J. D. Terral

Graveside services for J. D. Terral, 92, of Causey will be at 10:00 AM, Tues., Sept 24, 2019 in the Causey Cemetery with Don Thomas officiating, assisted by Greg Sokora.  Pallbearers will be Sammy Joe Watson, Tyler Chance Watson, Terral Lee Watson, Jestin Cary Watson, Cutter Jade Watson, Justin Kallam, Joshua Kallam, Tanner Watson and Micah Watson.  Terry Don Watson, Bill Joe Watson, Carry Jae Watson and Koddy Del Watson will serve as honorary pallbearers.  Military honors will be rendered by the American Legion Post #31 of Portales.  Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to either the Causey Cemetery Fund or to the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home, P O Box 629, Portales, NM 88130.

J. D. was born Sept. 24, 1926 in Elida, NM to the home of Jennie Dee (Garner) and Dawson Clinton (Dock) Terral, and died Sept. 19, 2019 in Lubbock, TX just five days short of his 93rd birthday.  Mr. Terral graduated from school at Causey, NM, and went on to study at a military school in AR before entering the US Army Air Corps during World War II.  He was stationed at Luzon, Philippines where he guarded Japanese prisoners of war.  He had hoped to become a pilot, but his eyesight disqualified him.  Following the War, he worked on a number of area ranches.  For several years in the mid 1950's he lived in Elida where he farmed, but for the majority of his life he made his home in the Causey community.  Mr. Terral was a member of the Baptist church.

J. D. worked hard all of his life, farming and handling cattle and horses.  Through the years he had acquired a large amount of land.  At different times he had supplemented his income by working at the Kenna Bar, or a bar in Bledsoe, TX.  Mr. Terral raised fine cattle and Quarter Horses, and had a number of Blue Ribbons to show for the times he took them to various livestock shows in the southwest.  In regard to breaking horses, he said that he would mount the horse and then he would proceed to "gentle him if they could come to an agreement."    

In Feb. 1979, J. D. along with a large number of other farmers participated in the American Agricultural Movement and drove his tractor all the way to Washington, DC.  In 1996, he was honored by the Brangus Journal as an outstanding farmer of the southwest.

In 1941, J. D. was married to Evelyn Harding.  In 1953 he married Pat Newberry.

He is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Sherribob Keeling of Causey, NM and Sabra A. and C. V. Watson, Jr. of Rogers, NM; six grandchildren, Dee Ann (Leon) Calhoun, Trish Keeling Watson, Terry Don (Valarie) Watson, Bill Joe Watson, Carry Jae Watson and Koddy Del (Mary Ellen) Watson; 15 great-grandchildren, Justin Kallam, Joshua Kallam, Tanner Watson, Micah Watson, Colton Padgett, Sammy Joe Watson, Jenalee (Raul) Watson, Krystal Watson, Tyler (Audrey) Watson, Terral Watson, Tanessa Watson, Trinity Watson, Courtney Watson, Jestin (Kelsey) Watson and Cutter Jade Watson; 10 great-great-grandchildren, Kylie, Evelyn, Tucker, Lynnae, Xzavier, Zalijah, Xzavien, Xdraine, Jinsyn and Elliot, and 3 "in the oven."  J. D. also has a brother, Jerome Terral of Causey, NM and a niece, Shonni (Greg) Sokora.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two grandsons, Rusti Lee Watson, Scotty Len Watson; three great-grandchilren, Steven Lloy Watson, Taylor Fowler and Tucker Fowler; a son-in-law, Bill Keeling; a nephew, Jimmy Terral; and a sister-in-law, Mary Lee Terral.

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