Adrian Vandevender

Adrian Vandevender 90 of Clovis, New Mexico passed away December 17, 2015. He was born May 5, 1925 at Cameron, New Mexico, located 2 miles East of Wheatland, New Mexico where the cemetery is located. Arrangements are under the care of Steed-Todd funeral home of Clovis, New Mexico. Visitation will be held at the Steed-Todd funeral home in Clovis, NM on Monday, December 21st. From 5:00 until 7:00. Services will be held in the Chapel of Steed-Todd on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 1:00. Burial will take place at the Wheatland Cemetery in Wheatland, NM. Pastor Greg Martin will officiate with Wesley Grau assisting. Special music for the services will be the voice of Adrian's deceased brother, Howard Vandevender also known as Van Howard.
Pall bearers will be : Bill Graham, Paul Grider, Layne Grau, Elmer White, Caleb Dodd and Gene Schueler.
Honorary Pall Bearers are: Mark Runyan, Jerry Chappell, Jim Woods, Pat Woods, Garland Justus, Dennis Dodd, Rex Rush, Cedar Rush, Don Abernathy and all his many friends.
Adrian is preceded in death by his Wife, His father Kenneth Vandevender. His Mother Lorene Vandevender (Clark). His sister, Nadine Vandevender (Bell). His brother, Howard Vandevender. His constant companion dog "Flash".
Adrian is survived by his first wife Katherine, two sons, Adrian Neil Vandevender (Sandy) and wife Kathy and Kenneth Lynn Vandevender (Skip). Three Grandchildren, Stacy, Wade, Cody. 5 Grand Children, Mady, Gavin, Micajah, Kinley, Jackson. And one Great-Great Grandson, Ryot. His very close companion and very dear friend Juanita Chappell.


Adrian was born to the family of Kenneth and Lorene Vandevender in a dug-out with a lean-to at Cameron, New Mexico, just East of the Wheatland Cemetery on May 5, 1925. He was raised on a farm and ranch South of Grady, New Mexico and attended Grady schools for the first through the twelfth grades.
Adrian's parents moved South of Grady in the early 1920's to a farm and dairy. Here they tried to make a decent living during the Great Depression and the dustbowl years of the 1920's and 1930's. People alive during this time were known as the "Greatest Generation". Praise God, they all survived and lived there until all three of their children graduated from the Grady Schools. Those were very hard and depressing years but the family worked together and neighbors helped each other sharing needs and help. In those times, a person's word was their bond and the handshake was firm, valuable and a "must". Horses and mules were the only power and transportation. Adrian loved the Lord, his Dad, Mother, Sister and Brother very much and they were a close family. They attended church every Sunday as the weather permitted. Adrian joined the Methodist Church at the age of 10 years old and the Baptist Church in later years.
The family was all self-made musicians, playing instruments and singing in harmony most every night. Howard became a professional musician with great success. As a senior in High School, Adrian was selected as an All-State player in basketball. He was also unanimously voted by 32 State Team coaches as "player of the year" in basketball for the State of New Mexico. He graduated from the Grady High School in 1942-43. He gave up a 4 year basketball scholarship to the Oklahoma State University offered by Coach Hank Iba. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy and served in World War 2 in the "Pacific Theatre" for the years of 1944-45-46. He was injured aboard ship in battle and was boarded in the hospital ship USS Tranquility and sent back to the States to be discharged from the Navy in May 1946.
After a little R&R, Adrian went into farming, ranching and banking for the rest of his life. He owned and operated both irrigated and dryland farms, dryland native grass ranches and irrigated pastures. He also bred, trained and raced Thoroughbred horses. Adrian's son, Skip, was very good at training and racing horses at Pari Mutuel race tracks. He was also good in the farm and cattle operations. Adrian's oldest son "Sandy" was very good and knowledgeable in the farm and ranch operations. He took much responsibility off of Adrian. Adrian was very confident in Sandy's judgement and ability. Adrian loved and was very proud of both his sons as young boys and as grown men.
Adrian was born and lived in New Mexico all of his life, except for the years that he served in the US Navy. He loved his life and lived it to its fullest. He was very thankful he grew up and lived in the era he did and was especially thankful for his family and for all his many loved ones and friends.
After years alone at the age of 88, Adrian's close companion Juanita Chappell, who was also alone in her later years, joined together in her home so that they could take care of each other instead of living in rest homes. It was a very nice arrangement and they were very happy. The friendship gave both of them a new lease on a lonely life.

Visitation

SteedTodd Funeral Home
800 E. Manana
Clovis, NM  88101
Monday, December 21, 2015
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Service

Steed Todd Chapel
800 E. Manana Blvd
Clovis, NM  88101
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
1:00 p.m.

Cemetery

Wheatland Cemetery
9 miles north of Grady on Hwy 469 and 1 mile east of Wheatland
Wheatland, NM  88120