Sealy Cavin

Sealy Hutchings Cavin

Sealy Hutchings Cavin, 90, passed from this life in the early morning hours of Thursday, January 16, 2020 after a brief illness.  “Hutch” was born in Galveston, TX on December 29, 1929 to his parents Ernest Dillard Cavin, Jr and Elizabeth Hutchings Cavin. He married Marion Reed Keller on December 10, 1948 and upon her death in 2013, they had been married for 65 years.

At the tender age of 13, Hutch attended the New Mexico Military Institute and remained there until his graduation from Junior College in 1948. From there he moved to Waco, TX and enrolled at Baylor University where he finished with a bachelor’s degree in 1950. He then went on to the University of Texas Law School in Austin, TX where he received a Juris Doctor (JD) degree in 1953.

Following graduation from law school, he accepted a position with Gulf Oil Company in Ft Worth, TX. The company then transferred him to their office in Roswell, NM to handle legal affairs associated with operations in the burgeoning Permian Basin. He accepted a position in the legal department with Anderson Oil Company in 1955 and worked with Robert O. Anderson and Donald B. Anderson until his retirement in 2005. His legal expertise came to encompass not only oil and gas, but also extended to sophisticated land transactions, land titles and water law.

Hutch was preceded in death by his wife “Cissy” and his sister, Patricia Cavin King. He is survived by his brother, Ernest Dillard Cavin, III of Center Point, TX. He is also survived by his 5 children Elizabeth Cavin Thomasson and her husband John of Lubbock, TX, Sealy H Cavin, Jr and wife Synda of Albuquerque, NM, Candace Cavin McClelland and husband Jim of Roswell, William E. Cavin and wife Kim of Roswell and M. Blair Cavin and wife Kerry of Roswell. He also had 15 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, two nieces, a nephew and a cousin.

Hutch was an intellectual demonstrated by his life-long love of learning and study of the law and many other widely diverse interests such as business, politics and medical issues. He was, however, totally devoted to the love of his wife and family. Their safety, well-being and happiness are what he centered his life around. In the early years, he lovingly entertained his children swimming, playing tennis, golf, backyard baseball or cards and thoroughly enjoyed watching his grandchildren do the same.

He was quite a conversationalist in later years and would happily regale anyone with stories of his boyhood in Galveston from swimming at the beach to fishing in the bay and going to the Artillery Club.

He also had a wide circle of friends who he loved and treasured including his Wednesday and Friday lunch groups.

Many people don’t recall that Hutch was elected to the New Mexico State Senate as a Republican in an historically significant election on November 8, 1966.  He took office on January 1, 1967 and honorably served Senate District 18 until December 31, 1970.

Arrangements include a viewing at Ballard Funeral Home on Friday, January 24, 2020 from 5 to 7 PM and a memorial service which will be held at the NMMI Chapel on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 3 PM with a celebration of life to follow thereafter.

Hutch never hesitated to help someone in need and gifted to many charities.  In lieu of flowers, please help someone less fortunate or make a donation to your charity of choice in his honor.