June 3, 1925 – Oct. 5, 2015
Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at Faith Baptist Church for Cecil Jennings “PaPa” Laman of Artesia.
Laman, 90, passed away Monday, Oct. 5, 2015, at his home.
Pastor Rick Smith will officiate at the services, supported by Pastor Michael Elliott, with interment to follow at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Dera Clark, B.G. Clark, Jennings Clark, Daniel Laman, Brannon Clark, Cooper Clark, Bryce Clark and Ronnie Dunnavant. Honorary pallbearers are Tim Jennings, Gerald Wiggins, Jim Ellet, Jimmy Olguin, Killian Nittesheim, Dennis Tidwell, Bernard Cleves, Jay Powell, Alfredo Gomez, Freddy Gomez, Hank Harding and Jimmy Van Winkle, along with his nephews and the Yucca Cowbelles.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. today at Terpening & Son Mortuary with family receiving visitors from 4-6 p.m.
Laman was born June 3, 1925, in Mason County, Texas, the son of W.J. “Willy” and Lou Edith Brown Laman.
On Feb. 24, 1945, he married Frankie Opal “Billie” Martin. She preceded him in death on Dec. 17, 2008.
During the Depression, his family of 11 moved from Texas in search of the land of milk and honey, ultimately settling in Cottonwood in about 1933. Laman was a lifelong mechanic, having started his career at age 17 with Guy Chevrolet. In 1955, he opened City Garage in Artesia and later worked at CLM Transportation/Jim’s Water Service.
After retiring two separate times, he travelled the country with his wife, Billie, in their RV. He spent the last 27 years driving to and from Penasco, where he worked on ranch equipment and maintained volunteer fire department vehicles for Penasco, Dunken, Elk and Rio Felix. He drove more than 500,000 miles over the nearly three decades and was always happiest when he was headed to the mountains.
Laman served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, bus coordinator, and sang in the church choir at Centre Avenue Baptist Church. He was currently a member of Calvary Baptist Church and a regular visitor to San Pedro Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where he checked on friends and strangers alike.
Survivors include daughter Margaret Laman Clark of Artesia; son Ronnie Laman of Artesia; brothers Barney Laman of Chico, Calif., and Vernon Laman and wife Idella, and Dub Laman, both of Artesia; sisters Hazel Keesee Brown of Comanche, Texas, Loma Ranne of Llano, Texas, and Betty Pelts of San Marcos, Texas; sisters-in-law Nila Martin of Artesia and Betty Ann Martin of Henderson, Nev.; grandsons Dera Clark and wife Donna of Norman, Okla., and B.G. Clark and wife Debra of Dallas, Texas; granddaughters Michele Robison and Robin Dunnavant and husband Ronnie, both of Artesia; great-grandchildren Jennings Clark and Cooper Clark of Norman, Brannon Clark and Bryce Clark of Dallas, and Miranda Robison, Jacob Robison, Jayson Robison, Daniel Laman, Lucas Kern, Faith Dunnavant, Taylor Johnson and Cierra Dunnavant of Artesia; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are under the direction of Terpening & Son Mortuary. Condolences may be expressed online at www.artesiafunerals.com.
