Ila Lee Fields

It is with sad, yet spiritually joyful hearts that we announce the passing of our dear mother, Ila Lee Fields. She was 94 years old, born Ila Lee Wise on December 24, 1930, and passed on April 20, 2025. She loved the Lord, and we have seen the testament of God’s love through her life and her time on this earth. She was born on Christmas Eve, when we celebrate Jesus’ birth, and she passed into eternal life on Easter morning, the day we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri to Elmer Leland Wise and Violet Culver Wise, Mom showed tremendous musical talent at a very early age. She began singing in the children’s choir at Fifi Baptist Church, then later sang in the adult choir at Second Baptist Church in St. Louis. She became a young teacher and found that not only was she a gifted instructor but also had a great rapport with her students. Mom always said this was because she was just a kid herself or at least acted like one!

She graduated from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, with a degree in Vocal Music Education and a minor in Psychology.

In June of 1956, Mom married Harold Leslie Fields and relocated to Las Cruces, New Mexico. She became a housewife and mother, and also accepted the choir director position at First Presbyterian Church, which she directed for many years.

In 1976, Mom became the new choir director at Las Cruces High School. Her humor and knowledge of music touched so many young lives. Three of her four children were members of her choirs (although she always said she had to pay Steven to take her class!). Even now, after all these years, many of her former students remained in contact with her and reminded her of the influence she had on them, not only in school, but in life.

Mom’s sense of humor never wavered. One day she showed up to teach her classes with a blacked-out tooth (not much was accomplished that day). She would sign the church registry as “Hazel Ozgood” or “Gloria Schwartz”. It took them forever to figure out who Hazel and Gloria were! And she always told her doctors and dentists that she preferred to be called “Her Majesty”, to which they complied.

In 1986, it was time for a change, so Mom made a complete career move and turned to the travel industry. She attended travel school in Tucson, Arizona, then moved to Dayton, Ohio to begin her new life as a travel agent. However, she missed Las Cruces and all her friends and family still living here, so after only a year, she returned home to work, then eventually bought Roadrunner Travel. Included in the business were many opportunities to see the world. She went to places such as New Zealand, Africa, and Thailand. Mom even shocked her family by sending a picture of her riding on the back of an elephant in Kenya! Through all of this her faith and her music continued to be a very important part of her life.

She moved into a large and beautiful house built by her son, where she enjoyed another passion, entertaining friends and family in her spacious new home. Cooking was a great hobby, and she presented some incredible dinner parties for many guests and even for her high school choirs.

Mom eventually moved into the Independent Living apartments at Good Samaritan Village, where she quickly made more new friends and kept everyone entertained with her wit and dry sense of humor. She had always been an avid card player and never cared if she won or lost. Mom just enjoyed the games and the company.

Ila Lee Fields will be sorely missed, but we will see her again. She is survived by her sister, Lillie Wise Rogers; her four children, Sherri Wolverton and her children Suzanne Adams (Casey), Sara Wolverton and Shannon Wolverton; Rhonda Pirtle (Doyle) and children Brittany Bianco, Michael Bianco and John Bianco; Steven Fields (Beth Ann) and their son Joshua Russell: Lela York (Glenn) and their daughter Kathryn York-Butler (Quinn); five great-grandchildren; and many extended family members.

A celebration of her life will be held at First Baptist Church, 4201 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd, Las Cruces on Friday, May 16th at 11:00 AM.