J.W. Heringa

J.W Heringa, 79, died Wednesday, Oct. 29, near Mount Dora. He was born July 4, 1929, in Clayton to Ed Heringa and Pauline (Thomas) Heringa. A lifelong resident of Union County, J.W. gradauted from Clayton High School in 1947 and New Mexico State University in 1951 before serving two years in the Army Air Corps. While in high school, J.W. started flying and it has been a large part of his life since then. He was very involved in rodeo while in college and later belonged to the Flying Farmers and he served on the REA board for several years. He was a member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, the Clayton High School Reunion Association and the Airplane Operators Pilots Association. J.W.was very proud of his girls and he loved to fly and he loved the land as well. He said many times, "If you take care of the land, it will take care of you." He was truly a man ahead of his time in many aspects of ranching and horsemanship.

[Wendy Barnes]

I am very sorry for your loss. I remember when I was younger and he came to visit me and my sister and took us up for a plane ride. My thoughts are with the family in this sad time