Missing elderly couple found dead outside of Tucumcari

The search for a missing elderly couple from Texas has come to an end after the two were found dead in eastern New Mexico on Tuesday.

The Quay County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that Charles “Gary” Lightfoot, 82, and Linda Lightfoot, 81, of Lubbock, Texas, were pronounced dead after deputies found them and their vehicle at a ranch west of Tucumcari, five days after they went missing.

The cause of their death remains under investigation.

Barbara Scheller, niece to Gary and Linda Lightfoot, said the two went missing while driving back to Lubbock from Panhandle, where they were spending Thanksgiving. She believes the two got lost and possibly missed the Interstate 27 exit back to Lubbock, which led them toward New Mexico.

“We’re assuming somewhere along the way, (they) ended up in the rural area of New Mexico and their car ended up being inoperable,” Scheller said.

The couple shared a phone and left it in Lubbock by accident when they went to visit family for Thanksgiving, Scheller said. In a statement to the Journal, Scheller said the Lightfoots were “genuine and kind people” who left behind one son, siblings and several nieces and nephews.

On Dec. 2, deputies with the Quay County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a ranch west of Tucumcari after receiving a report from a caller who said they saw the couple’s vehicle, according to a news release posted on Facebook. “Upon arrival, deputies located an inoperable vehicle parked in a tree line at the edge of a pasture,” the release states.

Deputies confirmed the vehicle belonged to the Lightfoots. Both were found dead at the scene. The Quay County Sheriff’s Office has not given any other details.

Scheller said Charles Lightfoot was a retired veteran who served as captain to the criminal warrant division in Taylor County, Texas, along with a law enforcement officer for the Lamb County Sheriff’s Office.

“Gary was a not only highly regarded retired law enforcement officer, he was a self-taught wood craftsman,” Scheller said. “He could do just about anything with a scroll saw. He created wooden carved farm animals, crosses and anniversary carving for wedding anniversaries.”

Linda Lightfoot worked in Abilene, Texas, for an oil and gas company before working in the banking industry. She loved celebrating holidays and enjoyed giving gifts and cards to her family, Scheller said.

In a statement, Scheller thanked all law enforcement agencies for assisting in the search for the Lightfoots.

“Although it was not the outcome we had hoped for, it is evident everything that could be done was done,” Scheller said. “The outpouring of love and support from so many people across Texas, NM and many other states encouraged us.”