James Green

James. K. Green died Aug. 10 at his home in Artesia. PHe was a longtime newspaper man and an avid hunter and fisherman throughout most of his life. PHe was born July 21, 1915, in Curtis, Okla. to Nathan L. Green and Ora T. Green and raised, along with five brothers, in Pampa, Texas. PHe married Melba Lee Williams in 1936. Their son, Kenneth, was born in 1938 in Pampa. He married Joyce N. Whisenhunt in 1956. Their son, Walt, was born in 1957 in Artesia. PHe married Lajuana Loving in 1989 in Artesia. PHe was preceded in death by his first wife, Melba, in 1953; his second wife, Joyce, in 1985; and his son Kenneth, in 2004. PHis climb from paperboy to owner and publisher started with Freedom Newspapers, owners of the Pampa News, in 1932. He was a high school student when he started as a carrier, delivering papers on foot. He graduated high school, moved up to motor routes and was circulation manager in Pampa by 1939. PIn 1946, he left Pampa and briefly left the newspaper business for the only time in his life to own and operate a general merchandise store in South Fork, Colo. PHe went back to work for Freedom Newspapers and moved to Colorado Springs as circulation consultant in 1947, and later moved to Clovis, as circulation manager of the News Journal. PHe joined New Mexico Newspapers in 1949 and moved to Las Vegas, again as circulation manager. Working for NM Newspapers, he held jobs in Tucumcari, Santa Fe, and Gallup, all great towns for hunting and fishing. He learned to fly, and was the company pilot in the early 50s. PHe moved to Farmington as publisher in 1952 and moved to Artesia in 1954 to establish the Daily Press. The paper was sold to an in
idual in 1957. Mr. Green continued as publisher and purchased the Artesia Daily Press, the Deming Graphic and the Deming Headlight in 1970. He helped his sons buy newspapers in Ruidoso, Socorro, and Belen. The Deming papers were sold in the 1980s, and he sold the Artesia paper to his son, Walt, in 1990. PHe was a member of service organizations in several towns in which he lived, including the Rotary club and the Masonic Lodge in Artesia. Survivors include his wife, Lajuana, of the family home, son Walt and wife Stacy, of Artesia, and grandchildren Leighayn and husband Tom, of Springerville, Ariz.; James and wife Susan, of Lewis Center, Ohio; Kimberly, of Denver, Colo. and Tyler, of Seattle, Wash. Great-grandchildren are Nikelle Hollender, of Spring-erville, and Nathaniel and Jacob Green of Artesia. Step-children are Sharon Bullock and husband Rob and family, of Hope, N.M., and Gary and Nancy Loving and family of Pima, Ariz.
Cremation is under the direction of Terpening amp; Son Mortuary. A private service is planned.