Gertrude Eaton

VAN EATON, GERTRUDE Memorial services will be held at Washington Ave. Fellowship on Saturday, March 12, 2011, at 11:00 a.m., for Gertrude Van Eaton, age 79, who passed away on March 6, 2011. Rev. Randy Reeves of Washington Ave. Fellowship will officiate.

Gertrude was born April 2, 1931 to John Fred and Hazel T. Van Eaton, the youngest of nine children. She attended Circle Y school then came to Roswell to Washington Ave. Grade School then graduated from Roswell High in 1949. She graduated from NMSU, teaching one year in Las Cruces. In the year the World Fair was held in San Antonio, TX Gertrude attended St. Marys College in San Antonio and got her Masters Degree in teaching. Gertrude taught 17 years in the first and second grade, consolidated grade school in the lower Penasco, also teaching Sunday School at Mayhill a consolidated church. Her summers spent at Camp Mary White teaching the older Girl Scouts how to saddle horses and learning to ride. She would take 10 to 12 for long trail rides through the mountains. She enjoyed those 17 years very much, living on the Clees Ranch at Elk, NM.

Gertrude was in a terrible auto accident in the spring of 1978 that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She was a fighter so she withstood the pain for 33 years. She lived most of her 33 years after the accident in Roswell. She kept close contact with the Van Eaton Ranch, and her brothers and sisters, seven who have preceded her in death, Bill, Oliver, Annette, Fred, Hazel, Louise and Tom. She is survived by her brother Ray, ten nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Roswell Girl Scouts, The Childrens Home in Portales or the charity of your choice.

Special thanks to all the Dr. and nurses, Dr. Williams, Dr. Landers and Dr, Morrison who will be over the great divide to meet her in Heaven and to the many who have cared for her in the 33 years she was in a wheel chair.