Harvie Lee Saxton

Funeral services for Harvie Lee Saxton will be at 2:00 PM on Monday November 12, 2007, at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Wesley McAfee officiating. Burial will follow at Lawn Haven Cemetery in Clovis, NM.
     Harvie was born on October 14, 2007, to Ben F. and Nancy (Roberts) Downs in a dugout on the family farm near the Elm Fork of the Red River in Harmon County, OK. She grew up on the farm working and riding her pony. In her younger years horse back and horse and buggy were the main transportation. Harvie passed away on November 8, 2007, in Clovis, NM at the age of 102.
     She recalled riding her pony to the 2 room school she attended in Carl Community, also to social functions and singing schools. She remembered going to Brush Arbor meetings by horse and buggy and it would be very late at night when they arrived at home.
      She moved with her family to Mangum, OK to complete her high school education. She often spoke of the many cyclones (Tornados) in the area and house and her porcelain doll going with it. The cellar was a popular place.
      On August 17, 1925, she married Eldon Boyd in Reed, OK. In 1931, the family moved to the plains of Texas near Plainview and farmed until moving to Floyd, NM community in December of 1941. In January of 1943, Harvie and family moved to a farm near Melrose, NM.
       She was married to Charlie Saxton on December 22, 1949. They farmed and raised cattle as long as health permitted. After Mr. Saxton passed away, Harvie moved from Clovis, NM to Portales, NM to be near her daughters.
       She lived alone for 25 years taking care of her home and yard until she fell at the age of 96 and was unable to care for herself. She moved to her daughter's home and lived until she passed away.
       She loved the outdoors and working in her yard and garden. She was an excellent seamstress making most of her and her children's clothes. She sewed and crocheted until age of 99. She loved going to her children's and grandchildren's home Traveling and shopping.
        Harvie is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Maude Galloway, her brother, Claude Downs, her husbands, Eldon Boyd and Charlie Saxton, her daughter, Imogene Grider and son-in-law Glen Grider. Harvie is survived by: her 2 daughters, Geraldine Burch and husband Leroy and Lavern Russell and husband Jim, Both of Portales, NM. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren; Gary Grider and wife Sharon of Clovis, NM, Donna Zortman and husband Dave of Blue water, NM, Denny Burch of Grand Junction, CO, Brenda Howard and husband Billy of Talihina, OK, Rickey Russell and wife Susan of Flower Mound, TX, David Russell and wife Bobby of Portales, NM, Ronda Pool and husband Don of Clovis, NM. Harvie is also survived by 5 nephews; William Downs and wife Doris of Lone Oak, OK, C.W. Downs and wife Mary of Omaha, TX, Buck Galloway and wife Pat of Idalou, TX, Harold Saxton and wife Andrea of Anacortes, WA, Ray Saxton of Texarkana, AK, 12 Great grandchildren and 12 Great -Great grandchildren. She is also survived by other family and many friends who will all greatly miss her
    Arrangements are with Wheeler Mortuary of Portales, NM, (575)356-4455