Kathryn Black
August 13, 1930 — May 18, 2021
Kathryn Frances Gibbs Black, 90, of Las Cruces, died at Mesilla Valley Hospice on May 18, 2021. She was born in Las Cruces on August 13, 1930, the eighth child of Katherine Fochtman Gibbs and Charles Francis Gibbs, living her entire life in the place of her birth. She graduated from Las Cruces Union High School in 1948, and from New Mexico College of Agriculture & Mechanic Arts...
Kathryn Frances Gibbs Black, 90, of Las Cruces, died at Mesilla Valley Hospice on May 18, 2021. She was born in Las Cruces on August 13, 1930, the eighth child of Katherine Fochtman Gibbs and Charles Francis Gibbs, living her entire life in the place of her birth. She graduated from Las Cruces Union High School in 1948, and from New Mexico College of Agriculture & Mechanic Arts in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. On August 16, 1952 she married her husband of 55 years, Raymond Jones Black, Jr., who predeceased her on December 6, 2007. Kathryn was a lifelong and active member of the Roman Catholic Church of Las Cruces, beginning with baptism in the original St. Genevieve's Church on Main Street where she was also confirmed and married. She was a long-time member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral and most recently of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine and Parish in Tortugas. Her working years began in the Registrar's office at the College as a student employee under Era Rentfrow and J. Paul Taylor. After graduation, she worked many years as a legal secretary in law offices and the District Court under Judge E. Forrest Sanders, ultimately returning to New Mexico State University as administrative assistant to Vice President Steele Jones in the Development Office and Dean Curtis Graham in the College of Business, before retiring in 1990. Being born in the middle of the Great Depression meant Kathy was born into poverty, but also into a wonderful, loving, hard-...
Kathryn Frances Gibbs Black, 90, of Las Cruces, died at Mesilla Valley Hospice on May 18, 2021. She was born in Las Cruces on August 13, 1930, the eighth child of Katherine Fochtman Gibbs and Charles Francis Gibbs, living her entire life in the place of her birth. She graduated from Las Cruces Union High School in 1948, and from New Mexico College of Agriculture & Mechanic Arts in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. On August 16, 1952 she married her husband of 55 years, Raymond Jones Black, Jr., who predeceased her on December 6, 2007. Kathryn was a lifelong and active member of the Roman Catholic Church of Las Cruces, beginning with baptism in the original St. Genevieve's Church on Main Street where she was also confirmed and married. She was a long-time member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral and most recently of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine and Parish in Tortugas. Her working years began in the Registrar's office at the College as a student employee under Era Rentfrow and J. Paul Taylor. After graduation, she worked many years as a legal secretary in law offices and the District Court under Judge E. Forrest Sanders, ultimately returning to New Mexico State University as administrative assistant to Vice President Steele Jones in the Development Office and Dean Curtis Graham in the College of Business, before retiring in 1990. Being born in the middle of the Great Depression meant Kathy was born into poverty, but also into a wonderful, loving, hard-working, faith-filled family with a legacy of helping others. She never met a stranger, just like her father, friendly and outgoing. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by all her siblings: Cecilia Cooper, Dorothy Hoffman, Richard Gibbs, Loyola Smith, Marian Gibbs, Rita Smith and Alice Coats, and all their spouses, as well as by her Mexican son Jesus Vazquez del Mercado and her nephew Richard Clamon. Survivors include several nieces, nephews and cousins plus her and Ray J's special Mexican families: Willie and Lily Rico of Las Cruces; Carlos and Celina Gonzalez of Monterrey; Rosa Emma Vazquez del Mercado, Pancho and Lupita Teran, Memo and Sylvia Medina all of Chihuahua; and the children and grandchildren of her Mexican families. Kathy will be remembered during the Mass at 10:30 am on Sunday, May 30, 2021, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Tortugas. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Monday, May 31, 2021, at the same church. Inurnment of her cremains will take place at St. Albert the Great Newman Center beside her husband. A celebration-of-life gathering will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gospel Rescue Mission or a favorite local charity. Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home, 1410 E. Bowman Ave. Las Cruces, NM 88001. Please visit www.getzcares.com to sign the local online guest book.
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