Albert Sims

Newcastle, WY:
Albert Dee "Al" Sims was called to be with his Lord June 12, 2008. Services will be Friday, June 20th at Worden Chapel at 10:00 am with Rev. Norm Brotzman of Newcastle Assembly Of God Church officiating assisted by associate pastor Tyler Sims of Moberly, Missouri. Burial will follow at 2:30 pm at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD with military honors by the Sturgis Honor Guard.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association or charity of your choice.
Al was born January 17, 1932 on the family ranch located near Pastura, NM to pioneer ranchers George Edgar Sims and Wahlecia Dell Blackwell Sims. He married Geraldine "Jerry" Call in Pecos, Texas in 1960. Both of his parents and wife preceded him in death as well as a brother George Tommy Sims, sisters-in-law Harriett Spiller Sims and Emily Estes Sims.
Al graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1950 where he was a basketball star receiving a scholarship from New Mexico Highlands University. He also played basketball while in the Navy, his team winning the 17th Naval District Championship. He attended New Mexico State University NM&M at Las Cruces, NM and Sul Ross States Teacher's College in Alpine, TX receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Range Animal Husbandry and a minor in Education in 1959.
He was a cowboy for the H Bar Spear Angus Ranch near St. John's and Holbrook, AZ before joining the U.S. Naval Air Force in 1952 during the Korean War. He served as the Ordnance man flying in B-26's and graduated from Aviation Gunnery School. He was highly decorated. He took his horse "Copper" from the ranch to San Diego so he could rodeo entering calf roping, saddle bronc and bare back bronc riding while in the Navy.
Using his Education Degree, his first school assignment was a little country school Cienega or Crow Flats School just north of Dell City, Texas with the Alamogordo NM Public School. He then accepted a teaching and coaching position at Springerville and Eager, AZ schools known as the Round Valley School District. He was the Apache County 4a�"H Director and served on the Arizona 4a�"H Foundation Board.
Later he was called by God to go into the Christian Ministry, and attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas where he was awarded a Master's Degree in Religious Education and a Minor in Theology. He had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior while in college at NMSU serving as Chaplin of the AGR Fraternity. He pastured Southern Baptist Churches in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado, and Wyoming, pasturing the Southern Baptist Church in Newcastle, Wyoming for many years. Al had been inspired by his mother to learn old cowboy songs and to play the guitar which he continued to do throughout his life. He wrote and recorded songs at the Norman Petty Studio in Clovis, NM with "Sunshine" Records and the "Listen" Label, one with Bill Munroe and Don Powell. Two of his songs made Bill Boards Top 20. He wrote and performed Cowboy Poetry and Songs at Cowboy Symposiums and Gatherings throughout the West.
He had recently bought three horses which he planned to have for his Great-Grandchildren to ride and show in 4a�"H.

Al is survived by son Ron Howe and wife Theresa of Chugwater, WY; four granddaughters, Elaine and Kevin White of Gilbert, AZ, Carolie and Steve Pollack of Chugwater, WY, Melanie and R.J. Minnick of Casper, WY, Raynee and Joe Hernandez of Chugwater, WY and sixteen great grandchildren.

Also surviving are brothers Edgar Joe Sims of Roswell, NM, Robert Richard and Billie Sims of Queen, NM, James Ray and Toni Sims of Bozeman, MT, and a sister Betty Louise Sims Solt of Roswell, NM. He is also survived by an aunt, Ilene Sims Sweigard, Barstow, CA, brothers-in-law J.T. and Gene Call, Ladonia, TX, Orville and Joyce Call, Austin, TX, sisters-in-law Peggy and Phil Klein, Mineola, TX and Ann Zenkner, Mineola, TX. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.