Loreta Simons

Longtime Artesia resident Loreta Amelia Simons, 85, passed into eternal life March 17th, 2016 in Roswell, New Mexico with her daughter, Beverly, holding onto her hands. She was taken from this life after a hard-fought battle with Alzheimer's Disease, but now is safely in the loving arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the company of her friends and family that have gone on before her.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 21 at First Baptist Church in Artesia, New Mexico with interment at Woodbine Cemetery at 200 E. Hermosa Avenue in Artesia. There will be no visitation.

Rita was born April 28, 1930 in Wetumka, Oklahoma, to Beulah Essie Idonia Brooks and Henry Lawrence "Blondy" Webb who preceded her in death. She moved with her parents and her brother Gayle Dee from Wetumka to Artesia in 1946. Rita attended high school in Artesia and graduated from Artesia High School in 1948. She married her high school sweetheart William Ernest "Buck" Fleming on Dec. 26, 1948 in the First Baptist Church here in Artesia. He preceded her in death April 10, 1984.

On February 11, 1995, she married John Simons, Jr. in that same church, Rita and John made their home in Artesia where they lived for many years. John presently resides in Roswell, New Mexico.

Rita is survived by her daughter, Beverly A. Fleming of Artesia; Beverly's son, Eric Warner Robichaux and wife Kelley of Sulphur, Louisiana where they reside with their three sons Arden Clark, Clark and Archer.
Rita is survived by her son, Russell L. Fleming of Encinal, Texas; Rusty's sons William LaBronc Fleming and wife Molli with their two children, Maddox Mae and Knox Crawford of San Angelo, Texas; and Jackson Colter Fleming and wife Cailey with their children, Rylee Danielle, Sawyer Burke and Chazzie of Colorado City, Texas.
Rita is survived by her brother, Gayle Webb, and his wife, Paquita, and their family, who reside in the area of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Rita loved music and playing the piano, and was in a local band called "The Over The Hill Gang", a few years ago. She loved to sing--she could find the harmony in any song she heard, whether she knew it or not. Music gave her joy and comfort all of her life, into the last hours of her life.

She loved to laugh and make her home and surroundings beautiful and comfortable for everyone. She was a creative seamstress and sewed her own clothing and that of her daughter's with a skilled eye and hand. She was one heck of a good cook, too.

Rita will long be remembered by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews along with a host of other relatives and friends including her four stepchildren and their families.
A special thank you to Gentiva Hospice in Roswell, and to the RAs and Med Aides at Brookdale Memory Care of Roswell, who gave her the utmost respect and affection during her stay there. She was one of their favorites.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gentiva Hospice at 400 N. Pennsylvania, Suite 500, in Roswell, New Mexico or to the Alzheimer's Association.

Thank you, Almighty God, for having shared this loving, caring, gracious, compassionate, and wonderful lady us. She was one of a kind, and she was ours.

Service

First Baptist Church
322 W. Grand Avenue
Artesia, NM  88210
Monday, March 21, 2016
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Woodbine Cemetery
200 E. Hermosa Drive
Artesia, NM  88210

Memorial Contributions

Gentiva Hospice
400 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Suite 500
Roswell, NM  88201

Alzheimer's Association
404 W. Kentucky Avenue
Roswell, NM  88201