Fred Gerald Cumiford was born on the home place 13 miles south of Mountainair. Fred was reared on a farm his dad homesteaded in 1908. His mother passed away when Fred was 6 years old, so Fred grew up under the strict discipline of his dad and his older sisters. He not only learned all about working a farm, but also learned all the household chores under the able direction of his three sisters. Occasionally, a fork was thrown or a stick of wood in the back of the head, but due to God's watchful care, all survived.
More than occasionally friendly arguments arose. Members of this family had their own ideas and opinions of how things were done, and they voiced those opinions (in a friendly manner, of course). Arguments were settled, work was finished, and sometimes they had time to talk and ponder what the future held, but no matter where they were on the farm, when they heard Dad's shrill whistle, they knew they better git, (to the house, that is) for a family conference. Fred has talked a lot about how his sisters used to bake bread in the afternoon and bring it out to the field while it was still warm, spread it with butter, and they would sit down in the freshly plowed ground and eat.
Fred attended school at West Mesa and Mountainair. He joined the Armed Forces in 1944. He was stationed in Ft. Sill, OK, for Basic Training, then was stationed in Hawaii until 1946. After his discharge from the service, Fred decided to continue his education, so he enrolled at Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM, majoring in business. He met his wife, Earlene Capps, who had enrolled in a science course at Highlands in the summer of 1948. They dated all that summer and were married on December 18th. Fred graduated in the spring of 1950. He accepted a position with the Ilfield Hardware Company in Las Vegas. Fred and Earlene bought their first home, in the fall of 1950, on Washington St., in Las Vegas, NM.
Their daughter, Karen, was born December 3, 1950, in Las Vegas, NM. When Karen was 3 months old, they moved to Mountainair. Fred had accepted a position with Central New Mexico Co-op. It was as though he was coming back home. He was renewing old acquaintances, and Earlene was making a lot of new friends. They were proud parents again and so happy when their daughter, Donna, was born on February 7, 1954. Fred and Earlene moved into their second home that same year. They were enjoying their home, church fellowship, and community activities. The girls were in school, and making new friends.
The superintendant of Schools, Ferrel Caster, asked Earlene to think about going back to teaching, so she decided to teach Home Economics in 1962. In June of 1963, Fred accepted a position with Springer Electric Co-op, and they moved to Springer. It was hard to leave Mountainair and all their many friends and family.
Housing was limited in Springer, so they decided to build their own home. Fred did a lot of the work himself, with the help of their pastor, John Goss. His family pitched in as well, helping with what they could and running errands. They moved in before the house was completely finished and continued to improve the house over the years. Fred built a workshop, where he spent as much time as he could with his wood working tools.
Fred's boss, Henry Goldsmith, died suddenly of a heart attack in July of 1970. So, Fred took over as Manager of Springer Electric, and held that position for 15 years. He was a member of the American Legion and the First Baptist Church of Springer.
More than occasionally friendly arguments arose. Members of this family had their own ideas and opinions of how things were done, and they voiced those opinions (in a friendly manner, of course). Arguments were settled, work was finished, and sometimes they had time to talk and ponder what the future held, but no matter where they were on the farm, when they heard Dad's shrill whistle, they knew they better git, (to the house, that is) for a family conference. Fred has talked a lot about how his sisters used to bake bread in the afternoon and bring it out to the field while it was still warm, spread it with butter, and they would sit down in the freshly plowed ground and eat.
Fred attended school at West Mesa and Mountainair. He joined the Armed Forces in 1944. He was stationed in Ft. Sill, OK, for Basic Training, then was stationed in Hawaii until 1946. After his discharge from the service, Fred decided to continue his education, so he enrolled at Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM, majoring in business. He met his wife, Earlene Capps, who had enrolled in a science course at Highlands in the summer of 1948. They dated all that summer and were married on December 18th. Fred graduated in the spring of 1950. He accepted a position with the Ilfield Hardware Company in Las Vegas. Fred and Earlene bought their first home, in the fall of 1950, on Washington St., in Las Vegas, NM.
Their daughter, Karen, was born December 3, 1950, in Las Vegas, NM. When Karen was 3 months old, they moved to Mountainair. Fred had accepted a position with Central New Mexico Co-op. It was as though he was coming back home. He was renewing old acquaintances, and Earlene was making a lot of new friends. They were proud parents again and so happy when their daughter, Donna, was born on February 7, 1954. Fred and Earlene moved into their second home that same year. They were enjoying their home, church fellowship, and community activities. The girls were in school, and making new friends.
The superintendant of Schools, Ferrel Caster, asked Earlene to think about going back to teaching, so she decided to teach Home Economics in 1962. In June of 1963, Fred accepted a position with Springer Electric Co-op, and they moved to Springer. It was hard to leave Mountainair and all their many friends and family.
Housing was limited in Springer, so they decided to build their own home. Fred did a lot of the work himself, with the help of their pastor, John Goss. His family pitched in as well, helping with what they could and running errands. They moved in before the house was completely finished and continued to improve the house over the years. Fred built a workshop, where he spent as much time as he could with his wood working tools.
Fred's boss, Henry Goldsmith, died suddenly of a heart attack in July of 1970. So, Fred took over as Manager of Springer Electric, and held that position for 15 years. He was a member of the American Legion and the First Baptist Church of Springer.
