William Glen Mask

William G. Mask, 87, was born in Roswell, NM to Howard and Ruby Mask on August 19, 1937 and went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 3, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family. He was a lifelong resident of Roswell.

A devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, William lived a life marked by service, strength, and deep devotion to his loved ones. He was a retired member of the 1st Battalion 200th Air Defense of the New Mexico National Guard, proudly serving his country and community with honor.

He is survived by his loving family, daughter Mendy Hernandez and her husband Pete; son Manuel D. Payne, daughter-in-law Barbara Payne; sister Martha Holloway and her husband Wes; grandchildren Tanya Thompson and husband Justin, Manuel K. Payne and wife Kim, Ryan Payne and wife Sarah, Nathan Payne and wife Ashleigh, Savanna Payne, and Katianna, Sienna, and Hailey Hernandez. William was also blessed with great-grandchildren Zoe Thompson, Ashlyn Thompson, Isaiah Payne, Taylen Payne, Josiah Thompson, Arielle Payne, Aubrey Payne, Kyle Payne, Venna Payne, Emery Rodriguez and a great grandson Baby Payne-Mansmith on the way. Nephews Jason Holloway and wife Carrolyn, Byron Holloway and wife Cassie, Joe Smith and wife Beth, nieces Tamera Coffman and husband Kevin, Samantha Willard and husband Gary, Nephew Phillip Raimer Jr. (P.J.), great-nephews Aaron Holloway, Paxton Holloway, Brady and Bryce Coffman, Justin Raimer; great-nieces Kaitlyn Holloway, Bailey Holloway, Kayla Benitez, Chelsea Samario and husband Joe, Kayleen Espinoza and husband Nick, Cheyanne Ford and husband Coy and Gracelyn Raimer; great-great-nieces Mariah and Saleena Samario and Azaleeya Benitez. Great-great nephews Jayce Holloway, Logan and Luke Espinoza and Uriah Ford; great-great-great nephews Maverick and Carson Greathouse and special friends GT and Martha Lewis. He held a special place in his heart for all of his many other nieces, nephews and friends each of whom, although he did not get to see as regularly, he loved dearly.

William (aka “Grandpa”, “Uncle Bill”, “Bill”) was preceded in death by his beloved wife Oleta Mask, his father Howard Mask, mother Ruby Mask, his son Mike Payne and daughter Tiffany Ann Mask.

To sum up a life so well lived is impossible. Our collective family efforts will hopefully serve some kind of justice. This is not a typical obituary. This is our tribute.

If you were looking somewhere in this world to find what a servant’s heart looked like, you hit the jackpot with him. As previously mentioned, he served his country with such great honor, as do so many of our armed forces heroes. And he was a devout voter, dubbing Saleena to help him make sure he cast his votes as he became more physically dependent with daily tasks. As long as he was able, he served as a poll worker at countless elections. His patriotism for this great country was truly genuine. Because ‘Merica!

And he was indeed equally as passionate about how he served at the church he called home, Waymaker. Happy to find himself unseen and in the background, if there was a way to personally serve, he found it, most times without being asked. You would not always see what he did, but he happily made sure to unlock/open the doors early before people would arrive, and close up/lock the doors after the last one left. He would also be found bringing water to not only the pastor, but to anyone who needed it. He served as an usher as well, for many, many years. Or he could be found with a broom in one hand, and his coffee in the other (yes, he had that kind of talent, truly incredible). Helping in many other ways, he also served as a faithful and humble board member for a very vital season. He loved his church and the people he attended with sincerely. And he loved God.

But when it came to serving… his family was his passion. He was quite literally a rock in our world the entirety of many of our whole lives. The word “no” was really difficult to find in his vocabulary when it came to any and to all of us. His wife’s open-door policy was also his. As was his wallet when it came time for an after-school Happy Meal for Hailey Page, or school shoes for any of his nieces or nephews, or help with a vehicle for any of his grandchildren, or otherwise advice… this list could be endless.

This was a man who we all called for help. This was a man who always answered. This was a man who was consistent, loyal and reliable. This was a man who did not only say “I love you”, he lived it.

