Charles "Poncho" McNew

Poncho, 74 passed away December 11, 2022 at Mercy Regional Medical Center surrounded by family. For the last 3 years, Poncho fought multiple health issues.  Poncho was born at the original Mercy Hospital December 7, 1948 to Charles Edward(Mc) and Nellie Eileen (Jack) McNew.
Poncho attended school in Bayfield and graduated May of 1967.  He attended one year of college at Fort Lewis.  He played and excelled in all sports during high school.  He was very proud to be part of the State Championship Basketball team. He loved fast cars and eventually built his own Vega drag car.  
Poncho married Penny Schwein on October 25, 1969 at the Fort Lewis College Chapel.  They have two children O'Brady McNew of Mobile, Alabama and Michal Diana Valencia of Ignacio,CO.
He started working in  home construction after high school.  He formed his own construction company in the early 70s and earned the reputation of being honest, fair and a man of his word.  He built many homes and businesses in Bayfield and Forest Lakes, including Bayfield Church of Christ, the original Pine River Valley Bank building and the Bayfield Post Office.  He then specialized in building post offices in New Mexico.  Poncho retired in 1994 after building the South Fork, CO  post office.  He and Penny then started going to Quartzsite, AZ for the winters.  They enjoyed 20 years there meeting up with family and friends to ride dune buggies in the desert.  
Poncho was preceeded in death by his parents and his brother Mickey Jo.  He is survived by his wife, Penny, son Brady and his wife, Michelle; daughter Mikie and her husband Curtis Valencia.   He is also survived by his most favorite people in the world, his grandchildren, Myriah McNew, Logan McNew, Grayson Gosney, Carter Gosney, Ariana Valencia and great granddaughter Aila McNew. He is also survived by his sister Charlene of Arizona and her two daughters, Kerri Ann Whitehorn and Kandy Kay Cruzan.
A celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2023 in Bayfield.  We will reach out with details as they are finalized.