evening of July 29, 2019 at his home. Mr. Thompson grew up in Portales. For twenty years he was employed in the oil fields. The last twenty years of his working life, he was employed as Superintendent for the Water District in Big Spring, TX. As such, he was responsible to assure that the water levels in the lakes and reservoirs was sufficient for distribution to the surrounding area. He retired in 1996, and he and his wife moved to their home in Ruidoso. They returned to Portales to make their home in 2014.
On Oct. 2, 1950 in Portales, he was married to Beola Fay Dodgin. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter. He loved horses and horseback riding. For several years he competed in roping and cutting events, and had won numerous buckles and trophies. He also enjoyed woodworking. He was a member of the Ruidoso Baptist Church.
He is survived by Beola Thompson, his wife of more than 68 years of their home; a daughter and son-in-law, Tracey and Daniel Norrell of Portales; a daughter-in-law, Mary Beth Thompson of Weatherford, TX; six grandchildren, Amy (Gene) Payne, Weldon (Lori) Thompson, April (Tibor) Kurunczi, Justin (Tiffany) Buchanan, Kimberly Lott and Skyler (Ashley) Norrell; and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, R. T. Thompson, two sisters, Tommie Langford and Pearla Garrett, and a son, Melton Thompson.
