Donald William Richins, 65, of Cloudcroft, NM, passed away quietly on May 28, 2026. Donald was born on October 28, 1960, to Clyde LaVern and Norma Jean Richins of Cotton City, NM. He joined his older brother, Wesley Richins, and for a short time his twin brother, David Wayne, who died at birth.

Donald graduated from Animas High School in 1978. He was active in FFA, earning Star State Agri-Businessman Award and American Farmer Degree. He was on the FFA Ag Mechanics Team in high school and won many state level events, and played tennis for Animas High School.

Donald grew up on a cotton farm in Cotton City, NM where his family farmed and sold chemicals and fertilizer. He lived close to several aunts and uncles as well as many cousins.

Donald graduated New Mexico State University in 1983 where he earned degrees in Ag Biology and Farm & Ranch Management. In his early college career, Donald joined a work-study program and became an exchange student for a summer where he learned to speak the German language and work on a family farm in Elmshorn, Germany. He was an active brother in Alpha Gamma Rho Ag Fraternity at NMSU.

In 1985, he took a job with the US Forest Service in Pineville, LA. There he met his future wife, Mary Katherine Franklin. They married on December 21, 1985. In the summer of 1987, Donald took a job with the Farmer's Home Administration as a loan officer and they moved to Portales, NM. While in Portales, their children were born, William David Richins on November 22, 1987, and Katherine Marie Richins on July 31, 1989.

Over time, Donald realized that he wanted to do something different. Returning to agriculture, he sold chemicals and fertilizer in Farwell, TX and in Monte Vista, CO. He became the fertilizer manager in Yuma, CO and then moved to Brownfield, TX as the Assistant Manager, and later, the General Manager of the Brownfield Farmer's CoOp. In his spare time, Donald loved to buy and remodel fixer-uppers.

In 2008, Donald took another path. He learned that Sears was looking for someone to open a Sears Hometown Store in Brownfield. After this store was up and running, he later opened and ran stores in several other west Texas towns. In 2014, he took over the Sears Hometown Store in Alamogordo, NM. In 2016, Donald decided to step back from running those stores and chose to manage rental properties in Brownfield, TX and Lordsburg, NM.

In 2016, Donald and Mary chose to live full-time in Cloudcroft, NM. They added three bedrooms to the small cabin that they had enjoyed part-time, and loved living in the mountains. Donald was an active member of the Cloudcroft United Methodist Church. He loved singing in the choir and participating in the United Methodist Men's group. Donald enjoyed playing golf with the Monday Men. In his younger days, he loved to snow ski. Donald loved to travel, and Donald and Mary were able to take several trips throughout the US and overseas. Above all, he loved his family and loved spending time with them, especially his three grandchildren.

In 2026, Donald became ill, and his illness progressed quickly. He passed away quietly on May 28, 2026, in Alamogordo, NM. He joined his father, mother, twin brother David, and an infant grandson in Heaven.

Donald leaves behind his wife, Mary, of Cloudcroft, NM; his son, David and wife Destiny and their children, Alec D. and Sierra of Lubbock, TX; his daughter, Katy and husband Nathan Parrish and their daughter, Rylee of Lenoir City, TN. He is survived by his brother, Wesley Richins and wife Janet of Las Cruces, NM, along with their sons Clay, Sean, Evan and wife Laura and their 4 children, Alec C., Levi; as well as many cousins, extended family, and friends.

Donald will be missed!

The Memorial service for Donald will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Cloudcroft United Methodist Church, 50 Chipmunk Ave., Cloudcroft, NM, 88317. 

Graveside will follow at 11:00 am at James Canyon Cemetery, 2538 US 82, Cloudcroft, NM, 88317.

The Richins family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home to direct the funeral services.