Thelma Stillings Reasner passed October 25, 2013. She was 97 years old and had a healthy, wonderful family-filled life.
Thelma was born on May 11, 1916 in Dickens Co. Texas to German Homesteaders, Charlie and Addie Brendle. Her early years were filled with the difficulties of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Thelma had one sister, Wilma (Harris), and they worked hard to just survive.
The Brendle family moved to Albuquerque in the 1930's. Charlie was a skilled carpenter who built sets for the classic western movies being filmed in NM. Thelma recalled getting dressed up, standing on the airport roof watching movie stars like John Wayne, Clark Gable and Rita Hayworth.
Thelma married Walter Stillings in 1940, and traveled with him throughout NM as he sold hardware. They stayed in the classy hotels of that era - El Rancho in Gallup, La Fonda in Santa Fe. The first time she went bowling was in Las Vegas, NM in high heels. Thelma and Walter were active and enjoyed many friends, particularly the friendships of Thelma's sister Wilma and her husband Floyd. Weekends would find the men golfing and in the evenings they took their wives dancing and bowling.
Thelma and Walter had three daughters, Sandy, Janet and Vicky. Thelma sewed for the girls and took the time for their varied interests. She was active in the Methodist Church, Girl Scouts and Job's Daughters. She attended the Girl Scout Camp in Cuernavaca Mexico with Janet. That was one of her favorite trips and she could remember details to the end of her life.
When the girls started college, Thelma began working in small retail clothing stores. Her caring personality and knowledge made her a successful salesperson. When Walter's health began to fail in the later 1970's, they moved to Anthony, NM to be near Vicky, Sandy and young grandchildren to spoil. Walter passed away in 1981.
In 1984, Thelma married Ray Reasner and lived in Rio Rancho, NM. Thelma adopted into her generous heart, Jerry, Denny and Darrel Reasner, their wonderful families. Thus began a 23 year marriage of travel, family events and great times at the lake. They stayed in their home until Ray passed away in 2007.
Thelma then moved first to Phoenix, then Mokelumne Hill, CA for the remainder of her life. She was involved in the Moke Hill community and she could still play cards and dominos. She was able to attend weddings of her grandchildren and met all but two of her great-grandchildren. In the final months, she was able to stay at home thanks to the loving care of Hospice. Thelma's light will be missed by her daughters and sons-in-law: Sandy (Ed) Lafferty, Janet (Dave) Dock-Spitzer and Vicky Ludwig, and her step-children and wives: Jerry Reasner (Melba), Denny Reasner (Enid), Darrel Reasner (Sheila); and her nieces and nephews Nancy Levesque, Janie Piersol, Butch Harris and Chuck Harris.
Thelma had a wonderful sense of humor and could relate to all ages of family and friends. She was proud of her Texas heritage and enjoyed living in New Mexico. She will always live in our hearts.
Thelma was born on May 11, 1916 in Dickens Co. Texas to German Homesteaders, Charlie and Addie Brendle. Her early years were filled with the difficulties of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Thelma had one sister, Wilma (Harris), and they worked hard to just survive.
The Brendle family moved to Albuquerque in the 1930's. Charlie was a skilled carpenter who built sets for the classic western movies being filmed in NM. Thelma recalled getting dressed up, standing on the airport roof watching movie stars like John Wayne, Clark Gable and Rita Hayworth.
Thelma married Walter Stillings in 1940, and traveled with him throughout NM as he sold hardware. They stayed in the classy hotels of that era - El Rancho in Gallup, La Fonda in Santa Fe. The first time she went bowling was in Las Vegas, NM in high heels. Thelma and Walter were active and enjoyed many friends, particularly the friendships of Thelma's sister Wilma and her husband Floyd. Weekends would find the men golfing and in the evenings they took their wives dancing and bowling.
Thelma and Walter had three daughters, Sandy, Janet and Vicky. Thelma sewed for the girls and took the time for their varied interests. She was active in the Methodist Church, Girl Scouts and Job's Daughters. She attended the Girl Scout Camp in Cuernavaca Mexico with Janet. That was one of her favorite trips and she could remember details to the end of her life.
When the girls started college, Thelma began working in small retail clothing stores. Her caring personality and knowledge made her a successful salesperson. When Walter's health began to fail in the later 1970's, they moved to Anthony, NM to be near Vicky, Sandy and young grandchildren to spoil. Walter passed away in 1981.
In 1984, Thelma married Ray Reasner and lived in Rio Rancho, NM. Thelma adopted into her generous heart, Jerry, Denny and Darrel Reasner, their wonderful families. Thus began a 23 year marriage of travel, family events and great times at the lake. They stayed in their home until Ray passed away in 2007.
Thelma then moved first to Phoenix, then Mokelumne Hill, CA for the remainder of her life. She was involved in the Moke Hill community and she could still play cards and dominos. She was able to attend weddings of her grandchildren and met all but two of her great-grandchildren. In the final months, she was able to stay at home thanks to the loving care of Hospice. Thelma's light will be missed by her daughters and sons-in-law: Sandy (Ed) Lafferty, Janet (Dave) Dock-Spitzer and Vicky Ludwig, and her step-children and wives: Jerry Reasner (Melba), Denny Reasner (Enid), Darrel Reasner (Sheila); and her nieces and nephews Nancy Levesque, Janie Piersol, Butch Harris and Chuck Harris.
Thelma had a wonderful sense of humor and could relate to all ages of family and friends. She was proud of her Texas heritage and enjoyed living in New Mexico. She will always live in our hearts.
