OBITUARY: Earl Towner

Oct. 16, 1907-Feb. 13, 2010

Earl Towner, 102, a long time resident of Luis Lopez, died Saturday, Feb. 13. He was born Oct. 16, 1907 in Dewey, Okla.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Louise, who passed away in 1989.
He is survived by Margie Garcia; five children, Marlene Horton of Rogue River Ore., Herman Towner of Fence Lake, Melvin Towner of Socorro, Sammie Jones of Murphy, Ore., and Tommy Towner of Quemado. A third daughter, Francis Beevers, passed away in 1989. Survivors also include 15 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren; and 20 great-great grandchildren.
Earl traveled all over the Southwest, from Oklahoma to California, during the late 1920’s to the early 1930’s, first in a 1928 Model A Roadster which broke down after 12,000 miles, and later hitch-hiking, “hobo-ing” and riding the rails. He first arrived in Socorro in a boxcar. He settled down with Louise, whom he met at a dance in Tingle, in 1933 to pursue his passions of family and farming.
Over the next 60 years, Earl provided for his family by farming his seven sections, including livestock. In two of his best years he sold 250 head of hogs one year, and 2,000 turkeys in another year.
Earl did most of his plowing with horses. “I drove as many as ten horses for plowing, but most of the time six,” he once said.
In 1942 he bought a second hand Model A John Deere tractor, which broke down after two years. “They had a company man come out to replace the drive shaft,” Earl remembered one time. “I thought about going back to horses, but my father said between tractors and horse, tractors will win.”
The family had his casket painted yellow and green – John Deere equipment colors.
Earl retired from ranching in 1992, at age 80, but had said, “I could still make a hand at 80.”
Visitation was held at Steadman-Hall Funeral Home Wednesday, Feb. 17. Burial was in the family cemetery in Fence Lake Thursday, Feb. 18.

OBITUARY: Earl Towner