Born March 20, 1929 in Albuquerque, NM to Harry H. Hotchkiss and Eunice Griffith. A longtime resident of Bayard and Silver City, he passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 24, 2017.
He was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle.He married his soulmate, Renda Truett on April 11, 1948 in Santa Rita, NM.
An avid reader, his two daughters were raised being read to, often things beyond their young years.
He loved hunting, fishing and taking his horses to the wilderness with his father. He instilled a love for the outdoors in all of us.
He joined the Air Force in 1951 and served during the Korean Conflict, where he was stationed in Muroc, CA, later renamed Edwards Air Force Base, where he gained a great knowledge in multiple fields. They returned home to Santa Rita, NM and he went to work for Boyles Bros. Diamond Drilling, then Kennecott in Santa Rita, UV and then retired from Phelps Dodge in Tyrone.
He is survived by: daughter Teri and husband Allan Jackson, their son Jason Jackson and his fiancé Dustie Clossun and their children Hailey, Aubrey, Johnathan, Kaitlyn, Evan and Ryleigh; daughter Julie Hotchkiss, her daughter Keri Hotchkiss and partner Mike Morales and their son Dakota, and Julie's son Dustin Hotchkiss his son Jacob, Dustin's partner Melonie Riggs and her two children Josh and Carolyn; sister Melba and her husband John Hinrichs and their children Bruce, Denise and Donna; and nephew Ashley Cates.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Renda Truett; his sister Maxine Cates; two nephews Sidney and Craig Cates.
Services are pending with Baca's Funeral Chapels.