Funeral services for Sue Johnston Gray, 69, of Portales will be at 10:00 AM, Thurs., Feb. 22, 2018 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Leonard Stanton and Kendall Terry officiating. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with the men she worked the sales with through the years, Mike Archibeque, Arly Hamner, Tom Mackechnie, Clint Walker, Kendall Terry, Max Merrick, Tommy Williams and Scott Burton serving as pallbearers. All of the ladies from the Wednesday Morning Bowling League will serve as honorary pallbearers. A special mention is also extended to all of the friends, customers, and co-workers that she befriended over the years at Bill Johnston Auctioneers, and to all the long-time friends who supported her, and helped her enjoy life. The family knows what you have done, and how you loved her and blessed her. Those desiring to make donations in her memory may send them to the American Cancer Society. The family will receive guests at the funeral home from 6 to 8 PM on Wed., Feb. 21, 2018.
Sue Johnston Gray, affectionately known as “Nannie,” was born on April 6, 1948, in Tucumcari, NM to the home of Bill and Louise (Herron) Johnston. Sue was diagnosed with cancer in 1989, and fought like a warrior. She received treatment in Albuquerque, Lubbock and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Sue gave up her 29 year battle with cancer on Feb. 19, 2018 in Lubbock Covenant Hospital, surrounded by family and friends. She would have celebrated her 70th birthday in April.
Sue was the youngest of three children. When Mike Archibeque went to work for the family business, he was welcomed and came to be considered another son and brother.
Sue graduated from Portales High School in 1966. From an early age she worked every sale day at the Portales Livestock, which her family owned. Eventually, she became the office manager. She later worked at Bill Johnston Auctioneers until she retired in Jan. 2015.
After graduation from high school, she married and had two sons, Ricky and Randy Bouldin. Later, she remarried, and raised her boys with Tana, Rena and Neil Gray. Sue loved life, and lived large! She always made such a nice home, and loved her fur babies. Sue loved to travel, play cards, bowl, be with people, and listen to her music, especially Elvis songs. She visited Elvis’ home in Graceland twice and thoroughly enjoyed it each time. Sue was devoted to her family, and attended all their functions, and was so proud of each of them.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ricky and Laura Bouldin and their family, Kaylee Barron, Tanner Barron and Kinsey Bilberry; her brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Cecile Archibeque and family, Sara and Matt Hunton, Amy and Cody Carson and Will and Megan Archibeque; her granddaughters, Bennett and Lauren Bouldin; her sister-in-law, Diane Johnston; her nieces, Jena and Jason Wilbanks, Jeralee and Joshua Redmon and Jordan Johnston; and five great-nieces and a great-nephew. She is also survived by her step-children and their families, including Jason and Jennifer Queener and his family of Texico, NM; her cousins, Bobbie and John Wagley, Judy and Jerry Sours, and Jim and Becky Herron. Sue referred to herself as a “sister-cousin” to them. She also had numerous cousins on the Johnston side. She was preceded in death by her son, Randy Bill Bouldin in 2013, and by her parents, and her siblings, Kay Johnston and Bobby Johnston.
