James Lindgren Teare

JAMES LINDGREN TEARE-James Lindgren Teare, age 93, a resident of Farmington, passed away Thursday, September 24, 2009. He was born Nov. 4, 1915, in Santa Fe, to Alfred and Ellen Teare. He graduated from the University of New Mexico and worked at the First National Bank of Santa Fe. He served in World War II and after his discharge he married Elzada Bessie Young on April 9, 1944. In 1949, he moved to Los Alamos to manage the branch of the First National Bank of Santa Fe and later joined the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In 1960, he formed the Los Alamos Building and Loan Association and helped many people obtain their first home mortgage. In Los Alamos he was chairman of the County Commission, a member of Kiwanis, on the hospital board and was head of the Selective Service Board. He also played a role in the establishment of the Los Alamos National Bank. In 1967, he moved his family to the Washington DC., area, where he worked at the Department of Interior and then the Environmental Protection Agency. After his retirement in 1967, he and Elzada served four 18 month missions in Zimbabwe, St. Kitts, New Zealand and Vancouver, British Columbia. Since then, James and his wife lived in Albuquerque and Roswell until moving to Farmington in 2005. Jim loved hunting and fishing, and was an avid letter writer, keeping in touch with friends and family across the world. James received the New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award, Distinguished Service to the EPA, and Special Commendation form the GAO. He always will be remembered for the service he gave to his family, community and church. He is survived his wife, Elzada Bessie; his children, Jane Braithwaite and husband, Karl James and wife Cheryl, Mark and wife, Nancy, Gary and wife, Annie, Ellen Reed and husband Bill; sister-in-law, Mary Helen Teare; 21 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in James' name to the charity of your choice. Memorial services are under the direction of: Alternative Choice Cremation and Funeral Services 804 N. Dustin Ave. Farmington, NM 87401 (505) 326-3671.