James Teare

James L. Teare
Nov. 4, 1915 - Sept. 24, 2009
James Lindgren Teare, age 93, a resident of Farmington, passed away Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009. He was born Nov. 4, 1915, in Santa Fe, to Alfred and Ellen Teare.
He graduated from the University of New Mexico and worked at the First National Bank of Santa Fe. He served in World War II and after his discharge he married Elzada Bessie Young on April 9, 1944.
In 1949 he moved to Los Alamos to manage the branch of the First National Bank of Santa Fe and later joined the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In 1960, he formed the Los Alamos Building and Loan Association and helped many people obtain their first home mortgage. In Los Alamos he was chairman of the County Commission, a member of Kiwanis, on the hospital board and was head of the Selective Service Board. He also played a role in the establishment of Los Alamos National Bank.
In 1967 he moved his family to the Washington, D.C., area, where he worked at the Department of Interior and then the Environmental Protection Agency.
After his retirement in 1986, he and Elzada served four 18-month missions in Zimbabwe, St. Kitts, New Zealand and Vancouver, British Columbia. Since then, James and his wife lived in Albuquerque and Roswell until moving to Farmington in 2005.
Jim loved hunting and fishing and was an avid letter writer, keeping in touch with friends and family across the world.
James received the New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award, Distinguished Service to the EPA, and Special Commendation from the GAO. He will always be remembered for the service he gave to his family, community and church.
He is survived by his wife, Elzada Bessie; his children, Jane Braithwaite and husband, Karl, James and wife, Cheryl, Mark and wife, Nancy, Gary and wife, Annie, Ellen Reed and husband, Bill; sister-in-law, Mary Helen Teare; 21 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4400 College Blvd., in Farmington.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at The LDS Church.
Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in James' name to the charity of your choice.
Those wishing to send condolences to the family may do so at www.danielsfuneral.com
Memorial services are under the direction of Alternative Choice Cremation and Funeral Services, 804 N. Dustin Ave., in Farmington; (505) 326-3671.