Mass of the Christian Burial for Joseph Maés, 77, Fairview, was held on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at the St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Fairview, with Father Greg Staudinger presiding. Music was provided by Janet Duda and Adolfo Maés. Casketbearers were Michael Kingland, Leroy Callender, Benjamin Carlson, Mark Carlson, Norman Good and Floyd Sullivan. Honorary casketbearers were Alfonso deHerrera, Herman Manzanares, Roland Trujillo, PJ Griego, Gustavo Tortillo and Johnson Antonio. Ushers were Alvin Miller and Vance Vickers. Rosary was recited at 10 a.m. Friday at the Fulkerson Memorial Chapel in Sidney. Interment was in the Fairview Cemetery in Fairview under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com.

Joseph Fermin Maés Jr. was born on July 4, 1931, in Las Nutrias, N.M., to parents Joseph F. Maés and Cornelia Laumbach Maés. Joe lived in Canjilon, N.M., and attended high school in Tierra Amarilla until age 17. He then joined the Army and served active duty in the Korean War. After an honorable discharge in 1952, he returned home to Santa Fe where he met and married Clara Trujillo. They had five children. Joe attended Saint Michael’s College in Santa Fe and received a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and later continued his education with two more years of school. Joe taught at the junior college and also at the Indian Institute for quite a few years before going on to teach for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He taught at Cañoncito, N.M., where he met his wife, Ruth. In 1976, they were both transferred to the Pueblo Pintado School NW of Cuba, N.M. Joseph and Ruth (Good) were married in 1982 in Bernalillo, N.M. Joseph retired in 1991. In 1993 Joe and Ruth moved to Bloomfield, N.M., to enjoy their retirement. They lived there until 2003 when they moved to Fairview.

Joe loved nature and wildlife. He loved taking walks in the mountains on the weekends. He would always pick a big fresh bouquet of wild flowers for Ruth’s desk. He enjoyed sitting in the morning room and watching all the different birds that would sit on their fence and eat from the feeders. He enjoyed family gatherings and looked forward to the visits from his children and family from Santa Fe. They would go for drives, get “spruced” up at the barber shop or just sit, visit and spend time together. He liked to watch the “painting” sessions on Saturday mornings with Ruth, Faye and Zadena. His daughter Tina would join in when she came up to visit. Joseph died on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008, at the Sidney Health Center in Sidney.

Joseph is survived by his wife of 26 years, Ruth, Fairview; two sons, Joseph (Anna) Maés Santa Fe, N.M., and Anthony, Santa Fe, N.M.; two daughters, Cora (Roland) Trujillo, Santa Fe, N.M., and Christine Maés, Santa Fe, N.M.; four sisters, Eleanor (Herman) Manzanares, Abiquiu, N.M., Helen Vigil, Albuquerque, N.M., Loraine (Alfonso) deHerrera, Santa Fe, N.M., and Margaret Mouer, Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother, Adolfo (Socorro) Maés, Santa Fe, N.M.; two stepdaughters, Zadena Kingland, Sidney, and Norma Faye (Mark) Carlson, Fairview; one stepson, Norman Good, Merkle, Texas; grandchildren, Isaiah (Jennifer) Trujillo, Santa Fe, N.M., Rebekah (Gustavo) Tortillo, Santa Fe, N.M., Veronica (PJ) Griego, Santa Fe, N.M., Michael Kingland, Sidney, Leroy (Callie) Callender, Sidney, Benjamin Carlson, Fairview, Jenniffer Good, Merkle, Texas, Kira Good, Merkle, Texas, and Patrick Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M.; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, daughter Joyce Hernandez, brother Pedro Maés, and stepson Albert Good.