Roberta Thatcher

Mrs. Roberta Thatcher left this place to be with her Lord on September 28, 2016 in Lubbock Texas at the age of 76. She was born to Harry and Thelma Manley in Lake Geneva Wisconsin on June 7, 1940. Both of her parents have preceded her in death.

Roberta was a transplant to New Mexico coming from a place quite different than here; she grew up in Wisconsin where rain was common, winter brought enduring snow, summer time was green and lakes dotted the landscape. For Ms. Roberta all this changed when she met a young man who had lofty aspirations that would take her away and give her opportunity to see the world. Roberta was a hard woman to impress and George worked hard to gain her attention and even harder to gain her affection, but his tenacity payed off and the two were married in 1959. The two began their family 2 years later with the arrival of their first child. George was a young pilot flying fighter jets for the Air Force and the two transverse the country going from Arizona to Louisiana to Illinois to Iowa before landing in Hagerman New Mexico in 1976.

Roberta had a natural knack and a gifted ability for the craftsman eye. Anything and everything she touched had her perfectionistic quality weaved into its fabric. Her hobbies went beyond hobbies, they were deep rooted passions, and she meticulously put herself into every piece. Quilting was a love that she shared with people both directly (by gifting her quilts to folks) and indirectly (by her family's patience as she spent countless hours shopping for supplies.) She loved Bitter Sweet Quilts, a local shop in Branson Missouri, and would make a routine stop every time she was in town. She painted ceramics, loved to sew (owning four sewing machines) and crocheting afghans. She never accepted anything but perfect from herself- undoing afghans after hours of work if something was not right, and redoing them- nothing left her hands without her guaranteed happiness.

Mrs. Thatcher loved the kitchen almost as much as she loved her sewing room. She could take the most humble ingredients and work magic to create meals that could impress. Her signature dish was what she entitled as her "poor mans' chicken". Though the name implies chicken the dish actually consisted of a meatball swathed in a cabbage leaf, drizzled over with Karo syrup, and cooked all day to produce an amazingly awesome sensory experience that only Roberta could produce. She also was the last of a few who knew the technique and traditions of canning. A practical but technical skill she learned from her grandmother; she loved to can jellies, fruits, veggies, and salsas.

With all her skills and abilities Roberta's truest and deepest love was her family. She believed in being self-sufficient and there was nothing in this world she wasn't capable of doing; but even so, she loved and cared for her family more. She leaned on them not by necessity but by choice. Her sweet husband George, who just celebrated their 57 years of marriage, was her first and only love- giving of her heart fully to him. Her three daughters and her son were the light of her life and the real reason and drive of her passions and perfections. Her lasting legacy and gift to her family will not only be her quilts and art projects, but the love she instilled into their hearts and lives.

Mrs. Roberta Thatcher is survived by her husband George of Hagerman NM; three daughters Diana Bonnett of Dumas TX, Patricia Thatcher of Clovis NM, Cathy Snyder of Hagerman NM; son David Thatcher of Las Cruces NM. She is preceded in death by her parents and brother Harry Manely and sister Thelma Manely.

In keeping with Mrs. Thatchers wishes cremation will occur with an inurnment at South Park Cemetery at a later time.