Ernest R. Edmonston

Passed away on August 23, 2019. At his request, there will be no services. His body will be cremated and his ashes scattered in a private ceremony.

Ernest was born on November 12, 1942 in Clovis, New Mexico to Marvin W. and Mildred Whinery Edmonston, now both deceased.

He is survived by Wife Roseanne Edmonston, Daughter Marla Edmonston of Albuquerque, and several cousins.

He was schooled in Clovis, but spent a lot of his childhood on an old dry land farm near St. Vrain, NM. It was here that he learned his work ethic that he carried all his life. Here also, he became a self taught marksman by hours of stalking the elusive jack rabbit with a Red Ryder BB gun and later an old Winchester single shot 22 and at times with only one round of ammunition. He won his first shooting match at the age of 10 while competing with over 100 other boys at a Woodman of the World camp.

Ernest served over 4 years in the U. S. Marine Corps during the 1960s which included a 13 month tour of Asia. He was very proud of being a Marine. He served in the 1st Marine Division and the 1st and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wings. His marksman ship abilities continued while in the Marine Corps and he never fired a qualification score with a rifle under that of Expert.

Ernest married Roseanne Iafornaro in Albuquerque, NM on July 29. They moved what belongings they had to Clovis the next day in the back of an old 1955 Ford convertible. They were together for 52 years.

Ernest started with the N. M. State Highway Department in 1965 by dragging a chain on a survey crew making $1.59 an hour. He persevered with the thought of better things to come and retired in 1990 as a Engineering Technician Supervisor. He had supervised multi-million dollar highway construction projects all over the South-East quarter of New Mexico. His attention to detail and honesty saved the taxpayers of New an untold amount of money.

Just after retirement, he underwent a serious operation to remove a cancer from his tongue, jaw, and throat. He battled this and other cancers for over 21 years. The cancer returned in his mouth, but once again he shook it off after more surgery. He never lost the determination to survive.

Ernest was a Patron Member of the National Rifle Association, a life member of the New Mexico Shooting Sports association, and a life member of the Roswell Gun Club. He was or had been a licensed guide, a member of the American Legion, the Single Action Shooting Society, and several other organizations.

After joining the Roswell Gun Club, Ernest spent many, many enjoyable days at the range shooting metallic silhouette matches. Even after losing his right eye in an auto accident, he learned to shoot left handed and continued on. Even into his 70s, he was competing as well as ever and had won over 1,100 silhouette matches. He set records in several of these matches, some remaining to this day. Ernest served as the Treasurer and was on the Board of Directors of the Roswell Gun Club for over 18 years. Had it not been for Ernest’s efforts during some trying times with the State and BLM, there would be no Roswell Gun Club today.

Ernest could never remain still and always had to be doing something with his hands. He was an accomplished “whittler” and carved many award winning objects including figurines, walking canes, wooden chains, “Hitty” dolls, etc. He never sold any of these objects; he just gave them away to people who he thought might appreciate his efforts.

Ernest enjoyed in researching his ancestry. He had his branch of the family tree traced back to the mid 1600s in America. At one time the Edmonston family was quite wealthy and once owned the property that Washington, D. C. now stands on. Apparently, it was the Civil War that brought an end to the prosperity as he had relatives who fought on both sides of the war.

Ernest was of the Baptist faith.

Ernest R. Edmonston

Passed away on August 23, 2019. At his request, there will be no services. His body will be cremated and his ashes scattered in a private ceremony.

Ernest was born on November 12, 1942 in Clovis, New Mexico to Marvin W. and Mildred Whinery Edmonston, now both deceased.

He is survived by Wife Roseanne Edmonston, Daughter Marla Edmonston of Albuquerque, and several cousins.

He was schooled in Clovis, but spent a lot of his childhood on an old dry land farm near St. Vrain, NM. It was here that he learned his work ethic that he carried all his life. Here also, he became a self taught marksman by hours of stalking the elusive jack rabbit with a Red Ryder BB gun and later an old Winchester single shot 22 and at times with only one round of ammunition. He won his first shooting match at the age of 10 while competing with over 100 other boys at a Woodman of the World camp.

Ernest served over 4 years in the U. S. Marine Corps during the 1960s which included a 13 month tour of Asia. He was very proud of being a Marine. He served in the 1st Marine Division and the 1st and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wings. His marksman ship abilities continued while in the Marine Corps and he never fired a qualification score with a rifle under that of Expert.

Ernest married Roseanne Iafornaro in Albuquerque, NM on July 29. They moved what belongings they had to Clovis the next day in the back of an old 1955 Ford convertible. They were together for 52 years.

Ernest started with the N. M. State Highway Department in 1965 by dragging a chain on a survey crew making $1.59 an hour. He persevered with the thought of better things to come and retired in 1990 as a Engineering Technician Supervisor. He had supervised multi-million dollar highway construction projects all over the South-East quarter of New Mexico. His attention to detail and honesty saved the taxpayers of New an untold amount of money.

Just after retirement, he underwent a serious operation to remove a cancer from his tongue, jaw, and throat. He battled this and other cancers for over 21 years. The cancer returned in his mouth, but once again he shook it off after more surgery. He never lost the determination to survive.

Ernest was a Patron Member of the National Rifle Association, a life member of the New Mexico Shooting Sports association, and a life member of the Roswell Gun Club. He was or had been a licensed guide, a member of the American Legion, the Single Action Shooting Society, and several other organizations.

After joining the Roswell Gun Club, Ernest spent many, many enjoyable days at the range shooting metallic silhouette matches. Even after losing his right eye in an auto accident, he learned to shoot left handed and continued on. Even into his 70s, he was competing as well as ever and had won over 1,100 silhouette matches. He set records in several of these matches, some remaining to this day. Ernest served as the Treasurer and was on the Board of Directors of the Roswell Gun Club for over 18 years. Had it not been for Ernest’s efforts during some trying times with the State and BLM, there would be no Roswell Gun Club today.

Ernest could never remain still and always had to be doing something with his hands. He was an accomplished “whittler” and carved many award winning objects including figurines, walking canes, wooden chains, “Hitty” dolls, etc. He never sold any of these objects; he just gave them away to people who he thought might appreciate his efforts.

Ernest enjoyed in researching his ancestry. He had his branch of the family tree traced back to the mid 1600s in America. At one time the Edmonston family was quite wealthy and once owned the property that Washington, D. C. now stands on. Apparently, it was the Civil War that brought an end to the prosperity as he had relatives who fought on both sides of the war.

Ernest was of the Baptist faith.