Nicholas K Ashcroft

Nicholas Kay Ashcroft was born September 30, 1944 in Farmington New Mexico to Karl George and Elsie June Palmer Ashcroft. Their family home was in Kirtland, where Nick attended church and school, but his early years were living at the Trading Posts at Tsaya and White Rock. June home-schooled until he started the third grade when he moved Kirtland and lived with his Grandparents Ashcroft and Palmer to attend school.
At Kirtland High School he played football and ran the hurdles in track, before graduating in 1962. Nick attended New Mexico State University, where he met and married Lawanna Newman in 1966 and graduated with his Bachelors of Science in Animal Science in 1968. After graduation he ran the Tsaya Trading Post and then went to Montezuma Creek, Utah trading post.
In 1971, Nick and Lawanna bought the farm in Bloomfield, while continuing to run Montezuma Creek, cattle at Tsaya, and farm. In 1973, they left the trading post and Nick went to work for Farmington Construction with Jim and Bill Flack. After selling the ranch at Tsaya in 1975, the herd was reduced and moved to the farm in Bloomfield.
Nick served on the Hammond Ditch Board for 27 years and on the Sullivan Road Volunteer Fire Department for many years. He also served on the West Hammond Domestic Water Board when they built the system and resigned the board to become the system operator, where he worked the rest of his life. Nick and Lawanna also served 13 years cannery coordinators at the LDS cannery.
Nick is survived by his wife Lawanna Newman Ashcroft; sons, Nicholas K. Jr., born June 4, 1967, and Bronson D., born Sept. 3, 1969; daughter, Julie Jo-el born Feb. 18, 1991
Nick is preceded in death by his parents Kay and June Ashcroft and sister Sandy Bybee and survived by brothers: Ross (Debbie), Brad (Candy). Sisters Ramona (Hans) Fischer, Mayla (Gerald) Fischer, Lisa (Allen) Armer. Grandchildren: Taylor (Ubaldo) Orozco, Lindsey, Bronson K., Cody K, Alexander D. and great granddaughter Aria Orozco.
Visitation will be Nov. 18, 2016 at 9:00 am and services at 10:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Bloomfield, NM, with Bishop John Messenger officiating. Pallbearers are Bronson K. Ashcroft, Cody K. Ashcroft, Shane Newman, Bryan Adair, Josiah Spillers, Caleb Ashcroft, Logan Ashcroft, and John Portell. Honorary Pallbearers are Tony Ashcroft, Karl Bybee, Jason Ashcroft, Kasey Armer, Hank Adair, Tyrell Newman, Orrin Newman, Logan Newman and Kyle Newman. Nick's care is entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 East Ute St., Farmington, (9505) 325-8688.