Virgil L. Beagles

Funeral Services for Virgil L Beagles, 74, will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, January 9, 2016, at Tabernacle Baptist Church with Pastor Jerry Beavers and Ernie Amador officiating. Burial will follow at South Park Cemetery. Virgil passed away on January 5, 2016, at his home with his loving family around him. Virgil was born on July 14, 1941, to Floyd V and Eva Gertrude (Rogers) Beagles in Roswell, NM. Visitation will be held Friday from 12:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Virgil was preceded in death by his first wife, Lois (Cagle) Beagles and their son Ronald Dean Beagles, his parents, brother, Guy (Jr) Beagles, and sister, Ruth Mahl, paternal grandparents, Edward (Frank) and Nancy (Salyers) Beagles, maternal grandparents, Levi Jacob (Jack) and Mary Ida (Otts) Rogers, and grandson, Anthony Barreras. Virgil is survived by his wife, Betty D Beagles, of 48 years of marriage, daughter, Michelle and her husband Andrew Barreras of Roswell, sons Rick Beagles, Bobby S Heard and partner Lucy Hall of Roswell, brothers: Ted Beagles of Tinnie, NM; Eddie Paul Beagles of Alamogordo, NM; and Dewayne Beagles and his wife Patricia. Virgil grew up in Roswell where he lived all but four years of his life. His father owned Valley Motor Supply on East 2nd Street, and there he learned to work at an early age. At age 12 he was working at a grocery store and on the 4th of July selling fireworks at the gate of the Walker Air Base. Virgil married Lois Cagle in 1959, both age 18, and had two sons, Rickey and Ronnie. At age 20, he started selling used cars and then started his own business as Beagles Auto Sales. Tragedy fell at age 24 when Lois and Ronnie (age 2) died in a car accident on February 6, 1966. Another phase of his life began when he met and married Betty Dale (Burgett) Heard on June 14, 1967, in Carlsbad, NM. With her son, Bobby, and his son, Rickey, they started their married life in Albuquerque and then in Clovis, where he purchased the Chrysler-Plymouth Dealership. In 1971, after selling the dealership, he and his family moved back to Roswell and went back into the used car business. On July 30, 1975, Michelle, his daughter, was born and became the focus of his life. Two peas out of the same pod, many say. This same love extended through the years to his grand-daughters, Celese Beagles, Ariana Marquez-Heard and Alexis Barreras. This same tough businessman was putty in their hands. In 2001, with Michelle's marriage to Andrew, he acquired grandsons: Anthony; Andrew Jr.; Adam; Tommy and Calvin Barreras. The great-grandchildren’s mothers, Denise Reyes, April Barreras, Jenna Morales, and Starla Ortega gave Virgil eight (8) great-grandchildren. They all called him Papa and he loved every minute of it. Virgil loved shopping at any time of the year and buying Christmas presents for all of the children, including those who weren't his own. His pickup could be full of dolls at Christmas and candy on all the other holidays. Especially the day after when he could make a deal for the unsold specialty candy. His office was never empty of candy and cookies. The children called him the M&M man and candy man. For years Virgil would have roses sent over from Betty's family greenhouses near Lordsburg and give out dozens of roses at a time. He became the rose man then. You could tell Virgil had been through the banks when roses were everywhere. He would also take them to the nursing homes and churches on Mother's Day. One time he took over 2,000 stems of roses to the Legislature in Santa Fe on Valentine's Day. That was a sight to behold. All the secretaries, staff, legislators and wives of legislators love him (with the exception of a few Republicans). In 1975, he extended his business to construction of residential homes and then into commercial construction where, in the late 1980's, he ended up doing business with his wife Betty, as one of the qualifying parties for her construction company, Betco Inc. His interest in real estate continued in many other areas in southern New Mexico. While he spearheaded the effort, Betty brought up the rear with the paperwork, while he was making his deals. Virgil, a dyed in the wool Democrat, loved politics and became involved about age 20. He was State President of the Young Democrats when he met Betty in Carlsbad. That started the next forty-nine years of being in state politics along with local and county. Virgil was always being contacted by previous Democratic governors for help with fund raising in the southeastern part of the state (and some good Republicans). It was not unusual to visit Virgil in his junkyard office surrounded by his dogs and personally talking to a Governor, US Senator, State Senator, Representatives, State Treasurer, Attorney General or anybody else of high ranking. He was at home with anybody, no matter what their station in life was. Virgil Beagles will be missed terribly by his family and friends who held him so close to their heart. His wife, Betty and daughter, Michelle will carry on the businesses with him always in their thoughts. Pallbearers will be: Ted Beagles; Eddie Paul Beagles, Dewayne Beagles, Jerry Smith and Dr Virgle Herrin and Adam Barreras Honorary Pallbearers are: Ron Higginbotham, Don Fedric, Jerry Floyd, Larry Mahl and Ollie Noriega The family will have a gathering with a meal provided following the service at Tabernacle Baptist Church. Obituary was lovingly written by Virgil’s family.

Virgil L. Beagles

July 14, 1941 - January 5, 2016