Melvan Carnes Foley, Jr.

Melvan Carnes Foley Jr., 90, of Elk, NM passed away on December 27, 2020 in Alamogordo, NM.  He was born on March 20, 1930 in Santa Fe, NM to Melvan and Nellie (McDonald) Foley.

Melvan attended high school in Los Alamos, NM, and after graduation joined the U.S. Navy.  Melvan later met and married Mary Helen (Cleve) in Albuquerque, NM.  An electrician by trade, he worked at the test sites in both Los Alamos, NM and Las Vegas, NV.  He and his family moved 22 times in ten years while working for Santa Fe Pomeroy in various countries.  After returning to the United States, he and his family lived in Albuquerque and later moved to Carlsbad, NM where he worked for Gibbs Electric.  Upon his retirement, he and his wife enjoyed ranching on the Oris Cleve family ranch in Elk, NM. 

Melvan is survived by his son, Melvan C. Foley III (wife Dianne) of Elk, NM, his two daughters, Kim Hayden (husband Sean) of Las Vegas, NV and Gail Foley of Alexandria, VA, brother Norman Foley of Houston, TX and sister Mary Massengale of Rio Rancho, NM, grandchildren Andrew Pillifant, Melissa Whitehead, Levi Foley and Morgan Foley, as well as great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Helen Foley, father, Melvan Carnes Foley, mother, Nellie Estelle Foley, sisters Elizabeth Foley and Virginia Sullivan, and son Cleve Pillifant.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at Scenic Chapel Funeral Home.

Burial will follow at the Foley Ranch Cemetery on January 7, 2021.

Pallbearers include:  Bernard Cleve, Robert Cleve, Shawn Romero, Sean Hayden, Augustine Candelaria, and Christian Candelaria.

Due to the COVID Pandemic, occupancy at the visitation is limited to no more than 5 people at a time. Please practice social distancing at all times. Thank you for adhering to the Department of Health mandate.

Should friends desire, contributions may be made to Chavez County Casa Kids (casakids.org) or The Fisher Center for Alzheimers Research Foundation.

The Foley family has entrusted their loved one to the care of the Scenic Chapel to direct the funeral services.

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