Leo Beryl Gilbert, age 93, died on Friday, October 2, 2026 in Clayton, New Mexico.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Clayton Methodist Church with Pastor Kenneth W. Tidmore officiating. Burial will follow in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton. 

Leo Beryl Gilbert along with twin sister Bernice was born on October 29,1932 to Charles and Meta Gilbert in Clayton, NM.

They lived down in Beenham Canyon, then moved to Mt Dora area and started attending school at Mt Dora, then later on to Clayton schools, where he graduated from CHS in 1951.

After high school he attended NMSU for a semester. After returning home he started dating Joy Crist while cowboying for Largent and Sadler ranch that raised registered Hereford cattle. He was then drafted into the army and left Clayton to serve his country. He was stationed in El Paso for basic training and went to Alabama to Fort Rucker. On a furlough he returned to Clayton and married his lifelong love Joy Louise Crist on August 3, 1953, then returned to Fort Rucker. He then received orders to be transferred to Camp Stewart in Hinesville, Georgia. Not long after, Joy boarded the train out of Clayton, traveling several hours to Georgia to meet Beryl and to start their married life together. Rumor has it that to keep his roping skills up and some entertainment, he would have Joy run across the living room, and he would heel her with his rope. The neighbors became quite concerned and finally questioned what the noise was.

On November 5, 1954, Randall Bryant was born. Thus, making Randall “THE #1", or at least that’s what Randall claims.

Upon returning to NM, Beryl was hired in the Felt, Oklahoma area for farming and taking care of a few cattle. Dr Sadler came into contact with Beryl and offered him a job at Ocate, NM taking care of 800 head of Hereford cows. From there they moved to the Sadler Ranch and lived at the Fuqua house, then to the big show barn. During this time Marilyn Joy was born on May 30th, 1957. They then moved to the main house on Sadler Ranch where Karen Lynn was born on November 24, 1958, Kelly Beryl on April 15,1960 and Lori Ann February 3, 1963. This was our home for the next 43 years where his children and grandchildren were raised. Memories upon memories fill our hearts of the time we spent there.

Throughout this time the ranch sold to Jim Carter, Curtis Chism, and finally Martins. A hard decision was made, and Beryl and Joy moved to Clayton in 1997. He worked for Ron Jenkins, then the sale barn and Union County feedlot. He also did a lot of day work in the surrounding area, enjoying working with many other cowboys.

They resided here until Beryl moved into the Clayton Nursing Home to be with Joy.

On May 15th, 2024, Joy went to heaven and Beryl longed to join her. On October 2nd Jesus came and took him home where Joy and a host of family and friends welcomed him home.

In addition to his wife, Beryl was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Meta Gilbert, 3 brothers, Harold Gilbert, Alvin Gilbert and George Gilbert, 1 sister, Bernice Christian, 2 grandchildren, Keegan and Ty, a grand-son-in-law, Jason Fuqua, 2 sisters-in-law, Jean Gilbert and Maurine Francis and 2 brothers-in-law, Rex Christian and Jerry Francis

SURVIVORS:

5 CHILDREN: Randall Gilbert (Judy) of Clovis, NM and their children, Hadley Gilbert (Kim) and their children, Jake & Scarlett, Mandy Fuqua and her children, J’Lee, Sydney, Layton & Kyleb, Lindsay Lambeth (Justin) and their children, Levi, Clayton & Brooklynn and Miles Moulder (Angela) and their children Bryce & Brie. Marilyn Reynolds of Waco, TX and her children, Amy Moore and her children, Caroline & Margot and Tessa Wilson (Ben) and their children, Faraday & Frankie, Karen Clay (Lynn) of Clayton, NM and their children, Eric Clay (Amber) and their children, Devon, Laci, Hunter, Arrow & Ryser, Thomas Clay (Emily) and their children Ryan and Grace and Adam Clay (Diana) and their children, Joe, Will, Jada & Ella Joy, Kelly Gilbert (Brenda) of Round Rock, TX and their children, Chance Gilbert (Christina) and their children, Cayson, Jax & Dominic, Megan Alvarez (Rene) and their daughter, Emilia, Cari Cryer (Joseph) and their children, Cadance, Josef, Patrick & Bradley, Jaimee Gomez (Jacob) and their children, Ana, Elijah & Braden and Lori Garcia (Joe) of Dalhart, TX and their children, Josh Garcia (Rikki) and their children, Savina, Yesenia, Reegan & Brayden, Ashlee Garcia and her children Talon & Bexlee and Ben Garcia and his son Knox, 1 brother-in-law, Lane Crist (Jean) of Clayton and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.