Byron William Fickes

Byron William Fickes (Billy) left this Earth on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021, at the age of 66, surrounded by his loving daughter and wife after succumbing to Cancer. Born June 8th, 1954, Billy, who took on the namesake of his Grandfather and Father, was the son of William Fickes and Belen (Montanez) Fickes, and grew up in Las Cruces New Mexico, with his brother, Joey Trujillo (deceased), and sisters Barbara (Howard), Lorraine (Carver) and Pattie (Hann). As a boy, Billy was involved in cub scouts and climbing trees. Billy built a large shortwave radio with his brother and Dad on the dining room table back in the 60's, which took many months of reading electrical diagrams, understanding currents and voltages and soldering wires, and connecting tubes; a great family memory (that the girls were not allowed to do) Those were the days. He enjoyed oil painting with his devoted Mother, and dabbled in leather work and woodcraft, as well as inventions right into adulthood. As a teen he worked at Pizza Hut to earn money to "mess around" in more electronic things. After graduating from High School he took off for the East Coast and married Sandra Shaffer (deceased), and became the father of Sandra Stephanie Ann (deceased) and Mellisa Jean (Cavender). He took his girls with him to Odessa Texas to work in the oil fields and eventually returned to New Mexico where Grandpa and Grandma could help him raise his little girls. He would go on to marry Leticia Ponce Chavez when the girls were grown and spent his remaining years with his wife, Leticia, they continued to make Las Cruces their home. He attended New State University where he was a boiler technician, he was a, truss builder, bartender, long haul truck driver and also loved growing tomatoes and chili in their garden, he loved to fish and shared his bounty with friends. He shared his foraging skills about edible plants, his love and knowledge about math, science and technology as well as his love for inventions with his girls which shaped thier eventual careers. Some hobbies of his were creating amazing pieces of art out of fruits and vegetables (a true delight for the receivers), making something new out of discarded items, he always played a game of "bet you have never seen one of these" with the random and interesting items he came upon in his years of tinkering. Billy was the proud grandfather of Bailey Fickes-McNutt, Destin Haines, Joeseph Fickes-McNutt, Dominik Haines, Ivoryanna Haines, Anthony Cavender (deceased) and Annaelise Cavender and two great grandchildren Brooke Garcia and Joel Garcia. Services were held on February 2nd at San Albino Cemetery in Old Mesilla, New Mexico Thank you to Mesilla Valley Hospice for tenderly providing their care to Billy and his family. He will be missed by all as he was "unforgettable" for those who knew him. He left his childhood "smirk" in our hearts. Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home 1410 E. Bowman Ave. Las Cruces, NM 88001. Please visit www.getzcares.com to sign the local online guest book. Service Information

San Albino

Address Not Available






Interment Location

San Albino Cemetery

2280 Calle Principa
Mesilla, New Mexico 88046