Preston Means

Services are scheduled at 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 30, at Hermosa Drive Church of Christ for Preston Means, 711 W. Castleberry Road, Artesia, N.M. Preston Means, 84, died in the early morning hours of Friday, March 27, 2009. He had been surrounded by family and friends since returning home from the hospital in Lubbock on March 16th as a result of a broken neck suffered in an automobile wreck on January 26th, the day he lost his beloved wife. Michael Joiner and Leslie Earwood will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mike Casabonne, Steve Lewis, Alden Elkins, Johnny Bell, Ernest Ray Harwell and Terry Chester. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Warren Nell, Dean Robinson, Bill Rhodes, Joel Pate, Jim Townsend and Jerry Cox. Also, included as honorary pallbearers are the Pinon Winos shearing crew with whom Preston sheared sheep with for 23 seasons. Honorable mention are J.O. Coupland, Bill Taylor, Dee Tidwell, Terry Lewis, Rick Kniepcamp, Nicky Gage, Buster Stevenson, Pauline Lewis, Sarah Lewis McNeely and Nedra Havens. PPreston was an active member of Hermosa Drive Church of Christ and before moving to Artesia from the ranch in 1997 due to neck surgery and being told by the doctor that he would never be able to ride another horse, was an active member, song leader and Sunday School teacher of the Pinon Church of Christ. He knew the Bible like the back of his hand and lived his life accordingly. His great love of life was ranching and tending his stock. All who knew Preston, can truly say he never rode a bad horse. He also worked and maintained the booster for Navajo Refining for 30 years. Preston was also very active and held numerous board seats for many years. Among a few were the Artesia Wool Coop in which he served as President for many years, FMHA in Roswell, N. M. Wool Growers Association, N.M. Cattle Growers Association, and up until his death served on the board for the Artesia Historical Museum. Preston started scribbling his thoughts and memories in 1974 and continued those writings until 2004 at which time his 3rd and last book was published that same year. He had a God-given talent for telling stories and putting them into words so that the reader could actually live each and every story. He always made the remark that he didnt write the books for money, that his payment or reward for writing them was when he would get a phone call, card or letter from people expressing how much they enjoyed his stories. To Preston, THAT was worth much more than gold.
Preston was born January 5, 1925 to Bob Means and Nona Prude Means. However, leukemia took his Dad when Preston was 16 years of age. Later Nona married Max Cartwright of Pinon. Preston also was preceded in death by his Mother in 1978 and later his stepdad. Survivors include daughters, Judy Yates and husband Jerry of Artesia, Peggy Miller of Artesia; a son-in-law Johnny Miller; brother Lewis Means of Artesia; grandchildren Gene Yates, Missy Jorren, Shelly Andrus and Preston Miller; six great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to charity of choice.