Edwin "Ed" Lee Dunagan

Edwin (Ed) Lee Dunagan passed away peacefully on Monday, April 10, 2023, at Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad.  Ed was born to Edgar Lee and Lena Putnam Dunagan on May 13, 1919, in Alamosa, CO.  Ed had two brothers, Arthur (Art) and Kenneth (Ken) Dunagan.  In 1929, the family moved to Carlsbad, NM where Edgar owned and operated a Sinclair Oil Distributorship and Apartments at 1710 S Canal Street.  Ed grew up there and worked in the family business. He graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1937, playing football and running track in high school. 

In 1941, Ed was drafted into the US Army and was initially stationed in Ft. Sill, OK.  Later he entered officer candidate school, eventually attaining the rank of Captain.  He was Captain of an Ordinance company in the Pacific theater until the end of World War II.  Ed was a proud veteran of his country.

In 1939, Ed went to work at Carter Agency, a local insurance and real estate agency.  There he met June Carter and they were married in Carlsbad on August 17, 1943, while Ed was in the service.  After the war Ed and June returned to Carlsbad continuing to work in the insurance and real estate business which eventually became Dunagan Associates and grew their family together.   The business eventually was moved to its present location at 212 W. Stevens Street.  Ed continued to work in that office and serve the business’s customers for over 70 years. 

Ed served on the Carlsbad Municipal Schools school board for about 12 years, serving at two different times.  He was a member during the time the present High School was built.  Ed was a member of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and helped start the chamber’s Retirement Committee in the late 1960s.  He and his family were very proud of having received the county’s Pioneer award in 2007.  He was always interested in seeing Carlsbad grow and thrive and worked to make Carlsbad grow.

Ed was involved in several different real estate developments in growing Carlsbad including the Carter Addition, Carter Acres, Pecos Acres, South Shore, Big Sky Homes, Country Acres, Hagerman Acres,  Springs Farm, Quail Hollow, Riverfront and others.  He developed Northgate Shopping Center, Carlsbad’s first shopping center, in the 1960s.  Many of these were done in partnership with his relative and friend, Albert Carter and his son, George. 

Ed was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, June Dunagan, and his brothers: Art and Ken. Ed is survived by his daughter, Susan Lee Bradford and husband, Daniel Bradford of Carmel, IN; son, George Dunagan and wife, Connie of Carlsbad, NM; son, Edwin Dunagan, Jr. of Carlsbad, NM; granddaughter, Julie Dunlap and husband, Charles of Fishers, IN; grandson, Steven Bradford and wife, Robin of Fishers, IN; granddaughter, Kerri Fowler and husband, Heath of Carlsbad, NM;  grandson, Sean Dunagan and wife, Tara of Knoxville, TN; great grandchildren: Sarah Dunlap, Sam Dunlap, Shelby Stephens and husband, Parker, Abigale Goodale, Emelia Goodale, Sophia Dunagan, Grayer Dunagan and Harper Dunagan and one great-great-granddaughter, Sailor Joelle Stephens.

The family wishes to thank the former Landsun Homes, and Lakeview Christian Home staffs for their kind and loving care of Ed over these past years.  They also wish to thank the CARC, Inc. for their wonderful and continued care of Ed and June’s son, Edwin, Jr.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Lakeview Christian Home, 1905 W. Pierce Street, Carlsbad, NM  88220  and/or CARC, Inc. 902 W. Cherry Lane, Carlsbad, NM  88220

Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Ed’s life will be held Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Leo Sweet Community Center, 1302 Mission Avenue, Carlsbad, NM with Terry McKean officiating.  Military Honors will be provided by the Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard.  Burial will follow on Monday, April 24, 2023 at the Carlsbad Cemetery.