Evelyn P. Wood

Evelyn P. Wood, 86, peacefully passed into eternity on Monday, September 11, 2017 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Evelyn was born in El Paso, Texas, the second child of Lola Ella (nee Wright) and Ernesto Rodriquez. Evelyn and her sisters, Clara and Mazie, were raised on her grandfather's cotton farm, Rancho Verde, in Fabens, Texas. She received her primary education in El Paso, Texas. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from the Loretto Heights College in Denver, Colorado. Following graduation she returned to Fabens to assist her family in managing the commissary on the farm. She married John Henry Porter in El Paso, Texas. To this union were born three children: Nancy S. Porter, Jon Jerrod Porter (deceased) and Athol L. (nee Porter) Hetzel. Her husband, John, died in December 1962. In June 1963, Evelyn married Roy L. Wood. Roy and his six children and Evelyn's two living children made a loving family of eight. Two additional children, Brian and Lisa, were born into the family. Roy died May 1985. Professionally, Evelyn was an educator. For fifty years she taught elementary school and adult education, specializing as a bilingual educator for native Spanish speakers. She began her teaching career in the two-room school at Tortugas, New Mexico. She also taught at Mesilla Park (New Mexico) Elementary, Immaculate Heart of Mary School (Las Cruces, NM), and for the Anthony New Mexico Independent School District. Evelyn is predeceased by her husband, John Henry Porter and infant son, Jon Jerrod Porter; her husband, Roy L. Wood and daughter in-law, Linda L. Wood; her parents; her sisters, Clara Haley and Mazie Vilalobos and step-brother, Sgt. Ernest A. Rodriquez and great-granddaughter, Denali Hetzel. Evelyn is survived by Roy's children: Mary H. Wood of Paris, Tennessee; Bruce M. (Linda, deceased) Wood of Wellington, New Zealand; Darrel D. (Lucy) Wood of Bremerton, Washington; Susan W. (Dennis) Chandler of Snowflake, Arizona; Lola K. Wood of Sammamish, Washington; and James R. (Eve) Wood of Albuquerque. She is also survived by her daughters, Nancy Porter of Las Cruces, New Mexico; Athol (Tom) Hetzel of Gladstone, North Dakota; Lisa (Neal) Lemmons of Albuquerque and her son, Brian (Pam) Wood of Bellevue, Washington. She is survived by twenty-one grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Immaculate Heart of Mary, 1240 S Espina Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Arrangements entrusted to: Riverside Funeral Home of Albuquerque 225 San Mateo Blvd. NE (505) 764-9663.