Tommie Lee Preston October 5, 1952 ~ February 20, 2023 (age 70)

Memorial services for Tommie Preston, 70, of Portales will be held Monday February 27th at 1:00pm at the First Baptist Church in Portales with Pastor. Phillip Smith officiating.  Honorary pallbearers will be Tim Russell, Rick Leal, Paul Duran, Josh Leal, Jake Leal, Barnaby Urbana and Richard Lovato.

Tommie Lee Preston was born Oct. 5, 1952 in San Fidel New Mexico at the home of Herman and Annabell Preston. Tommie came to Portales to live at the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home at the age of 6.  He became a favorite to Walker and Dorothy Hubbard, the Superintendents of the home.  Gary and Sandy Hudson were the house parents that raised him as their own along with their two daughters Norah and Cheryl Ann Hudson.  Fred and Louise Van Eaton from Kenna were his sponsors, and he spent summers and vacations with them on their ranch. And continued a relationship with them after leaving the home.

The Van Eaton ranch remained his “Happy Place” for the rest of his life.  He spent a great deal of time there hunting, fishing, camping and looking for the arrow heads and other artifacts that are in his large collection.  For as long as he was physically able, Tommie would go to the ranch to help work the cattle and do whatever other work needed to be done.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church

On Feb. 8, 1974, he was married to Pamelia “Pam” McCoy.  Tommie was the Shop Foreman at Poynor’s White and Auto Store in Portales for 18 years.  Then in the late 1990’s he became the manager of Ray’s Lube Center.  In 2008, he was seriously injured by a vehicle that pinned him to the wall of the shop.  After his recovery, he returned and continued to work until 2017 when he retired.

Tommie was a talented artist, and did many projects over the years including drawing, painting, wood and metal work. For the past several months he spent most of his time at home where he spent time with his “Granddog,” Gigi doing wood burning projects and chasing off squirrels.

Tommie is survived by Pam, his wife of more than 49 years of their home; his son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Johnanna Preston of Vicune, Italy; his daughter, Samantha Preston of Portales; two grandchildren, Edin Carl Preston and Dazjohn Andre Preston as well as an honorary grandson, Abel Lopez; two brothers, Jack Preston of La Luna, NM and Dickie Preston of Albuquerque; four sisters, Dorthyrose Preston; Thelma Preston and Becky Preston both of Portales and Christina Preston of Albuquerque; Richard Lovato who grew up with him at the Home and became like a brother, of Orlando, FL; and his two best friends, Tim Russell of Portales and Marc Pacheco of Riverside, CA.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Jimmie Preston; Dwayne Revell; his sister Norah Hudson ” his parents” Fred and Louise Van Eaton and Walker and Dorothy Hubbard.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Tommie Lee Preston, please visit our floral store.