Leonard Flaming

It is with great sadness that the family of Len Flaming announces his passing on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at the age of 82.

Rev. Monty Leavell will officiate the memorial service at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 18, at the First United Methodist Church in Artesia, NM.

Len was born in Corn, Oklahoma, on December 27, 1937. He was the youngest child out of 12 children. Later in his life he was blessed with hundreds of nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews, and even great, great nieces and nephews.

Len "known as Butch" by the Oklahoman relatives, was the son of Herman Bushman Reimer Flaming and Maggie Reimer Flaming. The brothers and sisters are Pearl, Ed, Roy, John, Allen, Mabel, Vern, Doris, Gene, Mary Ann, and twin sister Arlene.

He graduated from "Corn Bible Academy" in Corn, Oklahoma. Later he earned his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Len entered the teaching profession in Manzanola, Colorado, in the fall of 1960. He taught workshop, driver's education, coached wrestling, football, and basketball. In his spare time he directed the "Senior Play".

On June 22, 1963, Len and Samuella Ricks were married in Clinton, Oklahoma, at the First Methodist Church. For the next 2 years, Len continued teaching and coaching in Manzanola while Samuella worked as a nurse in Rocky Ford, Colorado.

In the summer of 1965, Len and Sammy moved to "Bulldog Country". Len started teaching woodshop, driver's education, and arts and crafts. He coached boys and girls basketball and golf. He was renowned as the "Bulldog Bus Driver". In his career he logged in his bus more miles than a trip "to the moon and back". He transported Bulldog boys and girls safely for 51 years - with an occasional bus scratch and small parking lot fender benders. He was known as the "Bus Driving Emeritus".

Len and Samuella were blessed in marriage with 2 children. Margartet Britton Flaming Ebert and husband Jeffery Scott Ebert and granddaughter Mallory Flaming; son Jarrod Neal Flaming and wife Tina Flaming. Neal has 3 children - Brent, Michael, and Melissa.

Len loved playing golf with his "Senior golfing buddies". His golfing thrill was "shooting his age". He enjoyed playing golf four days a week. His "Sweet Pea" was his granddaughter Mallory, who affectionately called him "Parsh".