WILL CRADDOCK

Will E. (Bill) Craddock (79) passed away on February 5th in Las Cruces, New Mexico after a brief illness. Bill was born on July 22, 1934 in Midland, Texas, the fifth of seven children born to Perry and Mildred Craddock. He is survived by his wife Sue Ann of Deming; son David and wife Michele of Crowley, Texas; son Jay and wife Patricia of Bridgeport, Texas; and honorary son Manuel Sandoval of Deming. His daughters include Cathy Fikany of Fort Sumner, New Mexico; Jane Brown of Tucson, Arizona and Sherry Craddock of Weatherford, Texas. Bill is also survived by five grandchildren; Amy, Troy and Jamie Craddock of Crowley, Texas and Cassady and Camryn Craddock of Bridgeport, Texas. Sisters, Margaret Long of Carthage, Texas and Mary Jane Maddock of Rancho Dominguez, California are Bill's only surviving siblings. Other survivors include brother and sister- in- law Bob and Vicki McDaniel of Princeton, Indiana. Bill's first saddle was made for him at age three. Being raised on ranches in Texas and New Mexico Bill was a true cowboy and authentic western horseman. In high school Bill competed in the events of calf roping, bareback riding and bull riding, earning trips to the National High School Finals as a junior and senior. Bill also showed steers in high school and excelled in track and football. A member of the PRCA for over sixty years, Bill was an accomplished calf roper and steer roper. Bill was also a member and past officer of the Senior Steer Roping Association. For twenty- five plus years Bill roped at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Bill took great pride in the horses he bred and raised under the Spur Lazy Spur brand. For over forty years Spur Lazy Spur horses have demonstrated their athleticism and sound dispositions in a variety of rodeo events throughout the United States. Through his love of rodeo and horses, Bill made numerous friends and could remember every horse that anyone had ever ridden or competed on. Bill was a graduate of Fort Sumner High School, served honorably in the United States Army and attended New Mexico State University. Please join the Craddock family on Monday, February 10 at 11:00 am at Baca's Funeral Chapel, 811 S. Gold Street in Deming, New Mexico for a memorial service celebrating Bill's life. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 www.justincowboycrisisfund.com. Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels and Mimbres Crematory. Exclusive provider for "Veterans & Family Memorial Care". To sign the online guest book or to send a card, please visit our website at www.bacasfuneralchapels.com. 811 S. Gold Ave., Deming, NM 88030. Phone: 575.546.9671