Lieutenant Matthew A. King, age 44, of the Bernalillo County Fire Department died on July 16, 2022, died in a helicopter crash while returning from the East Mesa Fire in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Matthew A. King
Janet K. Tracy
Firefighter Janet K. Tracy, age 59, of the Caballo Volunteer Fire Department died on July 20, 2021 after being struck by a fire engine at the scene of a motor vehicle accident.
William C. White II
William Clinton “Casey” White II of Artesia, New Mexico, died July 2, 2019, at his beloved Sun Country Volunteer Fire Department in Artesia.
He graduated from Allen Military Academy in Bryan, Texas, and Texas Christian University. Following his service with the National Guard, he was employed for 33 years with Halliburton overseas in Norway, Scotland, Egypt, and Algeria. After retiring from Halliburton, he began his second career in firefighting, serving as a volunteer firefighter with the Sun Country Volunteer Fire Department and founding Pecos Valley Wildfire. He served his community with the fire department for over 25 years, ultimately leading the department as chief.
When he wasn’t at the fire department, you could find him at the Eddy County Shooting Range or shooting in tournaments around the country.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Clinton White and Bettye Jo Brainard White.
He is survived by a daughter, Emily Ayliffe White Keatley; son-in-law, Edward Benton Keatley; and two grandsons, Arthur Theodore Keatley and Louis Benton Keatley, all of Kansas City, Missouri.
He was a loving father and grandfather and a dedicated servant of his community. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.
Jeffrey Stroble
Fire Apparatus Operator Jeff Stroble, 46, passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2019, at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, from injuries sustained in a fireworks explosion.
On July 31, 1972, Jeff was born to Charles and Annie Stroble in Roswell, New Mexico. He graduated from Goddard High School.
On August 16, 2004, Jeff married his soulmate and partner for life, Reba. Together, they had three beautiful children, whom he adored. Jeff loved spending time with friends and family, and he always cooked to feed them, barbecuing and grilling his amazing steaks, ribs, and chicken.
Jeff was with the Roswell Fire Department for seventeen years, where he served as a fire apparatus operator. He was an honorable and strong man who strived for the best in every aspect of his life. Jeff was proud to serve his community as a fireman. He is remembered as a brave hero who never gave up.
Jeff loved the outdoors, traveling, camping, fishing, golf, bowling, and heavy metal music. He was a die-hard Cowboys fan. Jeff’s favorite holiday was Independence Day (4th of July) and all the celebrations.
Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Reba Stroble; children: Kyle (Rebecca), Tyler, and Kadence; grandchildren, Jackson and Ava; parents, Charles and Annie Stroble; siblings, Anthony Stroble, Sarah (Warren) Aldrich, and Charity Lassiter; aunts and uncles, Mary Rogers, Maudie (Lenard) Mahan, Donald (Joan)Tyler, Nelda (Luis) Mendoza, Aubrey (Martha) Tyler, Gail Turner, and Scott (Diane) Stroble; nieces and nephews, Noah (Ashlyn) Stroble, Jonah Stroble, Noah Whitley, Kinzie Aldrich, and McKenna Aldrich; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Warren and Reba Aldrich; close friends, Ruben Becerra, Shawn Kennedy, Elvio Palma, and his Roswell Fire Department brothers and families; beloved dogs: Sir Chugs, Miley, Gabby; and many cousins and friends and extended family by marriage, who loved him dearly.
Jeff was preceded in death by his grandparents, Thurman and Goldie Tyler and Charles and Muriel Stroble; aunts and uncles, Jerry Stroble, Iona Ketchell, Earl Tyler, Harell Tyler, Tom Tyler, Lou Etta Hignight, and Callie Herring; special cousin, Sandy Kethcell; and many cousins and family members from marriage.
He was greatly loved and will be intensely missed, not only by his family and friends, but by all those blessed to have known him.
Jacob Shadd Rohwer
Lieutenant Jacob Shadd Rohwer, age 44, of the Farmington Fire Department, died on January 11, 2018, from cancer that was deemed by the State of New Mexico to be a line-of-duty death, related to his career as a firefighter.
Johnny C. Cammack
Firefighter Johnny C. Cammack, age 74, of the Nara Visa Fire Department, died on June 22, 2017, of injuries sustained when fire overran the apparatus he was riding in during a wind-driven wildfire.
Daniel Alan Davidson
Daniel Alan Davidson was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on April 3, 1987, son of James E. and Cynthia L. Davidson. He was the youngest of four children, brother to Joseph Davidson, Sarah McMahan, and Nicky Davidson. He attended elementary school in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and graduated from Westview High School in Martin, Tennessee. An excellent athlete who excelled in baseball during his school years, Dan was an avid lover of all things related to the Kansas City Chiefs and Jayhawks.
Dan enlisted in the United States Army on March 27, 2008. Like his father and brother before him, Dan joined the 3rd Infantry Battalion and served as a combat infantryman with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, from July 2008 through January 2009, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to Wardak Province, Afghanistan, from November 2010 through November 2011, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Daniel was honorably discharged from the Army in February 2012, with the rank of specialist, and returned home to Tennessee.
