Velma Sowell

Graveside services are scheduled at 2:00 P.M. Monday, January 21, at Pinon Cemetery, for Velma Vina Cridebring Sowell, of Pinon, New Mexico. Mrs. Sowell, 92, died Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at Artesia Good Samaritan Center. Pallbearers will be Junior Daugherty, Billy Joe Brooks, Sonny Watts, Hunter Smith, James Owen Copeland, and Brian Prather. Honorary pallbearers will be Gaston Lewis, Jack Merritt, Fred Gage, and T.A. Tanner. No visitation is scheduled. Mrs. Sowell was born March 23, 1915 in Weed, New Mexico; the daughter of Arthur Cridebring and Birdie Lee Sanders Cridebring. In 1935 she was married to Ray Dyer Sowell in Sacramento, N.M.. She was a lifelong area resident. He preceded her in death May 12, 1973. She was a Rancher and member of, First Christian Church and Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Robert F. Cridebring; sister Dorothy Marie Cridebring; sons Ray Jr. and Timothy; and grandsons Russel and Randall Gillum. Survivors include daughter Phyllis Gillum and husband James of Pinon; 2 grandchildren Robin Punneo, and DeeDee Sue Barringer; 1 granddaughter-in-law Ann Gillum; 2 great-granddaughters Christi Gonzales, and Joyce Mann; 2 great-grandsons James Dean Gillum, and Eric Mann; a great-great-granddaughter Hailey Marie Gillum.