Loretta Maria Bell Hendryx

Loretta was born April 12, 1912 in Berthoud, CO to Richard & Esther Edmundson Spohr. She was one of seven siblings who grew up on various farms and towns in Colorado and New Mexico. After graduating from high school in Raton, NM in 1930, she went to nurse’s training at Bethel Hospital in Colorado Springs. She graduated in 1933 and served as a nurse in Albuquerque for 45 years. She eloped with William Maxwell Bell on October 21, 1933. Loretta and Bill had two daughters, Helen Katherine and Carol Elizabeth (Betty). They lived in Englewood, CO until Bill’s heart attack at which time they moved to Albuquerque, NM to be near Loretta’s parents. Bill passed away in 1946. Loretta met and married Louis J. Hendryx in July 1948. They made their home in Albuquerque except for two years in Imperial, NE. Loretta & Lou had a wealth of love, family and friends who blessed their, (almost) 50 years of marriage. Lou preceded her in death in 1998. Loretta worked for several doctors in Albuquerque, the last one being Dr. Frank Hesse. Loretta was a longtime, active member of St Mark’s on the Mesa Episcopal Church, belonging to the Daughters of the King; known as the official “cabitzer” of the women’s group CRAST and worked in the office with Eileen Morosco. Loretta & Lou worked in the kitchen for many years. She had also been a member of the Yucca Temple No. 74 Daughters of the Nile, Desert Rose Chapter #70 Order of the Eastern Star and an honored lady of Ballut Abyad Shrine. Loretta lived at Grand Court from 2002-2004 where she made many great friends. She moved to her daughter Helen’s where she lived her remaining years. Loretta will be remembered for he caring heart, her wealth of knowledge she shared unreservedly and the loving way she cooked and entertained for family and friends. On January 24, 2008 Loretta slept peacefully as she passed away. She went to greet her siblings, Dick, Turk & Bette and her granddaughter, Anita Moore & great grandson, Greg Matthews. She is survived by her children, Helen (Merritt) Sherer of Denver and Betty Wright of Colorado Springs; her grandchildren, Matthew (April) Sherer, Arvada, CO; Peggy (Wayne) Matthews, Coon Rapids, MN and Judi (Carl) Rinkenberger of Albuquerque, 9 great grandchildren and 5 great, great grandchildren; her siblings Sam (Louise) Spohr, Albuquerque, Harold (Leona) Spohr, Woodburn, OR, Carol McMeen , Webb City, MO, Sister in Law Lorene Spohr, Rio Verde, AZ and numerous nieces, nephews & friends. Memorial Services will be held in Albuquerque at a later date where she will be inurned at St. Marks on the Mesa Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church; 431 Richmond Pl., NE; Albuquerque, NM 87106, Shriners Hospital Fund, c/o Ballut Abyad Shrine Temple, 6600 Zuni, S. E., Albuquerque, NM 87108; The Denver Hospice, 501 S. Cherry Street, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80246-1328.