Bill L. Sadler

Bill L. Sadler, 63, of 810 Tanoan Court, Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away Thursday, June 14, 2012 at his home. There will be no visitation, cremation has taken place. A celebration of his life is scheduled for Monday, June 18, 2012, 2:00 PM, at First Baptist Church with Pastor Randy Land officiating. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Bill L. Sadler was born December 3, 1948 in Carlsbad, New Mexico to Billy F. and Lovenia (Lee) F. Sadler. He graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1966 later attending New Mexico Highlands University. In 1976, he became first person to obtain a degree in police science from NMSU-C. Bill married Christy McAnally on December 20, 1969 here in Carlsbad. Bill began his law-enforcement career in 1970 as a jailer for the Eddy County Sheriff's Department later serving as field deputy and administrative captain. In 1974, he began working for the Carlsbad Police Department as a patrol officer later holding positions as sergeant and lieutenant. In 1980, he entered the detective division as a sergeant retiring in 1991 as detective captain. Later that same year, he began serving the first of three terms in the New Mexico Judicial System being appointed as the presiding Magistrate Judge for Eddy County in 1995. Prior to his retirement from the bench in 2002, he received the prestigious Liberty Bell Award from the Eddy County Bar Association in recognition of his lifetime of service to the law. Bill completed several courses with the New Mexico Judicial Education Center as well as National Judicial College where he later served as a Faculty Advisor. He was also a member of the Carlsbad Rotary Club and First Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his father, Billy F. Sadler. He is survived by his wife, Christy Sadler of Carlsbad, NM, son, Kevin Sadler and wife, Jamie of Bristow, VA; twin granddaughters: Addison and Ainsley Sadler; mother, Lee Sadler and Wayne Carlson of Carlsbad, NM; brother, Joe Sadler and Scott Singer of Reseda, CA; mother and father-in-law, Edna and Ed McAnally of Carlsbad, NM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1856, Clovis, NM 88101, First Baptist Church Building Fund, 112 N. Alameda Street, Carlsbad, NM 88220 or a charity of choice. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.