Roberta "Bert" Kaye Gammill

Roberta “Bert” Kaye Gammill born in Fort Worth, Texas, 86 years old passed away on June 16, 2025 in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Roberta was born in Fort Worth, Texas on July 11, 1938 to Bert and Myrtle Evans. She had a life-long passion for horses, art and reading. She attended North Texas State University and graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in 1970 and Masters in Fine Arts in 1979 before working as an Art Teacher for San Andreas High School until retirement. She also instructed art at Branigan Cultural Center for a number of years. She married Billy Gammill in 1959 in Fort Worth, Texas. She met Billy on a blind date while he was serving in the Army, and knew she would marry him from that first date. They would be married for 65 years.

Roberta and Bill bought a 14 acre farm, she named “Toad Haven” in Dona Ana in 1972, and over the years had horses, milk cows, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats. She always welcomed strays into the house throughout her life. She drew up the plans for the house addition which doubled the size of the house and was built by friends and neighbors.

Roberta participated in Las Cruces Horsemans Association from 1979 until 2020 in various roles, competing for a number of years from gymkhanas to hunter jumper events. She bred and raised several Holsteiner horses.

Roberta was passionate about art in various media, from oil painting, pastels, watercolour, sculpture, photography, calligraphy or ceramics she produced amazing pieces of artwork. She produced portraits and landscapes of people and places she felt passionate about, and won several ribbons at the Southern New Mexico State Fair. She participated in several cooperative galleries in the Las Cruces area over the years.

Roberta loved to teach others art and often provided her students lesson in life as well. Several of her students worked at the farm, long after they were out of school and remained her friends for life. She always encouraged people to push themselves to do better and never limit

Roberta was preceded in death by her Father, Bert Evans, on December 4, 1978, her sister, Doris Evans, on October 23, 1991, sister, Florence Evans, on April 12, 1997, and mother, Myrtle Evans, in 1999. She is survived by her husband, Billy Gammill, of Las Cruces, NM, daughter Charlotte and Shawn Reid of Las Cruces, daughter Shannon Demoulin and Chuck Demoulin of Albuquerque, NM and son Troy Gammill and Lisa Hendrix of El Paso, TX, Grandchildren Monique Rubio of Albuquerque, NM, Chantal Savage of Las Cruces, NM, Chelsea Reid of Atlanta, GA, Sara Reid, of Las Cruces, NM, Alasdair Rivers of Bloomington, IN. Ashley Hendrix of Lubbock, TX and Danielle Hendrix of El Paso, TX. She is survived by 5 great grand children.

Pall Bearers will be Troy Gammill, Tim Parsons, Lloyd Moore, James Evaro, Xavier Zimmerman, and Terrance Beverly. Honorary Pall Bearers will be John Catlett and Shawn Reid.