Warren Batie

Warren W. Batie, age 100, a long time resident of Artesia, Grants, and Tucumcari, New Mexico and Bayfield, Colorado, passed away November 24, 2003 in Grants, N.M. He was born in Eastland County, Texas, July 18, 1903 to Claborne and Lou Batie. Warren was a member of the Church of Christ, one of the founders of Artesia Peoples State Bank, a graduate of Drahagns Business College in Abilene, Texas. He pioneered the modern supermarket and is featured in the Artesia Museum. He owned and operated supermarkets in Artesia, Roswell, Carlsbad, Albuquerque, Alamogordo and Grants, N.M. and in Pagosa Springs and Rocky Ford, CO., also convenience stores in Alamogordo and Albuquerque. Following a career in the grocery business, the Baties moved to Colorado and later retired in Tucumcari on a little livestock farm, that he dearly loved Moving to Grants in 1997. He was preceded in death by his wife Ruby after 75 years of marriage, his parents, three brothers Luther, Dee and Toy, three sisters Madge, M.L. and Agnes. Warren is survived by four children Eugene and Pat Batie of Odessa, TX, Elvis and Karen Batie of Grants, NM, Laverne and Bob Jones of Grants, NM, and Don and Merle Batie of Chico, CA; twelve grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; two sisters Eva Billingsley of Paradise, CA and Wilma Reid of Roswell, NM. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Terpening Son Mortuary Chapel with Roby Zumwalt and J.T. Ross officiating. Interment following at Woodbine Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be grandsons Rodney, Andy, and Billy Batie, Don and David Jones; great-grandsons Monty, Jory and Brad White.