Thelma Stillings Reasner passed October 25, 2013. She was 97 years old and had a healthy, wonderful family-filled life.
Thelma was born on May 11, 1916 in Dickens Co. Texas to German Homesteaders, Charlie and Addie Brendle. Her early years were filled with the difficulties of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Thelma had one sister, Wilma (Harris), and they worked hard to just survive.
The Brendle family moved to Albuquerque in the 1930's. Charlie was a skilled carpenter who built sets for the classic western movies being filmed in NM. Thelma recalled getting dressed up, standing on the airport roof watching movie stars like John Wayne, Clark Gable and Rita Hayworth.
Thelma married Walter Stillings in 1940, and traveled with him throughout NM as he sold hardware. They stayed in the classy hotels of that era - El Rancho in Gallup, La Fonda in Santa Fe. The first time she went bowling was in Las Vegas, NM in high heels. Thelma and Walter were active and enjoyed many friends, particularly the friendships of Thelma's sister Wilma and her husband Floyd. Weekends would find the men golfing and in the evenings they took their wives dancing and bowling.
Thelma and Walter had three daughters, Sandy, Janet and Vicky. Thelma sewed for the girls and took the time for their varied interests. She was active in the Methodist Church, Girl Scouts and Job's Daughters. She attended the Girl Scout Camp in Cuernavaca Mexico with Janet. That was one of her favorite trips and she could remember details to the end of her life.
When the girls started college, Thelma began working in small retail clothing stores. Her caring personality and knowledge made her a successful salesperson. When Walter's health began to fail in the later 1970's, they moved to Anthony, NM to be near Vicky, Sandy and young grandchildren to spoil. Walter passed away in 1981.
In 1984, Thelma married Ray Reasner and lived in Rio Rancho, NM. Thelma adopted into her generous heart, Jerry, Denny and Darrel Reasner, their wonderful families. Thus began a 23 year marriage of travel, family events and great times at the lake. They stayed in their home until Ray passed away in 2007.
Thelma then moved first to Phoenix, then Mokelumne Hill, CA for the remainder of her life. She was involved in the Moke Hill community and she could still play cards and dominos. She was able to attend weddings of her grandchildren and met all but two of her great-grandchildren. In the final months, she was able to stay at home thanks to the loving care of Hospice. Thelma's light will be missed by her daughters and sons-in-law: Sandy (Ed) Lafferty, Janet (Dave) Dock-Spitzer and Vicky Ludwig, and her step-children and wives: Jerry Reasner (Melba), Denny Reasner (Enid), Darrel Reasner (Sheila); and her nieces and nephews Nancy Levesque, Janie Piersol, Butch Harris and Chuck Harris.
Thelma had a wonderful sense of humor and could relate to all ages of family and friends. She was proud of her Texas heritage and enjoyed living in New Mexico. She will always live in our hearts.
Thelma was born on May 11, 1916 in Dickens Co. Texas to German Homesteaders, Charlie and Addie Brendle. Her early years were filled with the difficulties of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Thelma had one sister, Wilma (Harris), and they worked hard to just survive.
The Brendle family moved to Albuquerque in the 1930's. Charlie was a skilled carpenter who built sets for the classic western movies being filmed in NM. Thelma recalled getting dressed up, standing on the airport roof watching movie stars like John Wayne, Clark Gable and Rita Hayworth.
Thelma married Walter Stillings in 1940, and traveled with him throughout NM as he sold hardware. They stayed in the classy hotels of that era - El Rancho in Gallup, La Fonda in Santa Fe. The first time she went bowling was in Las Vegas, NM in high heels. Thelma and Walter were active and enjoyed many friends, particularly the friendships of Thelma's sister Wilma and her husband Floyd. Weekends would find the men golfing and in the evenings they took their wives dancing and bowling.
Thelma and Walter had three daughters, Sandy, Janet and Vicky. Thelma sewed for the girls and took the time for their varied interests. She was active in the Methodist Church, Girl Scouts and Job's Daughters. She attended the Girl Scout Camp in Cuernavaca Mexico with Janet. That was one of her favorite trips and she could remember details to the end of her life.
When the girls started college, Thelma began working in small retail clothing stores. Her caring personality and knowledge made her a successful salesperson. When Walter's health began to fail in the later 1970's, they moved to Anthony, NM to be near Vicky, Sandy and young grandchildren to spoil. Walter passed away in 1981.
In 1984, Thelma married Ray Reasner and lived in Rio Rancho, NM. Thelma adopted into her generous heart, Jerry, Denny and Darrel Reasner, their wonderful families. Thus began a 23 year marriage of travel, family events and great times at the lake. They stayed in their home until Ray passed away in 2007.
Thelma then moved first to Phoenix, then Mokelumne Hill, CA for the remainder of her life. She was involved in the Moke Hill community and she could still play cards and dominos. She was able to attend weddings of her grandchildren and met all but two of her great-grandchildren. In the final months, she was able to stay at home thanks to the loving care of Hospice. Thelma's light will be missed by her daughters and sons-in-law: Sandy (Ed) Lafferty, Janet (Dave) Dock-Spitzer and Vicky Ludwig, and her step-children and wives: Jerry Reasner (Melba), Denny Reasner (Enid), Darrel Reasner (Sheila); and her nieces and nephews Nancy Levesque, Janie Piersol, Butch Harris and Chuck Harris.
Thelma had a wonderful sense of humor and could relate to all ages of family and friends. She was proud of her Texas heritage and enjoyed living in New Mexico. She will always live in our hearts.
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