Obituary of Zelma Ray Anthony

Zelma Ray Anthony November 02, 1905 - March 12, 2009 Graveside funeral services will be held on Friday, March 20, 2009 at 2:30 pm at Elida Cemetery in Elida, New Mexico for Zelma Ray Anthony, 103 years young. Officiating will be Rev. Beth Anthony. Zelma was born on November 2, 1905 to George and Dorinda Lightfoot Allen in Amity, Arkansas and passed away at her residence on Thursday, March 12, 2009 in Lovington, NM. She was the youngest of 8 children. She moved through many states with her family and finally stopped in Elida, NM where she grew into a young woman, met the young man she would later marry & graduated from Elida High School in the spring of 1924. She moved to Abilene, TX and established her cooking career at McMurry Methodist College. On August 17, 1926 she married Wadie Anthony in Elida, NM for a 66 year love story. For the next 23 years she lived as a farmer’s wife and cared for her family. In 1950 she went to work as a cook and school bus driver for Elida School System, retiring after 20 years of service. The students and teachers can still remember the “fresh baked rolls” she served to them everyday for lunch. She will always be remembered for her fresh baked bread, cinnamon rolls and strawberry-rhubarb pies. In 1982 Zelma & Wadie moved to Lovington to live out the remainder of their many years together. Zelma was a member of the United Methodist Church of Elida and an active member of UMW then attended First United Methodist Church in Lovington as often as she could. Zelma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one infant son and one grandson, five brothers and two sisters. She is survived by two sons: Bob & wife Jean Anthony of Lovington, NM and Jack & wife Peg Anthony of Buffalo, OK. Four grandchildren: Jacque & husband Terry Fearnow of Lovington, Terry & wife Hope Anthony of Lovington, Ginny & husband David Larke of Midland, TX and Mary & husband Charlie Eldridge of Clovis, NM. Ten great-grandchildren and eleven great-great-grandchildren and a legion of friends and family. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Elida Methodist Church, PO Box 203, Elida, NM 88116 or to the NM Children’s Home, 1356 NM 236 Portales, NM 88130.