Kenneth Vernon Hollimon

Kenneth Vernon Hollimon, Jr (“Vernon”) passed away at the age of 87 on his Whitewater Mesa Ranch April 2, 2021.

Vernon was born in Silver City, NM, the first-born son of Kenneth and Clarice Hollimon, on September 16, 1933.  He was raised on his parents’ ranch in Pleasonton, NM. He went to elementary school in Glenwood, NM and graduated from Reserve High School in 1951.Vernon attended NMSU for a year upon graduation.

On September 3, 1952 Vernon married the sweetheart of his life, Valera June Elkins.  They owned a country store and gas station on Highway 180 in Glenwood.  He was drafted for the Korean conflict, so they sold the store and moved to the family ranch, waiting for further orders.  He was never called to duty before the Korean conflict ended. 

Vernon began his working career hauling fuel for Jack Evett.  He also worked for Chino mines at the Santa Rita pit. They moved back to the ranch and joined his brother, Tuck, in forming Hollimon Bros Construction.  Vernon and his family moved to the Whitewater Mesa Ranch and worked cattle until recently, when he sold his herd. 

After many successful years of construction work, mainly logging roads in the forests of NM and AZ, Vernon left the construction business.  He and Valera opened Hollimon Realty in Glenwood, NM, and bought a farm in Pleasonton.  This kept them both quite busy for several years. After selling the farm and real estate business, Vernon still could not leave his love for farming, He bought a farm in Alice, TX and worked it for several yearsbefore finally retiring to Whitewater Mesa again.  They added Cherry Canyon Ranch to their real estate ventures.

Vernon and Valera were dedicated parents to their three daughters, Jouquetta Glenn Kinman (Frankie Joe Kinman) of Lake Brownwood, TX; Gwynet Loree Harper (Stephen Harper) of Farmington, NM and Spankie Lou Bassett/Robertson (Wes Bassett, deceased/Randy Robertson) of Rio Rancho, NM. Vernon also has two younger brothers, Johnny Tuck Hollimon (Bobbie Massey Hollimon) of Cliff, NM and Richard Reed Hollimon (Becky Drummond Hollimon) of Boerne, TX.  Vernon was blessed with a family of 7 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter. 

Vernon was dedicated to helping his community.  He served 27 years on the Board of Directors for Navopache Electric Coop.  During that time, he was president of the board twice, for a total of 10 years.  He was a member and elder of the Glenwood Community Church, member of the Glenwood Chamber of Commerce.

After mentioning two of Vernon’s great loves (his wife of 68 years and farming) we must include his love for flying.  He bought his first plane in the 1960’s and continued his flying until recently.  He built his own airstrip on Whitewater Mesa and loved traveling all over the US in his plane, but his favorite flight was over the Gila wilderness and his family ranch. 

Cremation has been entrusted to Baca's Funeral Chapels.  Services for Vernon will be at Whitewater Mesa on Saturday, April 10 at 2:00 PM.  The family is asking in lieu of flowers for donations to be made to the “Light on the Mesa” Baptist church, PO Box 84, 277 Bursum Road, Glenwood, NM 88039.

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