Kathleen Haggerty Burds

Kathleen Sharon (Haggerty) Burds, age 76, passed away at her daughter's home in the Fort Sumner valley on December 16, 2017 following an illness. She was born May 20, 1941 in Rochester, Minnesota to the home of Richard Henry Haggerty and the former Kathleen Eleanor Keily. In 1950 at the age of nine she moved with her family to El Paso, Texas. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1959, attended nursing school at Hotel Deiu Nursing School in El Paso graduating in 1963. She worked at Hotel Deiu Hospital, William Beaumont Hospital, and University of Iowa Hospital. She later served as manager at the Lodge in Cloudcroft, NM. All her children graduated from Cloudcroft High School. She worked as a case manager for Southern Pacific/Burlington Northern Railroad. She also worked as a home health nurse at Olston/Gentiva in San Antonio, TX. She retired in 2013. Kathleen was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in El Paso, TX, Sacred Heart Parish in Cloudcroft, and St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner. Kathleen enjoyed yard work, gardening, grand babies, and spending time with her family. She is preceded in death by her parents, a grandson Sean Reed Kenyon, brothers Daniel, Timothy, and Sean Haggerty, and a daughter in law Debra Rae Burds. Survivors include five children, two sons John Allen Burds and wife Nancy of Glenview, IL, Joseph Richard Burds and wife Nadia of Norfolk, VA, three daughters Sharon Cecilia West and husband Bill, Mary Molly Kenyon and husband Clifford both of Fort Sumner, and Jacqueline Kay Kenyon and husband Virgil of Sierra Vista, AZ. Two additional special sons she raised Jeff and Tom Freeman. Also surviving are six siblings, two sisters Mary Cecilia McLaughlin and husband Mike of El Paso, Bridget Haggerty of Rio Rancho, NM, four brothers Patrick Brian Haggerty, Michael John Haggerty and wife Cyndy, Brian Joseph Haggerty and wife Audrey, and Jeremiah Haggerty and wife Silvia all of El Paso, TX, along with 28 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation hours will be at Chavez Funeral Home from 1pm to 5pm on Tuesday, December 26, 2017. The family will receive friends from 2pm-4pm. A rosary will be recited at 6pm Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 207 James Canyon Highway, Cloudcroft, New Mexico. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am Thursday, December 28, 2017 from the Church with Father Theo Okafor officiating. Burial will follow James Canyon Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Jacob Daniel West, Jon Daniel Kenyon, Michael Lee Burds, Sean Dennis Haggerty, Jeffrey Thomas Burds, William Caleb West, Adam Garrett West, William Luke Kenyon, Brian J. Burds, James R. Burds, Matthew R. West, and Zachary A. Kenyon. Honorary bearers will be all her grandchildren. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311.