Daniel Wade

Daniel Lee Wade, 68, passed away November 25th at his home in Albuquerque.

Born in Roswell, New Mexico to James Heber Wade and Betty Sue Bryant, Dan was the

youngest of six siblings. Dan remained in New Mexico and the Four Corners area throughout

his life.

Dan was the definition of a self-made man, who dedicated himself to hard work through good

times and hard times, always driven to improve and enrich his life and the lives of those around

him. One of his great joys as a businessman was growing his company, Aesop's Gables, from a

one-man contracting business to a company employing as many as 45 people. He took great

pride in knowing his employees not only earned a good living, but were able to grow and learn

in their jobs - to gain new skills and a trade they could take with them through life.

As an employer, Dan believed in rewarding hard work, and demanded a lot from employees, but

those who worked for him also knew Dan to be a man who would support them fully. A call from

employees in the field was never placed on hold or called back. They would always get what

they needed when they needed it. He was also a believer in second chances and often hired

and rehired people who demonstrated that they wanted to work hard.

In addition to Aesop's, Dan became a cattle rancher in southeastern New Mexico, allowing him

to develop his love of the outdoors and agriculture into a successful cattle growing operation. He

loved spending time driving the ranch with his wife, friends, family and grandkids; hunting mule

deer and antelope with family; and generally enjoying the New Mexico scenery.

An avid reader, Dan was passionate about history, politics, westerns, and literature and

collected an extensive library on a wide-range of topics. The books he read fulfilled his great,

and life-long interest in learning. His intellectual curiosity was matched only by his love of life

and family. He wrote his own award winning book titled Letters to the Grandchildren composed

of stories about his life and the lives of his siblings and cousins to impart family history to future

generations. He firmly believed in the importance of knowing your history and respecting your

roots.

Family was paramount to Dan. He and his siblings remained close throughout their lives, and

supported each other through thick and thin. He also took great joy in spending time with

dozens of first, second, and third cousins through regular family reunions with extended family

in Mississippi.

Dan was a fun-loving, free spirit, whose joy came through in the quick laugh, the playful

comment, and the songs he loved to sing. He was always one to seek a new adventure or take

the road less traveled. We know now he is on another great adventure.

He is survived by his wife, Daina Wade; daughter, April Wade Turk; son Joshua Wade; sisters

Donna Sue Wade and Jenny Chilson; son-in-law Michael Turk; grandchildren Riley Turk and

Madison Turk; and nine nieces and nephews, numerous great nieces and nephews, and a large

extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Tommy Felix, Jerry and

Wallace, and niece Alicia Barber.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Ranches "Rekindling HOPE for at Risk Youth"