Harry Franklin Salesberry

A memorial service for Harry “Butch” Salesberry, 75, of Portales, will be held at a later time.

Butch as he was known to most people, was born May 4, 1947, in Palestine, IL to the home of Maudia (Essex) and Stewart Watson Salesberry and died early on Sunday morning, June 5, 2022 in Portales.  He graduated from high school in Hinesville, GA.  Mr. Salesberry served as an electrician in the US Navy for over 10 years.  During that time, he served in Vietnam.  He was also stationed in San Diego and Japan.  On Mar. 31, 1973 in Norwalk, CA he was married to Linda DeWitt.  Following his discharge, he worked for a short time for the Ford Motor Co., but in 1976, he and his wife came to Portales and served as house parents at the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home.  In 1979, they relocated to Iaan, TX where he was employed s a pumper for the Marathon Oil Co.  They returned to Portales in 1985 and served another two years as house parents at the Children’s Home.  In 1987 they moved to Norwalk, CA where he worked as a maintenance electrician for Pace Property Management Co.  He was transferred to San Diego in 1994, and they remained there until his retirement in 2005, at which time they moved to Albuquerque.  During their time in Albuquerque, they worked some at the Albuquerque Christian Children’s Home.  They sold their home a year ago, and moved back to Portales in July 2021.  Mr. Salesberry was an avid reader, and especially liked to read Sci Fi and Louis L’Amour westerns.

He is survived by Linda, his wife of more than 49 years; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Ronald and Krista Salesberry of Oklahoma City, OK, David “Shane” Salesberry of Albuquerque, and Jason and Sherry Salesberry of Naples, Italy; six grandchildren, Tyler, Bradley (Brooke), Christian, Madison, Tony and Arya Salesberry; and two great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Baylee Salesberry.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Clyde Salesberry.

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