Jackson “Waide” Davis June 16, 1936 ~ October 7, 2025 (age 89)

Funeral services for Waide Davis, 89, of Portales, will be held at 10:00 AM, Mon., Oct. 13, 2025 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Steve Smith officiating.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery.  Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to either the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, P O Box 629, or the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home, 1356 NM 236, Portales, NM 88130.

Jackson Waide Davis, known to virtually everyone as Waide, was born June 16, 1936, in Clovis, NM to the home of Sally Waide (Hileman) and Fred Monroe Davis, and passed from this life very suddenly on the morning of Oct. 7, 2025.  The Davis family moved to Portales when he was in the third grade, and Waide lived in Roosevelt County for the remainder of his life.  In 1955 he was married to Joanne Regan.  The couple had three children together before separating.  On Dec. 28, 2001, he was married to Zoe Ann Ledbetter.

During his lifetime, Waide wore many hats.  He served in the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Department from 1965 until 1972.  In addition, his law enforcement career included serving as a Deputy Assistant Attorney under Morris Stagner to help solve the Elbert Muncy murder among other serious crimes.  Throughout his lifetime he was an electrician, a home builder, a rancher, a farmer and an insulation contractor.

Waide and Zoe Ann were members of University Baptist Church.  During their years together, they made many trips to Bluegrass festivals in their RV.  Waide was a great story teller, and enjoyed sharing his many experiences with others.

He is survived by Zoe Ann, his wife of almost 24 years of their home;  daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Larry Crole of Arlington, TX and a daughter-in-law, Kay (Mrs. Randy) Davis-Burnett of Portales; five grandchildren, Brandi (Brent) Hodges, Jana Lee (Thomas) Wieger, Kane Wilt, Julie (Brandon) Dewbre, and Jennifer Davis; nine great-grandchildren and seven sisters, Juanita “Mae” Fox of Cleburne, TX, Lucille Sadler of Portales, Enn Munsey of Plainview, TX, Betty Bush of Roswell, NM, Jimmie Gayle Franklin of House, NM, Frances Lee of Portales and Suzy Whalen of Crossville, TX.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Perry Davis in 2001, a son, Randy Davis on June 20, 2011 and a daughter, Kim White who died Oct. 29, 2023.

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