Vera Lusk

Vera Hefner Lusk

Vera Lee Hefner was born January 31, 1923 in Pampa, Texas, the daughter of Jerry Troy and Frankie Udell Mckay. She passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, October 3, 2009, at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell following a brief illness.

I the mid 1930s the family moved from Texas to Hagerman, New Mexico. It was in Hagerman that Vera met Henry Lusk. They began dating at the ages of 15 and 16 and were married in the Chaves County Courthouse on April13, 1940, with Veras mother and Henrys sister, Inez as witnesses. Vera was 17 and Henry 18 years old.

Their early years of marriage were spenet in the rural community around Hagerman, where Henry worked as a farm laborer and with his brother in the construction of earthen dams and irrigation ponds.

Following the birth of a daughter in 1944, the family moved to Floyd, New Mexico to pursue their interest in farming. They often said it took us less than three years to lose more than everything we owned, and they moved back to the Pecos Valley in January 1947. In April they moved to Roswell and established membership with the North Hill Church of Christ which would later become West Alameda Church of Christ, where they have worshiped regularly for more than 60 years.

In August, 1947, a son was born in Roswell completing the family of four. Vera was a devoted wife and mother who worked diligently at gardening, sewing, and a myriad of other household avocations that enabled her to be at home with her children during their formative years. However, due to a work related injury to her husband she was forced to pursue employments outside the home in the mid 1950s. This was to begin a history of work beginning with alterations at a local dry cleaning establishment, several years as a clerk at C.R. Anthonys Departments store, a gift wrapper and shipping clerk at Wilmots Department Store, a position as a sewing machine operator with the first Levis plant opened in Roswell, and many years of service as a school bus driver for Pollards Bus Company.

Vera is survived by her husband of 69 years, her daughter Helen Lusk McDonald and her husband Louis of Roswell; and son Earl Lusk and his wife, Betty of Roswell; five grandsons and their wives; Ceyl McDonald and his wife Cara of Bandera, Texas; Kelly McDonald and his wife Angie; Chris McDonald and his wife Lisa; Jeremy Lusk and his wife Kim and Josh Lusk and his wife Kelli, all of Roswell. Also surviving are five special great grandchildren: Justin McDonald, Kate McDonald, Jack McDonald, Natalie Lusk and Kaleb Lusk all of Roswell.

Surviving siblings are Katherine McKenzie of Rhinelander, Wisconsin; Frank Hefner of Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, Edith Smith of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Clara Arnold of Medford, Oregon. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Harold Hefner and Ernest Hefner, and sisters, Evelyn Gene Crisp and Rachel Taylor.

Memorial services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at West Alameda Church of Christ with burial following immediately at South Park Cemetery. Her five grandsons and one great grandson will serve as pallbearers.

Friends and family wishing to make donations in her memory are asked to send contributions to the New Mexico Christian Childrens Home, 1356 NM 236, Portales, NM 88130.

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

Ballard Funeral Home
910 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Monday, October 5, 2009
12:00 p.m.

Service

Memorial Service

West Alameda Church of Christ
2807 West Alameda
Roswell, NM  88203
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203