William Jeff Glenn was born December 9, 1929 and passed away on December 1, 2022 with family by his side. He was brought to Silver City, New Mexico two weeks before he was born. He always said that for the grace of God he was not born a Texan. He loved Silver City. He loved the people, the mountains, the food, and the life style that his town gave him. Above all he loved God. In May of 1939 he received God into his heart. He was the oldest living member of the First United Methodist Church of Silver City. Jeff was a member of the Silver City Masonic Lodge #8 for over 60 years. He was the oldest living Past Master.
Jeff grew up on Mockingbird Hill out west of town. From a young age he would saddle Ole’ Pal and would ride to the corner of the property to watch the cattle go by as they headed to the stockyards to be shipped out on the train. The cowboys would stop by and talk to him. As he got older, he would go to town with his Dad to the lumber yard. He would walk down the street to his Grandaddy Glenn’s store. He stopped in every store and checked to see if each person in the store was doing well. He was a people person from the start of his life.
The day after he graduated from high school the family moved to Portales, New Mexico. Jeff did not want to go but his parents would not let him stay here. He attended Eastern New Mexico University and met the love of his life, Lora Nell Smith. On March 3, 1951, they were married and celebrated sixty-six years of marriage. Shortly after they married Jeff was drafted. He served in the army at Texarkana, Texas for some time as a warehouse man. His Mother became very ill, and the Army released him. He came home to his beloved Silver City. To this marriage was born Mark Glenn (Lynne) and Susan Sumrall (Don).
Jeff and his Dad built Glenn Lumber Company on Market Street. Jeff left that business in 1963. He then started a construction company with a road grader at the suggestion of Don Billings of the Soil Conservation Service. He brought much needed water to ranches in southern New Mexico. He loved what he did and loved when that water ran out of the pipeline for the first time. He stated that the thrill of the water running for the first time never got old. Jeff was brilliant. He could engineer or fix any problem. He did a lot of fabrication and was very creative. The last week of his life he spent some time creating fixes for the medical equipment that surrounded him.
Jeff always had a good joke to tell and always loved hearing a good joke. He was a humble man who worked so very hard to take care of his family. The most fun he ever had was buying the Whitehill Place south of Silver City. He worked hard building the fences, putting cattle on the land, and then building a house so his family had a place to go to when the world was just too much. The green hills from this year's rains were such a blessing. He thanked God every time he looked out the window.
Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, James Vernon and Vera Glenn, his brother J. V. Glenn, his sister Vera Belle Lane, and the love of his life, Lora Nell Glenn. He is survived by their children Mark Glenn of Las Cruces and Susan Sumrall of Silver City. His grandchildren are Holly Massey (David) of Edgewood, NM, Christy Stockton (Clay) of Priest River, ID, Kamren Pearce (Cheryl) of Las Cruces, NM, Cassie Graham (Garrett) and Whitney Brown (Caleb) of Lubbock, TX. In addition, he has eleven great-grandchildren.
Services will be December 10 at the First United Methodist Church at 300 College Avenue Silver City, NM at 11:00. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the church. The family would like to express their appreciation to Tammy Mize, Ambercare, and to the wonderful people at Melinda’s Medical Supply for their wonderful support and care. Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels “Trusted care for the one you love” ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.