Former New Mexico state Sen. W.S. "Smitty" Eoff, 84, died of lung cancer at his Pagosa Springs ranch on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005.
Mr. Eoff was born on May 6, 1920, in Snyder, Texas, to Frank and Effie Eoff.
In 1934, he moved to a homestead in New Mexico and developed a love of the outdoors and ranching.
He married Zoe Caudill in 1941 in Albuquerque, and they were married for 58 years until her death in 1999.
During World War II, he enlisted with the U.S. Navy and served in the Sea Bees in the Pacific Theater as a welder.
When he moved to Gallup, N.M., he founded the Navajo Butane Co. In 1965, he bought the Clo Chin Toh ranch near Ramah, N.M. He bought another ranch near Pagosa Springs, which the family still owns.
Mr. Eoff was a New Mexico Republican state senator representing McKinley County from 1976 to 1988.
In 2002, Mr. Eoff married Lillian Horvat. She and his children cared for him until his death.
He was a lifelong member of the Elks Club and an active member of the Lions Club, serving as district governor. He loved dancing and cutting firewood.
Survivors include his second wife, Lillian Horvat-Eoff; children Zorena Anderson of Durango, Zenise Miles of Albuquerque, Randy Eoff of Pagosa Springs and Larson Eoff of Durango; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two sisters.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Zoe, in 1999 and his youngest son, Dale Eoff, in 1998.
There will be a memorial celebration of his life at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge in Farmington, 801 Municipal Drive.
Mr. Eoff was born on May 6, 1920, in Snyder, Texas, to Frank and Effie Eoff.
In 1934, he moved to a homestead in New Mexico and developed a love of the outdoors and ranching.
He married Zoe Caudill in 1941 in Albuquerque, and they were married for 58 years until her death in 1999.
During World War II, he enlisted with the U.S. Navy and served in the Sea Bees in the Pacific Theater as a welder.
When he moved to Gallup, N.M., he founded the Navajo Butane Co. In 1965, he bought the Clo Chin Toh ranch near Ramah, N.M. He bought another ranch near Pagosa Springs, which the family still owns.
Mr. Eoff was a New Mexico Republican state senator representing McKinley County from 1976 to 1988.
In 2002, Mr. Eoff married Lillian Horvat. She and his children cared for him until his death.
He was a lifelong member of the Elks Club and an active member of the Lions Club, serving as district governor. He loved dancing and cutting firewood.
Survivors include his second wife, Lillian Horvat-Eoff; children Zorena Anderson of Durango, Zenise Miles of Albuquerque, Randy Eoff of Pagosa Springs and Larson Eoff of Durango; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two sisters.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Zoe, in 1999 and his youngest son, Dale Eoff, in 1998.
There will be a memorial celebration of his life at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge in Farmington, 801 Municipal Drive.
Former New Mexico state Sen. W.S. "Smitty" Eoff, 84, died of lung cancer at his Pagosa Springs ranch on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005.
Mr. Eoff was born on May 6, 1920, in Snyder, Texas, to Frank and Effie Eoff.
In 1934, he moved to a homestead in New Mexico and developed a love of the outdoors and ranching.
He married Zoe Caudill in 1941 in Albuquerque, and they were married for 58 years until her death in 1999.
During World War II, he enlisted with the U.S. Navy and served in the Sea Bees in the Pacific Theater as a welder.
When he moved to Gallup, N.M., he founded the Navajo Butane Co. In 1965, he bought the Clo Chin Toh ranch near Ramah, N.M. He bought another ranch near Pagosa Springs, which the family still owns.
Mr. Eoff was a New Mexico Republican state senator representing McKinley County from 1976 to 1988.
In 2002, Mr. Eoff married Lillian Horvat. She and his children cared for him until his death.
He was a lifelong member of the Elks Club and an active member of the Lions Club, serving as district governor. He loved dancing and cutting firewood.
Survivors include his second wife, Lillian Horvat-Eoff; children Zorena Anderson of Durango, Zenise Miles of Albuquerque, Randy Eoff of Pagosa Springs and Larson Eoff of Durango; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two sisters.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Zoe, in 1999 and his youngest son, Dale Eoff, in 1998.
There will be a memorial celebration of his life at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge in Farmington, 801 Municipal Drive.
Mr. Eoff was born on May 6, 1920, in Snyder, Texas, to Frank and Effie Eoff.
In 1934, he moved to a homestead in New Mexico and developed a love of the outdoors and ranching.
He married Zoe Caudill in 1941 in Albuquerque, and they were married for 58 years until her death in 1999.
During World War II, he enlisted with the U.S. Navy and served in the Sea Bees in the Pacific Theater as a welder.
When he moved to Gallup, N.M., he founded the Navajo Butane Co. In 1965, he bought the Clo Chin Toh ranch near Ramah, N.M. He bought another ranch near Pagosa Springs, which the family still owns.
Mr. Eoff was a New Mexico Republican state senator representing McKinley County from 1976 to 1988.
In 2002, Mr. Eoff married Lillian Horvat. She and his children cared for him until his death.
He was a lifelong member of the Elks Club and an active member of the Lions Club, serving as district governor. He loved dancing and cutting firewood.
Survivors include his second wife, Lillian Horvat-Eoff; children Zorena Anderson of Durango, Zenise Miles of Albuquerque, Randy Eoff of Pagosa Springs and Larson Eoff of Durango; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two sisters.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Zoe, in 1999 and his youngest son, Dale Eoff, in 1998.
There will be a memorial celebration of his life at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge in Farmington, 801 Municipal Drive.
Family Members
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
