CLEO NADINE MILLER TUTTLE, 78, was born in Stephens,
TX, on Sept. 23, 1921, a daughter of Jesse & Roberta
Miller. Her siblings were Rayford J. Miller, Georgia
Ann (RHS-1940) and Merlene V. Miller Scott (RHS-1943).
She was married in Nov. of 1958 at Clovis, NM, to
Brian Jumper who died in 2004. Her second marriage
was to Vernal Tuttle, Sr. in 1958. Nadine died on
Nov. 19, 1999, at Portales, NM. She graduated from
Ranger High School in the Class of 1938 at Ranger,
TX.
HUSBAND: VERNAL TUTTLE, SR. was born Oct. 17, 1918,
in Leominster, MA, to the home of Marion and Thurman
Tuttle Sr. He passed from this life on Jan. 13, 2007
in Roswell, NM at the age of 88 years, two months, &
27 days.
Vernal grew up in Massachusetts. During the Depression,
his family moved to Pleasant Hill, NM, where they
farmed. He was a graduate of Pleasant Hill High School.
On Mar. 16, 1941, he was drafted into the 200th Coast
Artillery Unit.He later enlisted in the Army Air Corps
to take a job as a nose gunner to serve during World
War II. He flew 50 missions in five months during his
service with the 15th Air Force in Italy. He was
honorably discharged in 1945 with the rank of staff
sergeant and was awarded four Bronze Stars and an Air
Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
He moved to Portales in 1945 and was married to Ruth
Lawley. He worked with his father & brothers operating
Tusco Sales and Manufacturing. In Nov. of 1958, in
Clovis, he was married to Nadine Miller. He continued
the ownership and operating of Tusco Sales & Manufac-
turing until retiring in the late 1980s. He was a
lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a
member of the First United Methodist Church in Portales,
and a former member of the Portales Stamp Club. He
enjoyed traveling with his wife, Nadine, making fine
furniture and woodworking, and spending time with
his family.
Belen High School Future Farmers of America students
knew Mr. Tuttle because his was the house that was
opened to them during competitions and in preparation
to attending Eastern New Mexico University.
Survivors at the time of his death, include his son
and daughter-in-law, Vernal "Dudley" Tuttle Jr. and
Cheryl of Los Chavez; his daughter and son-in-law,
Rebecca and Steve Determan of Roswell; two step-
daughters: Nelda (and Don) Clark of Odessa, TX,
and Yvonne (and Ernest) Cobb of Houston, TX;
8 grandchildren, Yolanda "Lonnie" Tuttle-Williams
and husband, Marshall, Vernal "Tres" Tuttle III,
Reed Tuttle (Katie) and their daughter, Kailee,
Traci Tuttle, Daniel Weems, Dana Determan, Donella
Oliver and Cheri Harper; 10 great-grandchildren;
several nieces, nephews and cousins; and his grand-
dog, Ashley.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers:
Thurman Tuttle Jr. and Clifford Tuttle; a step-daughter,
Ann Baray, who died in 1988; a son, Marshall Tuttle,
who died in 1976; and by his wife, Nadine Tuttle, who
died in 1999.