Dail Bachtel

Dail Bachtel, age 81 of Taos, passed peacefully on Thursday, November 28, 2013. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 63 years, Margaret; four children, Michael and wife Patty of Taos, Chuck and wife Bernadette of Rio Rancho, Douglas and wife Nancy of Taos, and Dawn Marie and husband Gilles of Chandler, AZ; nine grand children, Jennifer Childress (Gary), Amy Miles (Paul), Brian Bachtel, Michael Bachtel, Lauren Ross (Anthony), Alicia Davis (Robert), Dihanna Pumain (Mitchell), Cassidy Bachtel, Allison Bachtel ( Mike), and four great grand children, Gianna and Rocco Ross and Emma and Carson Bachtel and sister, Wilma Jean Cleveland (James) of Brookfield, MO.

Dail was born in 1932 to Ruby and Orville Bachtel in Brookfield, MO. He was owner of Washam Gas Company. In retirement, he worked The Lost and Found at Taos Ski Valley for 15 years. He also drove the hospitality coach and worked for the Galles Racing Team for over five years. Dail was a Volunteer Fireman since 1951 and served as Fire Chief. He was a Boy Scout Leader, a member of the Lions Club, in charge of setting up and taking down the Tio Vivo at the annual Taos Fiestas for many years, a Board member for Northern Savings and Loan, and New Mexico Propane Association member. Dail was the official propane provider for the Taos Mountain Balloon Fiesta for many years. He loved to drive anything with a motor! He was a snow and water skier, played baseball on the Fire Department Team, a bowler, avid sportsman, a hunter, fisherman who loved boating and a car show enthusiast. Dails favorite word to describe or call everyone was, knucklehead! Soso long Dail, you Knucklehead!

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made in his name to the Taos Volunteer Fire Department.

A Celebration of Dails Life was held on December 8 at Sagebrush Inn Convention Center.

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