Oleta Rhodes

Oleta Bernice Rhodes

Oleta Bernice Rhodes 90 joined her Heavenly Father on January 16, 2008 at a local care center. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great -grandmother, Oleta will be truly missed by family and friends.

A funeral service is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Monday, January 21, 2008 at the First Baptist Church in Hagerman. Wayne Brasil will officiate the service. Burial will follow at the Hagerman Cemetery.

Oleta was born in Odessa, Texas on July 18, 1917 to Jerry Edward and Mary Ellen Arron Atkinson. She came with her family to the area in a covered wagon at the age of three. She was a long time resident of the Pecos Valley, having lived in Hagerman and Roswell most of her life.

On September 8, 1934 in Carlsbad, New Mexico, she married Earl Blan Sartin. They were married for 52 years until Earl passed away in August of 1986. In 1989, she married Mike Rhodes of Hagerman. They were together for two years until he passed away in 1991.

Oleta was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers: Noel and Ennis Atkinson: two sisters, Lucille Atkinson and Clarice Simms.

Oleta is survived by two daughters: Annette Erickson and husband Marvin of Safford, Arizona and Mary Snyder of Manahawkin, New Jersey; two sons: Archie Sartin and wife Tracey of Roswell and Gene Sartin and wife Rosie of Hagerman; fourteen grandchildren; and sixteen great-grand children.

A devoted Christian, Oleta was an active member of the Hagerman Assembly of God Church, which she and Earl helped to build. She enjoyed travel with family and writing. She was a homemaker, an Avon Representative, a bookkeeper, a home health worker, and an accomplished author.

Pallbearers will be Michael Erickson, Mark Erickson, Ross Redman, Bart Waldron, Brian Thornton and Daniel Atkinson.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ballard Funeral Home and Crematory. An online registry may be accessed at www.ballardfuneralhome.com

Visitation

Ballard Funeral Home
205 E. Iverness Rd.
Hagerman, NM  88232
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Service

Funeral Service

First Baptist Church
211 N. Cambridge
Hagerman, NM  88232
Monday, January 21, 2008
1:30 p.m.

Cemetery

Hagerman
P.O. Box 266
Roswell, NM  88232