Gary Neal Hall

Gary Neal Hall

1952-2024

Surrounded by his children and wife, Dee, Gary Neal Hall passed from this life and was received by the Lord on Sept. 29, 2024.

Gary was born in Tucumcari, N.M., June 19, 1952, to John Alvin Hall and Francis Joanne Smith (later Jones). Gary’s family was defined as much by blood as it was by relationships, with many calling him brother, dad, father, husband and friend.

Gary has two sisters Marlene Smith and Karen Griggs (Joanne and Shorty Brown); and three brothers, John Hall (deceased), Stephen Hall and Mike Hall (John Alvin Hall and Beverly Ann). Gary has seven children, Jereme Woodruff, Tommy Woodruff, Neal Hall, Travis Hall, Keisha Bock, Clay Woodruff and Jerry Duran; not all were his biological children, but he was their dad and he loved them all. Gary was blessed to have 26 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Gary was a member of the class of 1970 of Tucumcari High School, where he played football and enjoyed working on his grandfather’s ranch in Duran, N.M. Gary’s career included his service in the U.S. Air Force, 37 years in law enforcement as a police officer and sheriff’s deputy, where he would eventually retire as chief deputy of Valencia County in 2017.

In between his careers, Gary enjoyed working as a cowboy on feed yards and ranches and never gave up his love of horses and the outdoors. In his retirement, Gary served his beloved Moose Fraternity in various roles.

Gary was preceded in death by his brother, John Hall; his mother, Joanne; father, John Alvin; and stepdad, G.R. “Shorty” Brown.

Gary is survived by his wife of 34 years, Debra “Dee” Hall; and all of his children, Gary’s one daughter, Keisha Bock, her three children and her husband, Josh Bock, of Belen; Gary’s six sons are Neal Hall his six children and his wife, Desirae, of Amarillo, Texas, Travis Hall his three children and wife, Carla, of Farwell, Texas, Jerry Duran, of Clovis, and his four children, Jereme Woodruff his five children and wife, Julia, of Elida, N.M., Tommy Woodruff and his two children and wife, Rebecca, of Rio Communities, Clayton Woodruff and his three children and his wife, Sandra, of Los Lunas.

A proper accounting of Gary’s life cannot be contained in enough words to tell of his deeds and actions, but the legacy of his devotion to service, sacrifice and standing up for right and wrong lives on in his friends, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and wife.

Services for Gary will be held on Thursday, Oct. 17, at Calvary Chapel Rio Grande Valley in Belen. A visitation will take place at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 9:30 a.m.

Gary will then be laid to rest at 2 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Serving as pallbearer’s will be the Valencia County Sheriff’s Department.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.