Bennie Ernest Sanchez, age 87, of Clayton, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, in Clayton, New Mexico.

Rosary will be held on Saturday, September 13, at 9:30 A.M. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Clayton, followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:00 A.M. with Fr. Joji Konkala as celebrant. Burial will follow in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton.

Bennie Ernest Sanchez was born on June 6, 1938, in Barney, New Mexico to Enocencio A. Sanchez and Adelia (Martinez) Sanchez. He grew up in Barney and Clayton and was a lifelong resident of Union County. Bennie worked for a feedlot for several years and later at the Conoco Gas Station in Clayton for several years. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Clayton. His faith was very important to him, and he prayed the rosary several times a day. Bennie was preceded in death by his parents, by 6 sisters, Beatrice Martinez, Adelina Armijo, Eloise Sisneros, Gloria Espinoza, Lelia Cordova and Stella Sanchez, by 4 brothers, Daniel Sanchez, Eloy Sanchez, Raymond Sanchez and Eloy Gonzales, by 6 brothers-in-law, Manuel Martinez, Nestor Cordova, Arthur Armijo, Joe Montano, Charles Espinoza and Johnny Sisneros and by 2 sisters-in-law, Flora Sanchez and Sharran Sanchez

SURVIVORS:

2 DAUGHTERS: Angela Alexander and Fatima Slove.

1 SON: Edward Benny Sanchez.

2 SISTERS: Teresina Montano of Amarillo, Texas and Carmel Sisneros of Dalhart, Texas.

1 BROTHER-IN-LAW: George Sisneros of Aztec, New Mexico.

And many nieces and nephews including Clara Sandoval and her husband Manuel of Guymon, Oklahoma, Dora Cloud and her husband Jerry of Clayton, New Mexico and Vangie Herrera and her husband Orlando of Goodwell, Oklahoma, Robert Cordova of Clayton, New Mexico, Johnny Cordova of Mountain View, Oklahoma..