Ella I. Nosker *
Kenneth Nosker and Ella Irene Bonnell Nosker married on May 1, 1947. Kenneth and Irene were lifelong residents of Lincoln County. Kenneth and Irene owned the Standard Service Station in Ruidoso before buying a farm in Glencoe. Their apple orchards were destroyed in the 1965 flood and they began ranching both sheep and cattle. They owned Nosker’s Fresh Meats, Wines & Cheeses.
Kenneth, 95, passed away on January 15, 2020. He was born to Burt Owen Nosker and Willie Winfrey Nosker on April 30, 1924. He was preceded in death by daughter Rene McCoy. He was survived by his wife Irene, of 72 years, sons Dennis Nosker (Beth), and Ralph Nosker, son in law Jim McCoy, grandchildren, Tau McCoy (Jackie), Brand Nosker (Alicia), Jessica Casson (Chad), great grandchildren, Cheyenne McCoy (Max), Colton Nosker, Trenten Nosker, Hayden Casson, Wylie Casson, Tau Mathew McCoy and Scarlett Rene McCoy.
Irene, 91, passed peacefully in her sleep on January 31, 2021. She was born to Ralph Bonnell and Jewell Allison Bonnell on May 7, 1929. She is preceded in death by daughter Rene McCoy. She is survived by her sister Eleanor Shockey, brother Harvey Bonnell, sons Dennis Nosker (Beth), and Ralph Nosker, son in law Jim McCoy, grandchildren, Tau McCoy (Jackie), Brand Nosker (Alicia), Jessica Casson (Chad), great grandchildren, Cheyenne McCoy (Max), Colton Nosker, Trenten Nosker, Hayden Casson, Wylie Casson, Tau Mathew McCoy and Scarlett Rene McCoy, and great great granddaughter, Genevieve Iseda.
Kenneth served in the United States Army Air Corp during World War II. He and a fellow veteran started the first airport in Ruidoso, now the home of the Links at Sierra Blanca Golf Course. He served as both Lincoln County Commissioner and Probate Judge. He was an advocate of water rights and very involved in real estate.
Irene was one of the most revered school bus drivers in Lincoln County, where she drove for more than fifty years. She loved spending time outdoors exploring for arrowheads. She enjoyed golfing with friends and was an avid gardener. Irene cherished her Native American rugs, artifacts, and jewelry.
Kenneth’s and Irene’s remains will be buried at the Nosker Family Cemetery in Glencoe at a private family burial. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church, C/O Church of the Holy Mount, 121 Mescalero Trail, Ruidoso, NM 88345.
Published in Ruidoso News from Feb. 11 to Feb. 12, 2021.