Lavon Hallford

Graveside services for Lavon Hallford, 97, of Portales, will be held at 2:00 PM, Wed., Oct. 11, 2023 in the Portales Cemetery with Rev. Wesley McAfee officiating.

Lavon Hallford was born Aug. 13, 1926, in Memphis, TX to the home of Mary Eugene (Cooper) and Andy B. Hallford, and died peacefully at his home on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023.  When he was a very small child, his family moved to Crosbyton, TX, and then later to Dora, NM by covered wagon.  At a young age, Lavon left school to help his father on their farm.  On March 8,1947, he was married to Helen Inman.  He soon began farming on his own in the Floyd community.  He eventually leased farm land from several different landowners.  During the winters, when he was not actively farming, he supplemented his income by working for John Adams in his water well drilling business.  Lavon was a self-taught welder, and was often asked by other farmers to repair their equipment.

In 1970, Lavon stopped actively farming, and went to work at Portales Valley Mills.  When they sold to Borden Peanut Co., he continued to work there until the business was closed.  He moved to Sunland Peanut Co when it opened and worked there until the late 1990’s when he retired to care for his ailing wife. Lavon and his family were faithful members of the University Baptist Church.

He is survived by a son, Ronie Hallford and a daughter, Judy Hallford, both of the family home; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Garland Hallford, a sister, Wanda Sweatt, a son, Delbert Hallford and by his wife, Helen, who died Dec. 11, 2001 after more than 54 years of marriage.

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