Herbert E. (Toby) Davenport

Herbert E. (Toby) Davenport, age 81, of Hobbs, New Mexico (Former Resident of Sweetwater, Texas) passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 in Hobbs, New Mexico.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M., Sunday, December 4, 2011, at Cate Spencer & Trent Funeral Home Chapel with Curtis Ward officiating. Burial will follow at Garden of Memories. Arrangements under the direction of Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

Toby was born January 27, 1930, in Ballinger, TX. He was a veteran of the Korean War. He was assigned with the artillery group in Germany until the Army found out he used to cook and he was then transferred to the cooking battalions in Germany. After his honorable discharge, he hired on with Skelly Oil Co. in Hobbs, NM, where he resided until 1968. He transferred to Midland Engineering group and then on to Sweetwater, TX, where Skelly later merged with Getty and then Texaco. He retired from Texaco out of the Crane, TX, division as a production superintendent after 45 years of active service. Toby lived in Hobbs the last two years with his daughter, Brenda and son-in-law, Hugo Naegele.

He loved fishing, hunting and watching his children excel in sports and academics. He married Lora Sue Carr in 1951 and they had three children who survive him; a son, Merrin E. "Corky" Davenport; two daughters, Brenda K. Naegele and Paula Davenport all of Hobbs, New Mexico. He married Janice Ellison May 15, 1968, and has two surviving step children; a son, Glenn Ellison of Lubbock, TX; and a daughter, Debra Jones of Waynesville, MO,  13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by three brothers, Chester Davenport of Farmington, New Mexico, William "Bill" Davenport of Oceanside, California, and Don Davenport of Las Cruces, New Mexico and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; wives, Lora Sue Carr and Janice M. Ellison; step-daughter, Tammy Jackson;  one grandson, Matthew Jackson and one sister, Nell Sweat.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, PO Box 1856, Clovis, NM 88102, and the American Heart Association, 2201 San Pedro NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.

Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, December 3, 2011 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.