Memorial services for Gwendolyn Upton, 74 of Portales will be at 10:00 AM, Thurs., Sept. 7, 2017 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Kenneth Broad officiating, assisted by Buck Wilson. She will be interred in the Melrose Cemetery at a later time.
On September 1, 2017, our beloved “Aunt Gwennie”, as she was known to so many, passed from this life into the Kingdom of Heaven and was joyfully reunited with her parents, Kenneth and Ila Dodson, and her sister, Florence Wilson, whom she dearly loved.
Gwendolyn Anne Dodson was born in Clovis, NM on October 13, 1942 to the home of Kenneth and Ila Dodson. Gwen attended Clovis schools and graduated in 1960. During her high school and subsequent years she was an avid horseman. She was an excellent left-handed roper and also loved barrel racing, team roping and goat tying. She was proficient at Western Pleasure riding and won many horsemanship awards and saddles. Gwen also loved playing the violin and the piano. On September 29, 1966 she married the love of her life, Bob Upton. They made their home in Portales until they moved to Bob’s hometown of Tishomingo, OK. For many years they ranched in Nida, OK where they raised cattle and horses. Gwen was a dedicated member of the Church of the Nazarene where she was very active in the music ministry. She loved to sing and had a beautiful voice and was always humming, whistling, or singing her favorite Christian hymn.
In 1987, Gwen and Bob moved back to the Pecos Wilderness to be the caretakers of the Evergreen Valley Ranch for several years then the Terrell Ranch where they made their home for the last 30 years. She and Bob loved to pack in to the Pecos on horseback and did so numerous times over the years. She loved the mountains and loved hosting family gatherings in the cabins on the Terrell Ranch. Gwen always kept her many hummingbird feeders full and loved to watch the hundreds of hummingbirds that called her place “home”.
Gwen loved the Lord and was unwavering in her faith. She served as a true Christian model and helped many people find and hold on to their faith in difficult times. She was a comfort and source of strength for any family member without hesitation. Although she didn’t have any biological children of her own she considered her nieces and nephews her own children and loved them fiercely. She went on to be a wonderful “grandparent” to her great nieces and nephews. She spent hours composing picture books and letters to each child that always included a treat inside.
She wouldn’t stand for injustice of any kind and had the White House on speed dial and the address of her Congressmen handy at all times! She stood on the side of “right” when “wrong” would have been a more popular choice.
She lived her life for God and her family and her loving spirit will be remembered long after she is gone.
Gwen is survived by her husband of fifty years, Bob Upton, her sister and brother in law, Vivian and Richard Haverland, brother in law, Buck and Roberta Wilson, all of Portales, NM. She is also survived by nieces and nephews: Tammy (Dave) Hunton, Kenneth (Amy) Haverland, Sandy (Steve) Turner, Kara (Sammy) Ellison, Julie (John) Bridges as well as many great nieces and nephews. Gwen is also survived by many loving and cherished family members on Bob’s side of the family.