Benjamin E Straughan

Benjamin Earle Straughan's life began on October 9, 1930 in Los Angeles, CA. The family soon moved to Vaughn, NM where Ben was raised. He graduated high school in 1949 and attended New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM on a football scholarship. When injuries ended his football career, he returned to Vaughn to work in his family's businesses. He continued working at the family-owned Conoco gas station and traveled the state of New Mexico with the town baseball team. Ben became a Mason in 1954, a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason that same year, and a Shriner the next year. He held the highest office of Vaughn Lodge #43 AF&AM in 1966, and also was a member of the Order of Eastern Star. Ben, and his then wife, Carol, raised three children in Vaughn and Santa Rosa, NM in the late 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s while running the Conoco Distributorship in Vaughn and later Santa Rosa and, along with his brothers Lee and Paul, the Chevrolet car dealership in Vaughn. During his membership in the Vaughn Optimist Club, as a fundraiser for the club, he was introduced to the Dale Carnegie Courses in 1964. Ben was a Vaughn City Councilman, licensed securities salesman, and helped form and finance an insurance company in Artesia, NM, serving on its board of directors for three years. In 1972, Ben, as sole owner of Straughan Chevrolet-Buick, sold the dealership and in 1973, moved to El Paso, TX to supervise the El Paso area of Dale Carnegie Courses, now known as Dale Carnegie Training. His brothers had been with DCC for some time and Ben had been a DCC instructor and Sales Course instructor since 1968. Ben retired from Dale Carnegie Training in 1995 after selling and instructing in Southern New Mexico, West Texas, and Kansas. Ben was a master teacher, salesman, entrepreneur, and businessman. He loved being able to help people on a personal or professional level. He enjoyed and excelled in all sports and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He had a fondness for windmills and loved his peach trees. In 1997, Ben returned with his wife, Beverly, from Dodge City, KS to his beloved New Mexico and resided in Las Cruces until his death on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 surrounded by his family. He took great pride in his family. Everything he did in life was for them. He was loved and admired by many and will live on through them. Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Archie Benjamin Straughan and Sarah Francis Hamilton Straughan and by his big brother and mentor, A. Lee Straughan. Ben is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Beverly; his brother, Paul Straughan (Margie) of Hale Center, TX; Carol Straughan, mother of his two daughters, Lara Straughan (Janet) and Caris Straughan-Nunez (Michael), and son, B. Kent Straughan (Angel) all of El Paso; his granddaughters, Stefani Ramirez (Gabe) of Sherman Oaks, CA, Jessica Saldivar and Carolann Nunez both of El Paso; his great-grandchildren, Benjamin Ramirez, Sophie Ramirez, Jaymee Saldivar, Jacob Saldivar, and Amber Flores; his stepson, Randall Wentling and daughters, Kristie (Jacques) sons Mason and Wesley de Lange and Stacie Wentling; his stepson Bradly Wentling (Adrienne) and children Cole, Alice and Emilia; his stepdaughter, Jill Wentling; Sisters-in-law, Rosemarie Straughan, Lavonne McIntosh (John), and Loleta Owens; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Special thanks go to his loving caregivers, Laura Salas, Ivonne Reyes, and Danuta and Leroy Frazier who assisted Beverly with Ben's care. Thanks, also, to Dr. Samuels and her staff; Sue, Antonette, and Michael O'Connell. Thank you to all dear friends for your prayers, food, and visits. Honorary pallbearers: Ron Straughan, John Daugherty, Charlie Black, Winston Moore, and Jon Sanders A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, June 13th, 2016 at 2:00pm University United Methodist Church, 2000 S. Locust, Las Cruces, NM 88001 PDF Printable Version