ProRodeo Sports News - January 10, 2020

Canids, Cynthia Bramblina, VNAHospice and Lifeline. Memorials may be sent to California Rodeo, Inc. P.O. Box 1648 Salinas, Calif., 93902, Monterey County Sheriff ’s Posse P.O. Box 1547 Salinas, Calif., 93902 or charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements by Struve and Laporte Funeral Home. Online condolences can be done at www.struveandlaporte.com.

PASSAGES

ARRIVALS

BRAXTON TRUE VICK A boy, born Jan. 7 to PRCA team roping heeler Blaine Vick and his wife, Shelby, of Dublin, Texas.

JAMES JOSEPH MARTINS James Joseph Martins, a PRCA Gold Card member, passed away Nov. 19 in Salinas, Calif. He was 88. Martins was born to Frank andMarie (Ruda)

B.J. PIERCE B.J. Pierce, a former tie-down roper, team roper and steer roper, passed away Dec. 26 in Clovis, N.M. He was 93. Pierce served on the RCA Board of Directors as the

Braxton weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 inches long. This is the couple’s first baby. Vick

Martins

Martins on June 9, 1931. He graduated from Salinas High School in 1949 where he met the love of his life, SallyWilson. After eloping on July 9, 1949, on his father’s fishing boat, they honeymooned inMexico. Settling into married life in Salinas, Martins worked for his mother-in- lawMargueriteWilson as a ranch hand. He also worked at Purity Grocery Store, Theil Hampton Realty and became a real estate broker. Martins rode bulls and bareback horses and became a professional team roper, winning two PRCA Gold Card world championships heeling behind Pete Norris. He was honored to win the prestigious California Rodeo Gold Card Team Roping twice and Oakdale Rodeo once. He enjoyed every team roping partner, many becoming lifelong friends. He was an avid hunter and would rather spend his time outdoors, passing that love to his children Kearney and Marguerite and his grandchildren and great-granddaughter. He was a proud member of the California Rodeo Association, Native Sons of the Golden West, Salinas Elks Lodge, A.C.T.R.A. and W.S.T.R.A., and was a Monterey County Sheriff ’s Posse Lifetime Member. Martins was blessed with a green thumb and enjoyed gardening alongside Sally. He relished working cattle with his friends and family. He had a knack for words and rhymes. He brought joy and love to family and friends. Martins was preceded in death by his wife, Sally; son, Michael Martins; father, Frank Martins; mother, Marie Martins; sisters Marguerite (Marvin) Roberts and Tiny (Art) Rodgers; brothers Frank (Lillian) Martins, Louie (Katharine-Lois) Martins and Bud (Mercedes) Martins; brother-in-law, Pete Renebome; daughter-in-law, Gatha Phillips Martins; and sister-in-law, Kay Martins. He is survived by son, Kearney (Leslie) Martins; daughter, Marguerite (Clifford) Happy; granddaughter, Mandy (Jason) Misner; grandsons Sean Happy and Ryan (Erica) Happy; great-granddaughter, Ireland Misner; brother, Allen Martins; sister, Joyce Renebome; and numerous nieces and nephews. Special thanks to his caregivers Kikue Palacio, Malena Rosales, Mosiana (Jane) Kanongataa, Mari Cruz Bramblia, Delma

BAYLER RAYNE PARROTT A boy, born Dec. 29 toWrangler NFR-qualifying steer wrestler Rowdy Parrott and his wife, Lynette, of Bellville, Texas. Bayler

Pierce

Calf Roping Director. He was inducted into the National Cowboy &Western Heritage Museum Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City in 2015. Amemorial service for Pierce will be at 11 a.m. (MT), Jan. 18 at the Steed Todd Chapel, 800 E. Manana in Clovis. Pierce was born Aug. 22, 1926, to Grady and Deloise Pierce. He was raised on a farm in Pleasant Hill, N.M., until his family moved back to town during his high school years. He had a passion for roping, inspired by his grandfather’s tales. He was self-taught and won his first rodeo in Tucumcari, N.M., in 1945. On weekends, he would go to Bob Crosby’s ranch to rope. He had a basketball scholarship to Eastern NewMexico University in Portales. But his rodeo winnings allowed him and his wife, Patty, to get their college educations. Pierce got his master’s degree in education. He and his wife had two children, Ben and Rena. After graduation from ENMU in 1950, he rodeoed full time. He won the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up, won at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, won in Cheyenne, Wyo., Lewiston, Idaho, Walla Walla, Wash., Santa Maria, Calif., Lethbridge, Canada, Ellensburg, Wash., (three times), Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago and Tucson. By the early 1960s, Pierce was ready to hang up his rope. He “retired” from the rodeo business and started teaching school at Highland Elementary in Clovis. His plan was to teach one year in sixth grade, but he ended up staying 31 years in the school system, first as a teacher, then a principal. In 1976, he married his second wife, Sue, and adopted her son, John. They were married 31 years, until Sue’s death in 2008. During much of that time, Pierce continued to teach while training calf horses for ropers across the region. Pierce is survived by his sons Ben G. Pierce and John Pierce. While his daughter, Rena, survived him, she passed away a week after him.

Parrott

weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 21¼ inches long. He was welcomed home by older brother, Pacen, 2.

WACEY PAUL BROWN A boy, born Dec. 18 to five-time Wrangler NFR- qualifying bareback rider Jake Brown and his wife, Nicole, of Cleveland, Texas.

Brown

Wacey weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces and was 19½ inches long. This is the couple’s first child.

PRCA NOTES

WILLOW TATE FONTENOT A girl, born Dec. 7 to tie-down roper Ike Fontenot and his wife, Megan, of Ville Platte, La. Willow weighed 7 pounds and was 19.6 inches long. This is the couple’s first baby.

Fontenot

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ProRodeo Sports News 1/10/2020

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