He was loving. He was selfless. He was caring. He was kind. He was funny. He was honorable. He was HUNGRY (yes, we said it, and we’re not even sorry). He was embracing. He was wise. He was compassionate. He was a DINO. He was patient. He was helpful. He was generous. He was ornery. He was sacrificial. He was sarcastic. He told corny jokes. He was strong-willed. He was still human.

James 1:29 says, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath;”. He exemplified this on almost every single occasion. However, he left no room for tolerance when we found ourselves at a very public event and the National Anthem was seconds from beginning, while there remained half the auditorium at Pearson sitting in their seats and talking. And as if any of us had ever doubted it was in there, deep from the pit of his former drill sergeant stomach came a booming ‘ON YOUR FEET!!!” Let it be known that not one person remained seated. Were we ok with that? Yes. Yes we were.

When you pulled up to his house, you no sooner shut your car door but that you already knew if it was Dodgers day, or John Wayne day before having stepped one foot onto the porch. And if you felt a little chilly, his was the house for you.

He was a very honorable son, an indescribably devoted and loving husband, a treasure of a dad, a truly caring brother, an outstanding brother-in-law to eight sisters-in-law (yes, you read that correctly, eight of them), and he was fatherly in every way when we all needed it, to every grandchild, nephew, niece, any family member or otherwise, and to one very spoiled dog.

He treated each of us with equal amount of love and grace, not ever making one of us to feel “less than” the other, but like we were individually the most important person to him.

However, his wife and his daughter held his heart, and they were truly the light of his world. He lived his life for them both with a passion that anyone would be hard-pressed to match.

He loved his “Mend” beyond words, and took care of her in every single way, from the major things in life, such as giving her hand in marriage to her husband Pete (whom he also loved), to the smallest acts of serving a glass of tea, or playing catch in the backyard for softball when she was a little girl. His world turned because of his daughter. And they continued that way of life-long relationship into adulthood where he remained such a powerful influence and faithful father to her. In truth and by his own admission, it was his daughter Mendy who helped open his eyes, and his heart to his own eternity.

When Mendy was a little girl, she was involved in a terrible auto accident along with some other very close family members. Near the end of the hospital stay, the doctor told her dad “She can go home when she can walk.” To hear him tell the story, he said, “She put her little hand in mine, looked up at me and said, ‘Help me walk, Daddy”, and you better believe we walked up and down that hallway so she could go home.”

It was during that life-changing accident that he gave his heart to the LORD. It’s funny how sometimes the hardest things in life have a way of making us realize how much we need Jesus.

But when his wife Oleta went Home to be with our Lord, the light of this family rock faded immediately. His character never, ever waivered. But his joy did. He longed for her every single day. But he soldiered on. Even though he did not often verbally complain about his heart ache, we knew his light had faded, and he longed for the day he would see her again.

That day came. And we can only imagine how the reunion went, but we know they are together again, however that looks. And we thank God for the peace we can have through Jesus Christ knowing that truth.

His legacy of love, service, and quiet strength will live on through the many lives he touched.

Pallbearers: Jason Holloway, Byron Holloway, Manuel K Payne, Ryan Payne, Nathan Payne, Justin Thompson.

Honorary Pallbearers: Wes Holloway, Joe Smith, Gary Willard, Pete Hernandez. Joe F. Samario, G.T Lewis, CW4 (RET) Trois Lithicum, CSM (RET) Fred Van Winkle, Members of the 1st Battalion 200th AD, New Mexico Army National Guard.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 16th at 10:00 AM at Waymaker Church in Roswell, NM. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend and celebrate a life well lived.

A special thank you to His great Niece Saleena Samario who cared for him diligently this last year, he loved you very much. A very well-deserved “thank you” with honor to his niece Chelsea Samario, who tirelessly gave of herself in ways that no one would really know. But God knows. And finally a very sincere and heartfelt thank you also to Chrissy, Michelle and PT at Sentry Home Health, and Amanda, Debbie, Linette, Pastor Chris, and Jennifer with Gentiva Hospice.