Fred Gerald Cumiford was born on the home place 13 miles south of Mountainair. Fred was reared on a farm his dad homesteaded in 1908. His mother passed away when Fred was 6 years old, so Fred grew up under the strict discipline of his dad and his older sisters. He not only learned all about working a farm, but also learned all the household chores under the able direction of his three sisters. Occasionally, a fork was thrown or a stick of wood in the back of the head, but due to God's watchful care, all survived.
More than occasionally friendly arguments arose. Members of this family had their own ideas and opinions of how things were done, and they voiced those opinions (in a friendly manner, of course). Arguments were settled, work was finished, and sometimes they had time to talk and ponder what the future held, but no matter where they were on the farm, when they heard Dad's shrill whistle, they knew they better git, (to the house, that is) for a family conference. Fred has talked a lot about how his sisters used to bake bread in the afternoon and bring it out to the field while it was still warm, spread it with butter, and they would sit down in the freshly plowed ground and eat.
Fred attended school at West Mesa and Mountainair. He joined the Armed Forces in 1944. He was stationed in Ft. Sill, OK, for Basic Training, then was stationed in Hawaii until 1946. After his discharge from the service, Fred decided to continue his education, so he enrolled at Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM, majoring in business. He met his wife, Earlene Capps, who had enrolled in a science course at Highlands in the summer of 1948. They dated all that summer and were married on December 18th. Fred graduated in the spring of 1950. He accepted a position with the Ilfield Hardware Company in Las Vegas. Fred and Earlene bought their first home, in the fall of 1950, on Washington St., in Las Vegas, NM.
Their daughter, Karen, was born December 3, 1950, in Las Vegas, NM. When Karen was 3 months old, they moved to Mountainair. Fred had accepted a position with Central New Mexico Co-op. It was as though he was coming back home. He was renewing old acquaintances, and Earlene was making a lot of new friends. They were proud parents again and so happy when their daughter, Donna, was born on February 7, 1954. Fred and Earlene moved into their second home that same year. They were enjoying their home, church fellowship, and community activities. The girls were in school, and making new friends.
The superintendant of Schools, Ferrel Caster, asked Earlene to think about going back to teaching, so she decided to teach Home Economics in 1962. In June of 1963, Fred accepted a position with Springer Electric Co-op, and they moved to Springer. It was hard to leave Mountainair and all their many friends and family.
Housing was limited in Springer, so they decided to build their own home. Fred did a lot of the work himself, with the help of their pastor, John Goss. His family pitched in as well, helping with what they could and running errands. They moved in before the house was completely finished and continued to improve the house over the years. Fred built a workshop, where he spent as much time as he could with his wood working tools.
Fred's boss, Henry Goldsmith, died suddenly of a heart attack in July of 1970. So, Fred took over as Manager of Springer Electric, and held that position for 15 years. He was a member of the American Legion and the First Baptist Church of Springer.
More than occasionally friendly arguments arose. Members of this family had their own ideas and opinions of how things were done, and they voiced those opinions (in a friendly manner, of course). Arguments were settled, work was finished, and sometimes they had time to talk and ponder what the future held, but no matter where they were on the farm, when they heard Dad's shrill whistle, they knew they better git, (to the house, that is) for a family conference. Fred has talked a lot about how his sisters used to bake bread in the afternoon and bring it out to the field while it was still warm, spread it with butter, and they would sit down in the freshly plowed ground and eat.
Fred attended school at West Mesa and Mountainair. He joined the Armed Forces in 1944. He was stationed in Ft. Sill, OK, for Basic Training, then was stationed in Hawaii until 1946. After his discharge from the service, Fred decided to continue his education, so he enrolled at Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM, majoring in business. He met his wife, Earlene Capps, who had enrolled in a science course at Highlands in the summer of 1948. They dated all that summer and were married on December 18th. Fred graduated in the spring of 1950. He accepted a position with the Ilfield Hardware Company in Las Vegas. Fred and Earlene bought their first home, in the fall of 1950, on Washington St., in Las Vegas, NM.
Their daughter, Karen, was born December 3, 1950, in Las Vegas, NM. When Karen was 3 months old, they moved to Mountainair. Fred had accepted a position with Central New Mexico Co-op. It was as though he was coming back home. He was renewing old acquaintances, and Earlene was making a lot of new friends. They were proud parents again and so happy when their daughter, Donna, was born on February 7, 1954. Fred and Earlene moved into their second home that same year. They were enjoying their home, church fellowship, and community activities. The girls were in school, and making new friends.
The superintendant of Schools, Ferrel Caster, asked Earlene to think about going back to teaching, so she decided to teach Home Economics in 1962. In June of 1963, Fred accepted a position with Springer Electric Co-op, and they moved to Springer. It was hard to leave Mountainair and all their many friends and family.
Housing was limited in Springer, so they decided to build their own home. Fred did a lot of the work himself, with the help of their pastor, John Goss. His family pitched in as well, helping with what they could and running errands. They moved in before the house was completely finished and continued to improve the house over the years. Fred built a workshop, where he spent as much time as he could with his wood working tools.
Fred's boss, Henry Goldsmith, died suddenly of a heart attack in July of 1970. So, Fred took over as Manager of Springer Electric, and held that position for 15 years. He was a member of the American Legion and the First Baptist Church of Springer.
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