Betty R. Eastland

Betty Ruth Eastland was born November 2, 1925, to M. Franklin (Frank) and Ruth Johnston Lilley in Las Vegas, New Mexico. She graduated from East Las Vegas High School, where she was the New Mexico state tennis champion. Betty married R. Walton (Walt) Eastland III on August 6, 1946, in the First Methodist Church, Las Vegas, NM and bore three children—Frank, Pam, and Deb. She and her family spent many happy years in Melrose, NM, and then moved to Santa Rosa, NM in the mid-1960s. There, after many decades in that beautiful community of friends, she passed away peacefully at home with immediate family and friends at her bedside. During her full and active life, Betty was dedicated to family, church, and community service. During their children's school years, she and her husband Walt attended every school event their children had and chaperoned many more. After her children left home for school and life, Betty spent countless hours of church and community service. She enjoyed cooking for others, often taking meals to local families who were shut-in for various reasons. She also enjoyed her involvement in many local, state, and national organizations. Betty held many offices with the United Methodist Women at the local, state, and conference levels. She particularly enjoyed being involved with the United Methodist Women of Santa Rosa, to include serving the community with their then-famous Annual Thanksgiving Dinner feast. She also thoroughly enjoyed her membership and friends with the Santa Rosa Garden Club and the New Mexico Garden Club where she served as president of both organizations. With the Garden Clubs, in addition to gaining lifelong friendships, she was honored by becoming a State Life Member, a National Life Member, and a Master Flower Show Judge. Over the years with the Garden Clubs, she also won many local and state awards for her original flower designs. Betty Eastland’s long life was a full and beautiful one. Betty was preceded in death by Walt, her husband of 62 years, her parents, brothers Robert and Ralph, sister Wilma (husband Lloyd), sisters-in-law Lou Eastland Holmes and Teresa (husband Walter) Eastland Pickett, and niece Skeeter (husband David) Holmes Stumpff. She is survived by her children, Frank (wife Bernadette) Eastland, Pam (husband Greg) Lund, Deb Eastland, grandchildren Walt (wife Amy) Benson, Raeghan (husband Charles) Rebstock, three great-grandsons, two great-granddaughters, longtime family friend Linda Hogan, brother Ted (wife Dotty), sister Sandra, brother-in-law Walter (wife Teresa) Pickett, three nieces, three great-nieces, four nephews, six great-nephews, and many beloved friends. A service to celebrate the memory of Betty's life will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2018, 2:00 PM at the First Methodist Church of Santa Rosa, 401 4th St., Santa Rosa, NM, with Ernest Copeland presiding. Following the service, a social luncheon will be held in the church's Fellowship Hall. Betty's interment will be at the Santa Fe National Cemetery alongside her husband Walt on Monday, September 17, 2018 at  2:15 PM. Betty's family wishes to give special thanks to Juanita Baca of Santa Rosa, and to the wonderful staff of Helping Hands Hospice in Tucumcari for their loving service and caregiving in her final years. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: First United Methodist Church of Santa Rosa, 401 4th St., Santa Rosa, NM 88435 All arrangements have been entrusted to Chavez Funeral Home, 923 S. Third St., Santa Rosa, NM.  575-472-3369