Obituary for Ethel Gertrude Mullins (Martin)
Ethel Page Mullins, 101, of Portales was born in Erath County, TX on Feb. 22, 1916 to the home of Minnie Lou (King) and D. X. Martin and died Oct. 19, 2017 in Portales, NM. Ethel’s family settled in Roosevelt County about 1930, on a farm south of Dora. She attended school at Rogers. She remembered as a girl, having seen the Hindenburg fly overhead, and said she thought the world was coming to an end. In those days, she remembered pulling broom corn for a dollar a day.
Among the many things she remembered from her early years, was the slaughtering of the cattle during the Great Depression to try to support the price of beef. Her father-in-law, Mr. Page, along with several others, went to Washington, DC to petition for the loan to bring electricity to the county. In 1937, when it became a reality, she and her husband, Mr. Page, were among the first to become customers. Back in the days when everyone came to town on Saturday, she would come in by wagon, and camp in the wagon yard where the Post Office is located now.
As a young woman, Ethel learned to can in the County Courthouse, and then went with the County Extension Agent to teach others the process. She was a longtime member of the Extension Club, which later became known as the Homemaker’s Club. Ethel was a wonderful homemaker, and a great cook.
On Nov. 27, 1932 at the First Baptist Church in Portales, she was married to Renae Page. Mr. Page died on Mar. 22, 1964. In 1971 she married Ray Mullins. He also preceded her in death in 1979. In 1982, Ethel built a home in Portales, and retired.
She farmed along side of both of her husbands. After she moved to town, she continued to work the soil as a gardener. In 2013, at the age of 97, she fell while hoeing in her garden and broke her hip. Ethel began bowling in 1964, and continued until 1995. She was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church.
She is survived by eight grandchildren, Denise Page, Toyia Adams, Tamara Page, Chad Page, Lethia Page, Steven Page, Vickie Musick, and Danny Musick; ten great-grandchildren and ten great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, Leland Page and Waymon Page, a daughter, Verdine Musick, a sister, Lois Folkner, three grandchildren, Goldie Chaffin, Thelma Townsend and Ila Page, as well as her husbands. At her request, there will be no services.
As a young woman, Ethel learned to can in the County Courthouse, and then went with the County Extension Agent to teach others the process. She was a longtime member of the Extension Club, which later became known as the Homemaker’s Club. Ethel was a wonderful homemaker, and a great cook.
On Nov. 27, 1932 at the First Baptist Church in Portales, she was married to Renae Page. Mr. Page died on Mar. 22, 1964. In 1971 she married Ray Mullins. He also preceded her in death in 1979. In 1982, Ethel built a home in Portales, and retired.
She farmed along side of both of her husbands. After she moved to town, she continued to work the soil as a gardener. In 2013, at the age of 97, she fell while hoeing in her garden and broke her hip. Ethel began bowling in 1964, and continued until 1995. She was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church.
She is survived by eight grandchildren, Denise Page, Toyia Adams, Tamara Page, Chad Page, Lethia Page, Steven Page, Vickie Musick, and Danny Musick; ten great-grandchildren and ten great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, Leland Page and Waymon Page, a daughter, Verdine Musick, a sister, Lois Folkner, three grandchildren, Goldie Chaffin, Thelma Townsend and Ila Page, as well as her husbands. At her request, there will be no services.
