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Obituary for Marjorie Jeanne Watkins (Whitener)
Marjorie Jeanne Whitener was born September 26, 1931 to Caruthers Henry and Ida Alice Whitener in Clovis, NM. She passed away November 26, 2016 in Farwell, Texas.
Marjorie grew up on a farm at Pleasant Hill, NM with her parents and one brother. Marjorie attended Pleasant Hill Schools. She skipped ahead two grades during her school years and graduated at the age of sixteen as Salutatorian of her graduating class, May 9, 1948. Her childhood consisted of farm life, family, music, church, and she was even a High School All State Basketball player. After High School graduation she then went on to Albuquerque to attend Business School. She began piano lessons at the age of six and was playing for a Pleasant Hill church before the age of ten. She also played for commencement exercises for the Pleasant Hill Schools at a very young age. She loved music and played the piano, accordion and the organ. She was the very faithful organist for First Baptist Church Farwell for 53 years. Serving the Lord through her music at First Baptist Farwell is something she cherished. The past eight months while she was at Farwell Care and Rehabilitation Center, she often spoke of missing her church and the many friends she had at her church.
Marjorie loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Marjorie was passionate about spending time with her family. She went to ball games, school events, vacations, holidays, and birthday parties anytime she was told there was an event to attend, she was there. The truth is Marjorie just loved hanging out with her children and their families and didn't really need an occasion.
Marjorie was an elected official for Parmer County for many years and from there went to serve the Chamber of Commerce of Clovis in many different capacities. It is safe to say she loved her community and had many friends. On most Thursday evenings she could be found at the Texico Senior Citizens Center playing 42 with her friends. She enjoyed the game of 42.
She leaves behind a son, Scott Watkins and Karen of Jefferson, Wisconsin and two daughters, Sandy (Grubb) Howard of Clovis, NM and Jill Bonner of Amarillo, TX. She is also survived by five grandchildren that she adored, Meredith (Heath) Rutherford of Clovis, NM, Lee K. (Kristen) Howard of Lexington, KY, the triplets, Thomas Bonner of Amarillo, TX, Jordan (Lacie) Bonner of Amarillo, TX, and Blake Bonner of Dallas, TX. Marjorie also loved Jill's stepdaughters, Heather (Micah) Ladd and Tiffany (Keenan) Hooker and their children. Her great grandchildren were more than adored by her and they are Rocklyn, Camden, and Baelyn Rutherford of Clovis, NM, Margaret Howard of Lexington, KY, Brycen Bonner of Amarillo, TX and Ryleigh Bonner of Amarillo, TX; and one brother, Howard Whitener and his children, Gerald, Charlene and Terry Whitener and their families.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, CH and Ida Whitener, a sister in law, Wilma Whitener and three babies lost prior to birth that she has now united with in heaven.
The children would like to invite all family and friends to attend Marjorie's Celebration of Life Service on Friday December 2, 2016 at 404 Ave E in Farwell, Texas at the First Baptist Church. The service will be held at 2:00 pm Central time, 1:00 pm Mountain time with her pastor, Russ Ponder officiating.
Marjorie would be very excited to know that her grandchildren, Meredith and Heath Rutherford, Lee K. Howard, Thomas Bonner, Jordan Bonner, and Blake Bonner are her pallbearers. The honorary pallbearers are Robert Mitzelfelt, Errol Johnson, Doyle Johnson, Randy Johnson, Ryan Williams and Jerry Whitley.
The casket will be open at Ellis Funeral Home in Muleshoe, Texas on Thursday, December 1, from 8:30 am-5:00 pm and prior to the funeral for friends and family viewing.
In lieu of flowers the family would request that memorials be made to an orphanage that Marjorie held close to her heart because her first great grandchild was born at this orphanage. Bethel Hogar Orphanage, % Paul and Pam Chinikidiadi, 1108 Oakhurst, Clovis, NM 88101
Marjorie grew up on a farm at Pleasant Hill, NM with her parents and one brother. Marjorie attended Pleasant Hill Schools. She skipped ahead two grades during her school years and graduated at the age of sixteen as Salutatorian of her graduating class, May 9, 1948. Her childhood consisted of farm life, family, music, church, and she was even a High School All State Basketball player. After High School graduation she then went on to Albuquerque to attend Business School. She began piano lessons at the age of six and was playing for a Pleasant Hill church before the age of ten. She also played for commencement exercises for the Pleasant Hill Schools at a very young age. She loved music and played the piano, accordion and the organ. She was the very faithful organist for First Baptist Church Farwell for 53 years. Serving the Lord through her music at First Baptist Farwell is something she cherished. The past eight months while she was at Farwell Care and Rehabilitation Center, she often spoke of missing her church and the many friends she had at her church.
Marjorie loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Marjorie was passionate about spending time with her family. She went to ball games, school events, vacations, holidays, and birthday parties anytime she was told there was an event to attend, she was there. The truth is Marjorie just loved hanging out with her children and their families and didn't really need an occasion.
Marjorie was an elected official for Parmer County for many years and from there went to serve the Chamber of Commerce of Clovis in many different capacities. It is safe to say she loved her community and had many friends. On most Thursday evenings she could be found at the Texico Senior Citizens Center playing 42 with her friends. She enjoyed the game of 42.
She leaves behind a son, Scott Watkins and Karen of Jefferson, Wisconsin and two daughters, Sandy (Grubb) Howard of Clovis, NM and Jill Bonner of Amarillo, TX. She is also survived by five grandchildren that she adored, Meredith (Heath) Rutherford of Clovis, NM, Lee K. (Kristen) Howard of Lexington, KY, the triplets, Thomas Bonner of Amarillo, TX, Jordan (Lacie) Bonner of Amarillo, TX, and Blake Bonner of Dallas, TX. Marjorie also loved Jill's stepdaughters, Heather (Micah) Ladd and Tiffany (Keenan) Hooker and their children. Her great grandchildren were more than adored by her and they are Rocklyn, Camden, and Baelyn Rutherford of Clovis, NM, Margaret Howard of Lexington, KY, Brycen Bonner of Amarillo, TX and Ryleigh Bonner of Amarillo, TX; and one brother, Howard Whitener and his children, Gerald, Charlene and Terry Whitener and their families.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, CH and Ida Whitener, a sister in law, Wilma Whitener and three babies lost prior to birth that she has now united with in heaven.
The children would like to invite all family and friends to attend Marjorie's Celebration of Life Service on Friday December 2, 2016 at 404 Ave E in Farwell, Texas at the First Baptist Church. The service will be held at 2:00 pm Central time, 1:00 pm Mountain time with her pastor, Russ Ponder officiating.
Marjorie would be very excited to know that her grandchildren, Meredith and Heath Rutherford, Lee K. Howard, Thomas Bonner, Jordan Bonner, and Blake Bonner are her pallbearers. The honorary pallbearers are Robert Mitzelfelt, Errol Johnson, Doyle Johnson, Randy Johnson, Ryan Williams and Jerry Whitley.
The casket will be open at Ellis Funeral Home in Muleshoe, Texas on Thursday, December 1, from 8:30 am-5:00 pm and prior to the funeral for friends and family viewing.
In lieu of flowers the family would request that memorials be made to an orphanage that Marjorie held close to her heart because her first great grandchild was born at this orphanage. Bethel Hogar Orphanage, % Paul and Pam Chinikidiadi, 1108 Oakhurst, Clovis, NM 88101
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