B. Harper

Services are scheduled at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, at First Baptist Church for B. W. Harper, Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Harper, 82, died Sunday, May 30, 2004 in Artesia. Rev. Rick Sullivan will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Frank Yates, Peyton Yates, Gary Sims, David Van
er, Cliff Currier, and Mo Sarwar. Honorary pallbearers will be Harvey Yates, Owen Taylor, Tracy Richardson, Rick Richardson, Nelson Muncy, Per Landeck, Jimmy Martin, Michael Spencer, Richard Price, and Bill Gray. Mr. Harper was born August 19, 1921 in Mountainview, Arkansas; the son of Wiley Harper and Ruth Northcutt Harper. He served as a
e bomber pilot in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. On June 13, 1943 he was married to Betty Sue Morton in New Bern, North Carolina. He came to Artesia in 1957 from Midland, Texas. She preceded him in death on Feb. 13, 1964. He married Ruthe Hogan Dec. 19, 1964 in Artesia. She preceded him in death March 4, 1991. He was also preceded in death by his parents, a sister, a son, a daughter, and a granddaughter. Mr. Harper was a Certified Public Accountant for Yates Petroleum and member of First Baptist Church; University of Oklahoma Alumni; the N.M. CPA Association and the Texas CPA Association. Survivors include son David Harper and wife Marion of Artesia; step-daughters Eireen Carson and husband Joel of Artesia, and Eileen Richardson of Artesia; four grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; and 12 step-great-grandchildren.