Kenneth "Ken" Francis Scheffe

Kenneth “Ken” Francis Scheffe passed away on February 22, 2021 in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the age of 64.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Linda Oyer Scheffe of Corrales, NM; son, Shawn Oyer (Kristin) of Colorado Springs, CO; daughter, Xela Oyer (Kamil Javon) of Las Vegas, NV; brothers, Calvin Scheffe (Kathleen Jensen) of Pottstown, PA, and Darwin (Liz Scheffe) of Norman, OK; sisters, Brenda (Wayne Edwards) of Iowa Park, TX, Phyllis (Chuck Huff) of Wichita Falls, TX, and Melinda (Cody Mclean) of Iowa Park, TX; brother-in-law, Dave Oyer and nephew, Ben Oyer of Reading MA; granddaughter, Cora Grace Oyer; grandson, Paul Russell Oyer; nieces, Renea, Molly of Iowa Park, TX and Janelle of Whitesboro, TX; nephews, Adam and Dusty of Wichita Falls, TX, Cody of Narribri, Australia, Luke and Daniel of Norman, OK and Jacob of Iowa Park, TX. He is preceded in death by his father, Earl James Scheffe and mother, Evelyn Olivia Koetter.

Kenneth was born on November 6, 1956 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Earl James Scheffe and Evelyn Olivia Koetter. He graduated from Iowa Park High School in 1975. He attended college at Texas Tech University and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Soil Science. In 1982, he graduated with a Master’s degree in Soil Science from Texas Tech University. He married Linda Oyer on July 5, 1997 in Bernalillo, NM and were married for 23 beautiful years.

For 40 years, Kenneth worked for USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (New Mexico State Soil Scientist and other positions) from 1978-2018. He was a Co-owner of Sustainable Soil Systems LLC from 2019-2021, and from 2019-2021 was a contract Soil Scientist working in soil health with New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts. Kenneth was accomplished at Soil Mapping in Sierra, Guadalupe, and Curry counties from 1978-1988. He won multiple performance awards and certificates of merit and appreciation throughout his career. He served as the National Soil Classification Specialist (Soil Taxonomy) at the National Soil Survey Center from 2014-2018. He was also a co-author of National Soil Survey Manual published in 2017.

He was an EMT and volunteer firefighter & Chief in Santa Rosa, NM (assistant instructor technical rope rescue for New Mexico State Fire Marshall Office). He was also a member of the Soil Science Society of America and Soil and Water Conservation Society. He was an active and dedicated member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Rio Rancho, NM and St. John the Apostle Parish in Lincoln, NE.

Kenneth loved to garden and grow vegetables. He also loved to preserve food including making hot sauces and spice mixes. He was passionate about woodworking, weather and soil climate monitoring, bicycling (completed numerous century rides), hiking, golfing, traveling and bird watching. He loved spending time with his family and spoiling his grandchildren.

Ken was raised on a farm/ranch operation in Iowa Park, TX, had a strong work ethic, and was a happy, generous, kind family man of great faith.  As a soil scientist with USDA-NRCS for 40 years, he said he would stop in wonder and exclaim, “They pay us to go out all day to see and map these incredible landscapes that others take their hard-earned vacations to experience – what a job! “  He was a true scientist, yet he appreciated the magic of nature also, experiencing it every day in New Mexico, Land of Enchantment. He and his wife (Linda) worked side by side on conservation of natural resources both at work and at home.   They enjoyed many years of beaming with pride at their son’s (Shawn) baseball games and their daughter’s (Xela) dance performances, and many other accomplishments of theirs and their families.  They enjoyed sharing with granddaughter Cora and recently grandson Paul love and the secrets and magnificence of nature.

A man of many talents and determination, Ken was able to excel in so many trades and activities. The kids used to say his work was “better than professional” on all his projects.  Ken strongly believed that the most important resource you will ever encounter in your work and travels, or have the opportunity to manage and help improve, is the people you meet and work with.   No matter what, we should always treasure the people, spending time around a soil pit by day and a fire pit by night, exchanging ideas and sharing our lives as one family.   It is our people who accomplish our mission in life, not the tools and technologies.    Ken was a true leader in every sense of the word as he led by example, listened well and humbly showed others how to be good leaders and to pursue their dreams. 

A memorial contribution can be sent to Prostate Cancer Foundation, Friends of Bosque Del Apache, or St. Felix Pantry (Rio Rancho)

A memorial service and celebration of life reception is scheduled for Friday, June 18th at 10:30 am at St. Thomas Aquinas Church Rio Rancho, NM.