Obituary of Alfred Savisky

Alfred "Al" Savisky January 04, 1923 - April 21, 2016 Alfred Savisky, 93, went to be with the Lord on April 21, 2016. He was born to Dominic and Ursula Savisky in West Frankfort, Illinois on Jauary 4, 1923. Funeral services will be held at Jackson Ave Baptist Church in Lovington at 10 am Tuesday morning, April 26 and burial will follow at Antioch Cemetery. Officiating will be Brother Dave Rowser pastor of JABC where Al served as a trustee, faithful member and usher for more than forty years. He also looked forward to worshiping with the congregation of Ruidoso Downs First Southern Baptist Church in our New Mexico mountains each summer. Alfred served our nation in the U.S. Navy in World War II. He was 19 years old when he joined in October, 1942. During the 4 years he served, he saw action in North Africa, the European Theater and in the Pacific. He participated in many of the island invasions and helped transport troops, tanks, equipment ashore to the war zones and carried wounded service men and prisoners-of-war back to the U.S. After the service Al came to Albuquerque to the University of New Mexico where he met the love of his life, Evelyn Idell Pope. They were married on September 7, 1947. Al served as a police officer in the Albuquerque Police Department before he and Idell moved back to Lovington. Al was a loving husband and father to four children born to the family; Julia Gayla, Alice, A.T. and Luke. Over the next 60 years, Al and Idell ran many successful Lovington businesses, including a trailer park, a skating rink (and occasional pro wrestling arena with Al as referee), a discount store, auto sales, shopping centers and both owned real estate offices for more than 30 years. Al quietly served his nation and community in Lovington Lions Club for over 60 years where he held many offices and assisted with raising funds for child eyesight nationwide. Alfred was a member of Masonic Lodge of Lovington and member of Lea County Shrine Club where he supported crippled and burned children both physically and financially to be able to receive free treatment in Shriners Hospitals nationwide. He spoke often of how much he enjoyed working not only with the children, but with the parents, too, as they made plans with the doctors and the Shriners Hospital. He also served as City Commissioner in the 1950s. Al loved Lovington, its community and people. He was an avid fan of our local high school teams in football, basketball, baseball and sponsored an award-winning boy’s rifle club in the early 1960’s which included Woody Carter, Billy Dale Dye, Freddy McCracken and other outstanding young men of those days. Fishing, hunting and target shooting were among his pastimes. Al planned many memorable vacations with his family through the years where he was the main chauffeur and photographer. He, also, served as sponsor and pit crew for his son Luke’s motocross competitions. He will always be remembered for his sense of humor, kindness, quiet generosity and wonderful zest for life. Alfred was preceded in death by his parents; one son, A.T. “Bud” Savisky; his nephew, Billy Dale Dye; two brothers who served in the U.S. military, John V. Savisky and Anthony Savisky. He is survived by his wife, Idell Savisky; two daughters, Julia Gayla Wilson of Dallas, Texas and Alice J. Love of Vancouver, Washington; son, James Luke Savisky of Austin, Texas; his niece, Sara Savisky Koethke of Kelso, Washington, and niece, Charline Dye and family of Lovington. To those who may wish to honor Alfred, it would please the family if you would donate to the Lovington Lions Club or Lea County Shrine Club in his memory. Visitation with the family will be held at Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home in Lovington from 5:00-7:00 on Monday, April 25.