Vera Long-Givens

Graveside services are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May. 7, at Woodbine Cemetery for Vera O. Givens of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mrs. Givens, 86, died Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Heartland Nursing Center.

Cecil Kimberlin will officiate at the services.

Vera was born June 20, 1926 in Indianapolis, Indiana the daughter of Lawrence J. Walker and Edith Foland Walker. She was a longtime Artesia resident.

On January 14, 1950 she was married to John Paul Long in Spencer, Indiana. He preceded her in death in 1966. She then married James Earl Givens in Artesia, in 2002. He preceded her in death in 2008. She was also preceded in death by a son Robert O. Long stepdaughter Sandra LongEllis brothers Joe Walker, Wilbur Walker, and Donald Walker and sisters Ruth Henderson, Grace Walker, and Mary Walker.

Vera, originally from Indiana, moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1973 and remained there for many years where she worked for a local architect firm. She fell in love with the Catalina Mountains and felt blessed to be able to wake up and see them out her window each morning. She had a love of nature and would take long drives through the mountains, picnic, and take long walks. Once retired she moved to Artesia to be near her daughter, Nancy, who later became her care giver. She was a member of Valley Christian Church, and was known as Baby to her friends at the Artesia Senior Citizen Center where she loved to craft.

Survivors include a son Ronald Long and wife Dee Dee from West Lafayette, Indiana daughter Nancy Wyatt and partner Terry Haviland of Artesia son William Long of Artesia stepdaughter Marilyn Long Trout of Indianapolis sister Madena Ashby and husband William Lit of Alexandria, Indiana grandchildren Shannon Dennis and husband David, Donovan Wyatt and wife Heather, Shane Wyatt and wife Gracie, Kurt Wyatt and wife Maria all of Artesia, Ronald Long of Seattle, WA, and Thomas Long and wife Alicia of West Lafayette greatgrandchildren Shablee and spouse Travis DeMerritt, Matthew Graham, Kaitlynn Wyatt, Taylor Wyatt, Chloe Wyatt, and Jayla Wyatt greatgreatgrandson Payton DeMerritt nephew Carroll Henderson and wife Phyllis and Niece Marlene Henderson.