Lorie Gard

Lorie Ann Godard Gard, 59, passed away on October 26, 2021 in Clovis, New Mexico.

Lorie was born on March 10th, 1962 in West Hamlin, West Virginia.

Joining the Air Force at 21, she served throughout the US and England before settling in Clovis, NM, where she met her husband, Ernest, in 2000. She left active duty for the Air Force Reserves and to work in print and television advertising. She was honorably discharged in 2014 as a Master Sergeant.

When Lorie, known as Annie growing up in West Virginia, dreamed of marrying little Joe and becoming Mrs. Cartwright on the Ponderosa, she didn't know her dream would come true. The ranch she shared with Ernest when she became Mrs. Gard was their own Ponderosa. Lorie loved her life touring pastures from Eastern New Mexico to the Texas panhandle with Ernest. Their time together was always an adventure. She was her happiest while looking at cattle with Ernest, the love of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carmie Parsons and Faye Clay Parsons; and her brothers Dallas Parsons, Albert Zandell Parsons and Marshall Neil Parsons.

She is survived by her husband, Ernest Gard, stepchildren Keri Rath (Stephen) and E. Ray Gard, grandchildren Leigh and Stephen Rath and her siblings, Glenna Jean Vance (Terry), Arleen Ray (Ricky), Drema Parsons Chenault, Carmie Parsons, II (Kathy), Charlotte Faye Wilson, and Walter Crag Parsons.

A celebration of life will be held at The Embassy in Clovis, NM on October 30th at 3pm.

A viewing will be held at the McGhee-Handley Funeral Home on November 3rd from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.  A funeral service will be held at McGhee-Hanley on Thursday, November 4th at 12:00 pm in West Hamlin, West Virginia with burial immediately following at Watson Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity close to Lorie's heart, The Wounded Warrior Project.