Thomas and Patti Wier

Tom and Patti Wier

A memorial service will be held for Tom and Patti Wier at Terpening and Son Mortuary on August 26th at 10 am

Thomas David Wier (June 3, 1952-July 1, 2023)

Thomas David Wier was born on June 3, 1952 in Roswell, New Mexico. At the age of 6 months old he was adopted by Charles and Pearl Wier whom raised him in Loco Hills, NM. Thomas passed from this life at the age of 71. Tom was a 1970 graduate of Artesia High, a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University and a member of the Loco Hills Baptist Church.

He was proceeded in death by the love of his life, his wife Patti, on December 4, 2018, his parents Pearl and Charles Wier and sister Judy Terry. He is survived by his son, Zach Wier and his wife Raquel, grandchildren Aria Wier & Christopher Kellar, brother Bill Wier & wife Gloria, brother-in-law Casey Terry, brother & sister-in-law Jack and Jan Vermillion along with nieces, Shannon Vermillion, Shelby Tarango (Joe) and nephews Josh Vermillion (Heidi), Dave Terry, Toby Terry and Kit Wier.

Tom grew up at Loco Hills and roamed the sandhills experiencing all that was life as a young boy in the 50’s and 60’s including hunting, fishing, horse backing, swimming, four wheeling, motorcycle riding and especially quail hunting and playing baseball. His high school baseball team included several team mates from the old Loco Hills Sandies teams of the 1950’s and early 60’s and he loved to reminisce about those old baseball teams with old friends and coaches. As a boy many-a-hot summer afternoon was spent with friends swimming at a stock tank after a morning of work. His proudest achievement besides being a husband, dad and grand dad was being a veteran of the Army Rangers. He loved seeing and talking to his Ranger buddies almost as much as telling Zach, his nephews, and nieces that “Danger was no stranger to the Airborne Ranger”. Tommy was a proud patriot and would go to the cemetery every Memorial Day to make sure that all the veterans he knew had an American flag on their grave. Family fishing trips to northern New Mexico were something he loved in childhood and later when he and Patti had a family. Those were his happiest times. Occasionally in his last days he would look out the window and say “I bet the fish are really biting today.” Tommy and Patti were students of the Old West and spent their retirement years researching, locating, and visiting forgotten pioneer-era graves scatted throughout the mountains, deserts, and plains of southeast New Mexico. His grandchildren were his greatest joy and were dearly loved by him. He was an accountant and worked for Yates Petroleum for over 25 years.

Honorary pall bearers: Wade Peterson, Ronny Letcher, Tom Kelly, Lupe Herrera, George Mullens, Toby Terry

Patricia Gayle Vermillion Wier (October 12, 1953-December 4, 2018)

Patricia Gayle Vermillion Wier was born in Artesia, New Mexico to Jack and Nellie Vermillion on October 12, 1953. She passed to her heavenly reward at the age of 65 years on December 4, 2018 in Lubbock TX. She was a 1971 graduate of Artesia High School, a graduate of New Mexico State University and a member of the Hermosa Church of Christ.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, Nellie and Jack Vermillion Sr. She is survived by her son, Zach Wier and his wife Raquel, grandchildren Arya Wier and Christopher Kellar, her brother Jack Vermillion Jr. and his wife Jan, brother-in-law Bill Wier and wife Gloria, brother-in-law Casey Terry along with nieces, Shannon Vermillion, Shelby Tarango (Joe) and nephews Josh Vermillion (Heidi), Dave Terry, Toby Terry and Kit Wier.

Patti had a keen intellect and a quick wit. Her low-key sense of humor could always make you laugh especially when you really needed to. She was a committed dog lover her entire life and always had a canine friend. As a paralegal by profession, she worked for several lawyers in Artesia and Carlsbad. In college she was a trainer for the NMSU football team and knew a lot about NMSU sports history. Patti was “Aggie Proud” and would always find a way to listen to NMSU football and basketball broadcasts no matter what it took to find the broadcast or how grim the outcome looked. Her favorite teams in order were the AHS Bulldogs, the NMSU Aggies and whoever was playing UNM. Patti loved spending time with family and treasured the fishing trips to northern New Mexico going back to her girlhood but particularly with Tommy and Zach. Patti’s hero was always her older brother Jack who survives her. Tommy and Patti were both children of veterans from the Greatest Generation (both Patti’s parents and Tom’s dad were WWII veterans) and they successfully advocated for veteran footstones for forgotten veterans in the cemeteries in Artesia and Roswell in gratitude for their service. Patti was a master of research and documentation which was indispensable in that endeavor. The love of her life was her husband, Tom and she has been sorely missed by him since her death. Tommy and Patti are reunited and I bet the fish are really biting today.

Honorary pall bearers: Jack Vermillion, Zach Wier, Josh Vermillion, Kit Wier, Shannon Vermillion, Ashley Pinedo, Shelby Tarango