Constance Joy McCauley

     Constance Joy (Connie) McCauley passed away at Gila Regional Medical Center in Silver City, New Mexico December 5, 2018 at the age of 90.   

      Connie was born in Long Beach, California at the Seaside Hospital on January 22, 1928 to John Riggs Stark and Goldie Irene Jones.  She grew up on various ranches in southern Arizona.  She attended grade school at the Pearce, Webb and Ashcreek Elementary schools in Arizona and attended Douglas Middle school for 6^th, 7^th, 8^th and half of her 9^th grade year then moved to Clifton and attended school there until her senior year.  Her senior year her family purchased the John Turner Ranch at Whitewater, NM and she rode the school bus from the ranch to Hurley High School where she graduated in 1945.  She is a graduate of the University of Arizona where she played in the university marching band and was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority.  Her Bachelor’s degree was in business education.

      In 1949, Connie married her sweetheart, Ruby James (Jim) McCauley, and they moved to Thompson Canyon in the Burro Mountains.  In 1951, they moved to their present home near Whitewater.  Connie was a homemaker and rancher’s wife.  While Jim raised cows, she raised kids.  She was a loving and kind mother and grandmother.  Connie’s home was filled with love and fun and children.  She loved gardening, growing flowers and vegetables.  She was interested in genealogy, politics, and the stock market.  Most important was spending time with her family and friends.  Connie was a 4-H leader for many years.  She belonged to Copper Cowbelles, the Tyrone Chapter Order of Eastern Star, the Jacob Bennett Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Austin’s Old 300, and was a supporter of the Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair.  She belonged to the New Mexico Cattle Growers and the New Mexico Farm Bureau.

      Connie is survived by her three sons Jimmy (Vicky), Joe (Vickie), and David (Penny), and two daughters Katherine Moore (Randy) and Connie Ann Sis McCauley.  She leaves behind grandchildren Kyle McCauley (Liz), Bonnie Mounyo (Cole), Ryan McCauley (Starlyn), Shaun McCauley (Annie), Heidi Vermillion (Josh), Megan McCauley, John McCauley, Daniel McCauley, Zachery McCauley, Becky Sorrell (Bill), Katie Ormand (Philip), Brian Moore, Scott Moore (Shanna), and Kevin Moore (Noami).  Great grandchildren are Cole and Cody McCauley, Alexa, Nolan, and Riley Vermillion, Westin, Adalynn, and Kaleb Sorrell, Raely and Ryle Mounyo, Carson Moore and Luke Ormand and James, Kyla, Khael, Javin, Drake, Tristin, and Kaylie Moore.  Connie is also survived by a sister, Frances Brown Speight, and her sister in law, Lois Martin and many nieces and nephews. 

Connie was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, her parents, one sister Mary Sweetser, and grandson Tyler McCauley.  She was also preceded in death by her brothers in law, Kenneth Sweetser, Sam Brown, and Thomas Speight.  She was happy to be a McCauley and was preceded in death by her McCauley in-laws, J. L. Fate and Nancy McCauley, and Bertha (Andy) Moore, Harry (Pauline) McCauley, Frank (Alice) McCauley, Evelyn (Jonnie) McDonald, Viola Jane VJ (Richard) Dannelley, Mary Edith (Leighton) McKeen, Earlene (Bud) Blakey, and Larry Martin.

     Pallbearers are Connie’s grandsons, Kyle, Ryan, Shaun, John, Daniel, Zachery McCauley, and Brian Moore.  Honorary pallbearers are Jimmy Munoz, Kevin Thompson, Randy Moore, Josh Vermillion, Bill Sorrell, Cole Mounyo, Philip Ormand; Chuck, Randy and Bob Brown, John and Marty Sweetser, Jerry McDonald, Billy McCauley, Steve McCauley, Raymond Blakey, Tom Dannelley, Mack and Fred McKeen, Greg Martin.  Visitation will be from 9 to 10 am on Monday, December 10, 2018 at Baca’s Funeral Chapels.  The Funeral Service will follow at 10 am with Rev. David Goble officiating.  Concluding services and burial will follow at Memory Lane Cemetery , where she will be laid to rest next to her husband, Jim.

     In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Western New Mexico University Nursing Program, or the White Signal Community Hall.  Contributions to the Nursing Program should be mailed to the Western New Mexico University Foundation, PO Box 1158, Silver City, NM  88062.  Checks should be made out to the WNMU Foundation with “In Memory of Constance McCauley” in the note section.  Contributions to the White Signal Community Hall should be mailed to 12 Camino Seco, Silver City, NM 88061.

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