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Elderly Texas Couple Found Dead Days After Thanksgiving; Family Says They Became Disoriented on Drive Home

07:20 AM, 12/05/2025
Elderly Texas Couple Found Dead Days After Thanksgiving; Family Says They Became Disoriented on Drive Home

The bodies of Linda, 81, and Gary Lightfoot, 82, were found on Dec. 2 in a rural area of Quay County, New Mexico, five days after they failed to return to Lubbock, Texas, following a Thanksgiving gathering. Their inoperable vehicle was located in a tree line at the end of a pasture on a ranch west of Tucumcari. Family members say the couple likely became disoriented on the drive and had left their cell phone at home; autopsy results could take about three months. The family praised search efforts, remembered the Lightfoots' community contributions, and urged travelers to be prepared even for short distances.

Linda and Gary Lightfoot Found Dead Days After Leaving Thanksgiving Gathering

A married couple in their 80s, Linda Lightfoot, 81, and her husband Gary Lightfoot, 82, were discovered dead on Dec. 2 in rural Quay County, New Mexico, five days after they failed to return to their Lubbock, Texas, home following a Thanksgiving gathering in Panhandle, Texas.

According to statements from the Carson County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office and the Quay County (New Mexico) Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a ranch west of Tucumcari after a possible sighting of the couple's vehicle. Officers found an inoperable vehicle parked in a tree line at the end of a pasture that was later confirmed to belong to the Lightfoots. Tragically, both were pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation remains active.

Family member Barbara Scheller told PEOPLE that the Lightfoots often drove the route between Panhandle and Lubbock and that the family believes the couple 'somehow got turned around' and became lost during the drive home. Scheller said the pair had left their cell phone at home.

The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator confirmed it has the couple's remains and that formal autopsy reports, which will determine cause and manner of death, could take roughly three months to complete. Authorities in both counties have declined to release additional details while the inquiry continues.

Family Remembers a Devoted Couple

'They were genuine and kind people who leave behind a legacy of love and devotion,' the family said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

The family noted Gary was a military veteran and had a long career in law enforcement, serving with the Lamb County Sheriff’s Office and as Littlefield Police Chief from 1993 to 2003. They described him as a self-taught wood craftsman who made carved animals, crosses and anniversary pieces. Linda worked in Abilene in the oil and gas industry and later in banking; loved giving cards and gifts for holidays; and famously kept her fireplace burning year-round.

Survivors include their son Gregg, Linda’s sister Barbara and her husband Waylon, and nieces and nephews. The family thanked law enforcement and volunteers involved in the search and urged travelers to be prepared even for short trips — noting that an extra phone, charger, or basic emergency supplies can make a difference.

Authorities continue to investigate. Anyone with information related to the Lightfoots' movements on Nov. 27–Dec. 2 is asked to contact the Carson County or Quay County sheriff’s offices.

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