Elizabeth Rosalind Thornberry
November 6, 1919 — December 10, 2013
This is a celebration of the life of Elizabeth (Bettie) R. Thornberry who passed away peacefully on December 10, 2013, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She was born to John W. beard and Evelyn Schiele Beard on November 6, 1919, in Silver City, New Mexico. Her father, a mining engineer, then took his family, including Jack Beard, Her brother, to Mexico to work in the mines in Sierra Mojada...
This is a celebration of the life of Elizabeth (Bettie) R. Thornberry who passed away peacefully on December 10, 2013, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She was born to John W. beard and Evelyn Schiele Beard on November 6, 1919, in Silver City, New Mexico. Her father, a mining engineer, then took his family, including Jack Beard, Her brother, to Mexico to work in the mines in Sierra Mojada and Ouila. Bettie always had many amazing stories about living in Mexico during the early 1920s. When she was eight years old, the family moved to El Paso, Texas, so that Bettie and Jack could attend schools. She graduated from Austin High School and attended the School of Mines (UTEP). In 1940 she married Pete Thornberry. Pete and Bettie moved to Las Cruces; thereafter Pete joined the Army and they did not return to Las Cruces until after the war and remained residents. Bettie was a very special pers. She was a very good artist and painted for many years. Some of her art is still in her home, homes of friends, family, and the homes of her daughters. She was always loved and cherished by her family. Her moods could always be determined by the color and twinkle in her very blue eyes. "Twinkling eyes" would denote when she was happy or in some cases mischievous, but "grey and stormy" When she was displeased. Above all, she was a lady. Every morning for all her life, she would wake up, do her hair, put on makeup, and dress for the day. She has a way of moving and acting that always rem...
This is a celebration of the life of Elizabeth (Bettie) R. Thornberry who passed away peacefully on December 10, 2013, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She was born to John W. beard and Evelyn Schiele Beard on November 6, 1919, in Silver City, New Mexico. Her father, a mining engineer, then took his family, including Jack Beard, Her brother, to Mexico to work in the mines in Sierra Mojada and Ouila. Bettie always had many amazing stories about living in Mexico during the early 1920s. When she was eight years old, the family moved to El Paso, Texas, so that Bettie and Jack could attend schools. She graduated from Austin High School and attended the School of Mines (UTEP). In 1940 she married Pete Thornberry. Pete and Bettie moved to Las Cruces; thereafter Pete joined the Army and they did not return to Las Cruces until after the war and remained residents. Bettie was a very special pers. She was a very good artist and painted for many years. Some of her art is still in her home, homes of friends, family, and the homes of her daughters. She was always loved and cherished by her family. Her moods could always be determined by the color and twinkle in her very blue eyes. "Twinkling eyes" would denote when she was happy or in some cases mischievous, but "grey and stormy" When she was displeased. Above all, she was a lady. Every morning for all her life, she would wake up, do her hair, put on makeup, and dress for the day. She has a way of moving and acting that always reminded us that from the genes up, this was a lady. Bettie enjoyed taking part through the years in Women's Club; Girl Scout and Brownie Leader; the Book Review Club; Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary Pink Lady; Daughters of the King at St. Andrew's; The Garden Club; President of the Alter Guild at St. Andrews; member of the Thursday Canasta Club and the Friday Bridge Club. Pete, a real estate agent and appraiser, passed aw3ay in 1978. They are survived by two daughters; Leslie Thornberry and Melissa Thornberry, both of Las Cruces. Services are scheduled for 2PM on Friday, December 13, 2013 at St. James Episcopal Church, 202 St. James St. in Mesilla Park. Following the service, there is an interment at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery, and a reception at the home of Elizabeth Thornberry. Please make donations to Mesilla Valley Hospice in lieu of flowers. PDF Printable Version
READ LESSMORE
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elizabeth Rosalind Thornberry, please visit our flower store.