A.J. Deans

Services are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 14, at Hermosa Drive Church of Christ for A.J. Deans, 12 Century Road, Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Deans, 84, died Sunday, April 10, 2011 at Heartland Nursing Center in Artesia, New Mexico.

Michael Joiner will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Tyler Deans, J.D. Deans, Michael Blackwell, Chris Simons, Bob Cates and J.T. Jackson.
Visitation will be at Terpening Son Mortuary beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Mr. Deans was born April 19, 1926 in Fredonia, Texas the son of Other Deans and Grace Clevenger Deans.

On Jan. 29, 1946 he was married to Vivian White in San Angelo, Texas. He came to Artesia in 1957 from Bronte, Texas.

He served in the United States Navy during World War II.

He was a Drilling and Completion Superintendent. He graduated in May 1948 from Abilene Christian College. He was a member of Hermosa Drive Church of Christ, past member Masonic Lodge in Texas, Artesia Jaycees, City Councilman in the 1960s, instrumental in the discovery well and subsequent wells in the EmpireABO Fields.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Bob Deans.

Survivors include his wife Vivian Deans of the family home sons Mike Deans and wife Judy of Artesia, Scott Deans and wife Corrine of Powell, Wyoming, and Alan Deans and wife Peg of Artesia brother James Deans of Richardson, Texas five grandchildren Arlas Blackwell, Stephanie Simons, Magen Deans, Tyler Deans and J.D. Deans and four greatgrandchildren Abigail, Holly, Payton and Jace.