James A. "Jim" Gillock

James Albert Gillock, age 84, of Carlsbad, NM entered the presence of our Lord on November 22, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, December 12, 2025 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home, 1001 North Canal Street, Carlsbad, NM. Interment will follow at Carlsbad Cemetery, 1506 Boyd Drive, Carlsbad, NM.

Jim was born on August 19, 1941 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. He graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1960. Jim married Karen Karr in 1960. He served in the United States Navy from 1960 to 1964 and was stationed in Florida and California during his service. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Jim returned to Carlsbad with his wife and oldest daughter in 1964. He completed training as a mechanic and worked in this profession for more than 30 years at the potash mines. He was a jack of all trades and quite ingenious. There was very little he couldn’t repair or improve. He was a hardworking man, husband and father. Jim also knew how to enjoy life. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed playing poker, country western dancing, riding motorcycles, riding horses, boating, flying remote-controlled airplanes, keeping a pristine lawn and especially playing golf. He loved hot summer days and being outdoors.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, William Gillock and mother, Opal Gadbury-Gillock-Trapp. His stepfather Verlin L “VL” Trapp. His stepbrother, Verlin L “Rocky” Trapp, Jr.

Jim is survived by his former wife, Karen Karr; daughters: Robin Ramacciotti, Tracy Gillock and Tammy Gillock; grandchildren: Nicole Hadley, Lonny Sheridan Hadley and wife Brianna Hadley, Ryan Wilcox, Rio Ortega and husband James Ortega, and Summer Lucero; great grandchildren: Jesse Lerma, Daniel Lerma, Sofia Lerma, Adrienne Hadley and Lonny Abram Hadley; brother, Bill Gillock and sisters, Barbra Dalton and Letha Barnes; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

If you wish to honor Jim’s memory with a donation, the family kindly asks that contributions be made to the First Baptist Church, 112 N Alameda Street, Carlsbad, NM 88220.