Miriam Wertheim

Miriam Denney Wertheim, born March 23, 1923, died Saturday June 26, 2010 in Albuquerque, NM after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her husband Max Wertheim, son Don Hugo Wertheim, her parents Robert Denney and Minnie Swearengin Denney and siblings Rex Denney, Christine Denney Brixey, Glenn Denney, and Robert Denney. Her sole surviving sibling is brother Ralph Denney of Pittsburgh, PA, his wife Marie Thompson Denney and their son Bryan Thompson Denney. She is survived by her son William D. Wertheim and his wife Sandra Wertheim, her stepsons Robert Wertheim and wife Elizabeth Howorth Wertheim and Jerry Wertheim and wife Mary Carole May Wertheim. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Arianna Wertheim Gibson and her husband Donnie Gibson, Derek Wertheim, Glenn Wertheim and wife Terri Kevin Wertheim and wife Ann Kibbie, Helen J. Wertheim, Jerry Todd Wertheim and wife Carol Clifford, John V. Wertheim and wife Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim, great grandchildren Joaquin and Angelo Gibson, Laura and Katie Wertheim, Jonathan Wertheim, and Joshua Wertheim and numerous nieces and nephews Miriam was born in Roswell NM. Her father was a section foreman for the Santa Fe Railroad and Miriam from her earliest years lived in the railroad section houses at Clovis, Cardenas, and Iden, all located between Clovis and Vaughn. Her mother died at the Cardenas section house when Miriam was nine. Her father never remarried. She attended grade school at Buchanan and Vaughn and graduated from Vaughn High School at the top of her class. She was always a voracious reader. She attended Business College, lived for awhile in California and worked for the Farmer’s Home Administration in Santa Fe and other locations in New Mexico. Miriam married Max Wertheim, a widower in 1948, and immediately became the mother of stepsons Bob and Jerry. She gave birth to identical twin boys, Don and Bill, in 1949. Don Hugo died in 1955. Miriam supported Max in his business endeavors including the Wertheim Department Store and various cattle and ranching operations throughout their married life. After Max’s death in 1994, she continued to participate in the ranching business. She enjoyed both foreign and domestic travel with Max and other family members. She liked dancing at the Ft. Sumner Dance Club, socializing with her friends at bridge and sorority meetings and getting together at various family events. She particularly enjoyed speaking Spanish which she had learned as a child. Everyone who benefited still raves about her cooking skills. Miriam moved to Santa Fe in 2006 where she happily resided at Ponce De Leon Assisted Living Residence. She made many friends there. She will be missed. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM Friday, July 2, 2010 from St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner, NM with Father Steve Sanchez officiating. Burial will follow in the Wertheim Family Plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers are Glenn Wertheim, Todd Wertheim, John Wertheim, Derek Wertheim, Carlos Armandariz, Jim Armandariz, and J. O. Achen. Honorary pallbearers are Kevin Wertheim and Ann Kibbie, Helen J. Wertheim, Terri Wertheim, Carol Clifford, Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim, Arianna Wertheim Gibson and Donnie Gibson, Tye Terral, Jonathan Wertheim, Jack Achen, Floyd E. Wood, Earl Turnbow, Emmet Fallon and all of her many friends throughout Ft. Sumner and New Mexico. Visitation will be held on Wednesday and Thursday from 1PM to 6PM at the funeral home and from 10AM to 11AM at the church on Friday. The family prefers memorial contributions in Miriam's memory to the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, Box 180, Fort Sumner, NM 88119. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com