Bruce Rockford Burris

A celebration of life of Bruce Rockford Burris, a child of God, will be Oct. 27, 2025 at 10 am at Wheeler’s Mortuary Chapel in Portales with Scott Burton and Clint Hamilton officiating. Burial will follow in the Elida Cemetery with Todd Lieb, Leslie and Garland Creighton, Tawnya and Scott Burton, Tasha Wall, Amber and Clint Hamilton, and Megan and Jarryd Burris serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Doris and Joe Giddens, Billie and Dewayne Osborne, Susan and Darrell Radle, Marge and Lane Tannehill, Staci and Byron Johnson, Darla and Bob Doty, Sue Freemyer, Sandy Dicks, Roberta Himebrook, Michelle Nelson, Mary and David Caffey, and Kathleen and Arkie Kiehne. Rockford’s request was for everyone to wear their favorite color/outfit to this celebration of life.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the NM Rails-to-Trails Association P.O. Box 44 Cloudcroft, NM 88317; or to the charity of your choice.

Rockford was born Oct. 2, 1959 to Alice Sue Naydeen (Gregory) and Harding Warren Burris in Portales, and found peace, healing and abounding joy entering His Father’s House on Oct. 21, 2025, after a brief but courageous battle against pancreatic cancer.

Rockford was raised to know and walk with the Lord and to work hard in every pursuit. He had a deep love for learning from an early age and truly appreciated the importance of education. He graduated as Valedictorian in 1978 from Elida High School; graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1982 from Eastern New Mexico University with his bachelor’s degree; and earned his Master of Science from Texas Tech University in 1987. Rockford started his teaching career in Post, TX as an Instructor of Mathematics and progressed to a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Texas Tech. Upon completion of his master’s degree, he began teaching at Western Texas College in Snyder where he instructed and developed numerous mathematics courses. In 1996, Rockford felt called to Alamogordo, NM and enjoy the next 12 years at New Mexico State University before retiring as Associate Professor of Mathematics. During his time at NMSU, he served as President-Elect, President, and Past President for the New Mexico Mathematic Association of Two-Year Colleges. His work ethic was evident throughout his passionate and principled tenure in teaching. He encouraged thousands of students to pursue academic excellence both in the classroom and in life. Rockford treasured the many life-long friendships and connections along his path as God blessed him with wonderful peers and friends.

Rockford kept his priorities in line with God’s Will as he loved and honored his Heavenly Father first, and loved his family deeply. He was baptized at an early age and from that time he let God direct his steps. God called him out of education in 2008 to come home and care for his ailing parents until their deaths in 2010. He found joy in working with family at Creighton’s Town and Country until earlier this year.

He often shared about his fond memories of the family trips to sporting events, extended family reunions, camping adventures, trips to the NFR, and he especially loved to explore the mountains and appreciated all of God’s beautiful creation. He loved to celebrate the holidays and birthdays with family. Rockford looked for every opportunity to share his faith and was a gifted teacher always willing to help guide or tutor.

 He is survived by his sister Sharon (John) Lieb of Portales, his brother Greg (Brenda) Burris of Elida; six nieces and nephews, Todd Lieb, Leslie (Garland) Creighton, Tawnya (Scott) Burton, Tasha Wall, Amber (Clint) Hamilton, and Jarryd (Megan) Burris; and eleven great-nieces and nephews, Lathan ( Sara) Lieb, Kynzi (Tate) Shelley, Kasyn Creighton, Falyn, Klayt and Trypp Hamilton, Kaull (Kamber) and Teagan Burton, Bradley and Jase Burris, and Owen Wall; and four great-great nephews and niece Layth and Luxx Lieb, and Krue and Kross Shelley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a niece, Tyada Burris, his maternal grandparents Vivian Alice and Robert Adair Gregory, and his paternal grandparents Etta Price and Ira H. Burris.

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