Iris Lorraine Smyer, 85, a Deming resident, passed away Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at Mimbres Memorial Nursing Home.

The funeral service will be Saturday afternoon December 6, 2014 at 2 o'clock at Baca's Funeral Chapel with G.G. Gore delivering the eulogy. Concluding services and interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

Iris was born May 19, 1929 in Columbus, New Mexico to Mary Lee Chadborn Warnock and George Albert Warnock. Iris married Joseph Harold Smyer in Alamogordo, New Mexico on April 24, 1956 and shortly thereafter the couple moved to Deming where they raised their children. She and Joe had celebrated 49 years of marriage when he passed away in 2005.

As a young woman, Iris enjoyed barrel racing and other rodeo events. She found great joy in raising her children on a farm east of Deming. She always said she was a tomboy and had a deep fondness for country life. She was an active 4-H mother and enjoyed mentoring young people.

Iris is survived by her 2 sons, Lewis Grayson Smyer (Karen) of Deming, Zack Smyer (Sarah) of Tuttle, Oklahoma; 3 step-daughters, Jane Anglin (Bill, deceased) of Roswell, Karen Hamar (Tom) of Florence, Arizona and Theresa Maker of Mesa, Arizona; 14 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Lee and Geroge Warnock, her sister, Mary Evelyn "Montie" Warnock Shepard and her husband, Joseph Smyer.

Pallbearers will be, Kelly Smyer, Ray Tolman, Dan Lucas Jr., David Prince, Ryan Paulk and Kevin Penn. Honorary bearers will be Pinky Gunter, Dan Lucas Sr., Bill Karr Sr. and Charles Parnell.