Elizabeth Collins

Memorial graveside services are scheduled at 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 3, at Woodbine Cemetery for longtime Artesia resident Elizabeth J. Collins of Roswell, New Mexico.

Mrs. Collins, 95, died Wednesday, May 25, 2011 in Roswell.

Elizabeth was born January 7, 1916 in Ragtown, Oklahoma the daughter of James Ottis Hammond and Bessie Evers Hammond. She was a lifelong resident or Artesia and Loco Hills before moving to Roswell.

She was a member of a longtime Artesia family. She came to Artesia in 1923 at the age of seven moving from Ada, Okla. where he father was a cable tool driller. Between her father and older brothers, her family was instrumental in developing Artesias fledgling oil industry particularly in the Lakewood and Red Lake fields.

Elizabeth married Dee Thorp in 1934 in Roswell, N.M. On March 23, 1942 she was married to Frank Collins in Las Cruces, N.M. Frank preceded her in death April 9, 1990. She was also preceded in death by her parents and by five siblings: Charles, Theodore, James, Walt and Elsie.

During World War II, she aided in the war effort by working in shipyards in Long Beach, Calif. from 1942 to 1944, and helped build P51 Mustang fighter planes in Dallas, Texas from 1944 to the end of the war.

She was a homemaker and thought the most important thing in life was education. She was a longtime member of the Order of Eastern Star. She was proud member of Daughters of the American Revolution of which she was eligable on both sides of her family. She also enjoyed golf making four holesinone during her lifetime and was member of golf organizations in Artesia and Roswell.

Survivors include sons Roy Collins and wife Judy of Roswell, N.M., Robert Collins and wife Sherri of Denison, Texas, Donald Collins and wife Maudolene of Alamagordo, N.M., and Richard Thorp and wife Beverly of Nogal, N.M. grandchildren Derick, Robert, Vicki, Steven, Barry, Bonnabeth, and Jamie nine greatgrandchildren and numerous ieces and nephews.