Home and family always had his heart. He was pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee. However, when his fiancée, Terrah Eads, told him of a soon to be second child, he placed his degree on hold in order to support his growing family, including son Tyler and unborn daughter Madelynn. In April 2013, Daniel accepted the position of wildland firefighter with the United States Forest Service on Engine 621 of the Sacramento Ranger District. On May 5, 2013, Daniel returned to his Lord Jesus Christ while working with two other engine crew members during a Forest Service project in Monument Springs, New Mexico.
If you knew Dan, you have to smile when you think about him. Dan didn’t walk into a room; he bounced. Full of life and larger than it, too, Dan stood 6′ 4″ when slouching! If you look up the word “escapades” in the dictionary, there was Dan’s picture. You could never be mad at him more than a minute, because in the next minute you would be laughing.
Dan had an enormous amount of love for others. He always looked out for others and would go to their aid if possible. He was a defender of the weak. He couldn’t stand to see suffering. Helping others was something he looked forward to when working with the Forest Service. To quote Dan, “Unlike the Army, no one is shooting at me.” The cause of Dan’s death was dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart. This couldn’t be more fitting to Dan, a man whose heart was so full of love. A source of constant laughter and love, Daniel Alan Davidson is desperately missed by all. There is no one else on this earth like him.
Danny A. Gomez
Danny A. Gomez was born December 19, 1959, to Eliza Gomez in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Danny was employed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a forestry supervisor. Past employment was with the Forest Service in Colorado. Danny was often a first responder to the fires in the area and sometimes would travel with the agency firefighters as an interagency resource representative.
Danny had a passion for his work and the people that he worked alongside. Danny would share his love of health and fitness with his staff, family, and friends. He was a family man who loved his wife, children, sister, and extended family. He will be remembered fondly by all those close to him as a kind man with a beautiful spirit, at service to others.
Danny was preceded in death by his mother, Eliza Gomez; brother, Richard Gomez; sister, Yvonne Vigil; uncle, Lalo Gomez; and grandmother, Guadalupe Gomez.
Danny is survived by his wife, Deanna Gomez; daughter, Danielle Gomez; sons, Jon Bjork and Tyler Bjork; daughter-in-law, Kali Bjork; sister, Charlie Williams, and her husband, Michael; nephew, Storm Williams; niece, Leona Chavez; great-nephew, Andrew Moore; great-niece, Shaylee Moore; in-laws, David and Donna Myers; brother-in-law, David Myers, and his wife, Nikora, their children, Kelly and Luke Myers, and his wife Beth, and their child, Easton.
Token M. Adams
First off, I’m just going to say that my husband, Token Adams, was an amazing person. He was an engine captain for the Santa Fe National Forest, with the Jemez Springs Ranger District. He had always protected others, whether it was serving in the U.S. Navy or fighting wildland fires. Token was one of the least selfish people I have ever met, always thinking about others before himself.
He was very well known and liked by everyone in the community. He loved the Pueblo food, and I’m pretty sure he stopped in there every day for lunch! Token loved to joke and play, but was also very professional when he needed to be. He always strived to be better, never taking shortcuts and always working hard for what we had. His family was his number one. We would always do something as a family on his days off, whether it was going to lunch or just for a drive. He was a very dedicated husband and father. He would tell me every night that he loved me, and would prove it every day.
Unfortunately, at the young age of 41, the man upstairs decided he needed another angel. I know Token is always around and watching over us. I see him every day in our children.
Jon Tibbetts
Fire Chief Jon Tibbetts started his career in the emergency services as a paramedic with the San Juan County Emergency Services. He worked at San Juan County until 1986 and was certainly considered a pioneer in his profession. In 1986‚ he went to work for Albuquerque Ambulance‚ where he would work for the next 18 years. During his years at Albuquerque Ambulance he would serve as a paramedic‚ system education coordinator‚ system status manager‚ and operations manager. He was one of the main people tasked with the project of setting up a global positioning system in the late 1980s. In 2004‚ he became the first career fire chief for Sandoval County Fire Department. Chief Tibbetts loved fighting fires and responded to every possible structure fire he could.
Chief Tibbetts helped build the Sandoval County Fire Department from the ground up. During his tenure as chief he built four fire stations and completely staffed the new fire department with career staff to supplement the volunteers. His characteristics as a person of integrity‚ determination‚ honesty‚ and gentleness‚ all made him a natural born leader. He was killed in an on duty motor vehicle crash on July 23‚ 2012‚ at age 59. Chief Tibbetts wrote a grant that resulted in the funding of a brand new fire station located at Santa Ana Pueblo in 2009.
In addition to his numerous professional accomplishments he was a loving husband to Connie and a loving father to his daughters‚ Amy and Natasha. A Habitat for Humanity house is currently being built in his name.
