John J Chappell, 86, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, passed away on May 16th, 2012. John was born September 10th 1925, in Lubbock, Texas to Dell and Ray (Doyle) Chappell. At the age of 3 months his family moved to New Mexico. He graduated from Mountainair High School in Mountainair, New Mexico. He worked briefly for the Santa Fe Railroad before joining the army and served in the Philippines and Korea during World War II as the telegraph operator for the 759th Railroad Battalion. John graduated from New Mexico State University receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry. John served as a Veteran's on the Farm Agent for the Acoma, Laguna and Cochiti Pueblo's and as County Agent at Large in Lincoln and Otero Counties and County Agent for Quay, Colfax, Chaves, and Bernalillo counties. He also worked at NMSU as the Director of Deferred Giving. Among the many awards and honors John received, he was proudest of the NMSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics Distinguish Alumni Award in 1991 and the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Distinguish Service Award in 1982. John is survived by his wife Gloria, and three children and their spouses; Laferne and Tom Williams of Venice Florida, Steve and Sheri Chappell of Amarillo, Texas, and Lonna and Rob Andrews of Las Cruces, New Mexico; grandchildren Thomas, Sarah (Dave), Adam (Karla), John Thomas (Ginger) Dell, Suzette, Kenneth; 1 great grandson Cooper Chappell; nieces and nephews including; Tim (Hilda) Chappell of Las Cruces, Mike (Annie) Chappell of California, Sherry Bender of California, Pete (Gena) Badendick, of South Carolina, Terry (Bob) Purdom of Missouri, Jim Badendick of Missouri, Terry (Linda) of Alabama. There will be a service to celebrate his life on Sunday May 20, 2012 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, where he was a long time member, in Las Cruces, at 2:00 pm. Gifts may be made to the NMSU Foundation for the Chappell Memorial Judging Team Scholarship. PDF Printable Version
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