Graveside services for Lillian M. Green, 92, of Portales, were held at 10:00 A.M., Thurs, Mar. 29, 2018 in the Portales Cemetery with Mark McAfee officiating.
Lillian Margaret Green was born August 11, 1925 in Plainview, TX to the home of Freeda (Smart) and Jeptha Simpson and died March 27, 2018 in Muleshoe, TX. Mrs. Green attended school in the Cousins Community, and began teaching at the age of 16, after completing the eleventh grade. Altogether, she taught 33 ½ years. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Wayland Baptist University, and later completed a Master’s degree at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, TX. For several years her teaching was in a one room school with children from Kindergarten through fifth grade.
She was teaching in Welch, TX and living in the Superintendent’s home when the superintendent’s son, Jim Green, returned from military service. The two fell in love, and were married in Welch on June 9, 1946. Through the years of their marriage they made their home in numerous places. They were in Portales the first time from 1969 until 1976 while he served as pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church. They returned to Portales in 2007, and remained here until she went to Muleshoe in 2014.
Mrs. Green enjoyed doing crocheting and needlepoint, as well as sewing. She was a wonderful cook. Throughout her life she enjoyed children and was a faithful worker in R.A. and G. A. camps and Vacation Bible Schools. She and Rev. Green went on many gospel campaigns, and Lillian was a powerful prayer warrior.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Kim and Ara Dee Green of Gallup; and a daughter and son-in-law, Sherrizan and San Skinner of Portales; five grandchildren, Cody and Tara Skinner of Artesia, Cade and Shawna Skinner of Portales, Ara Nicole and Cale Sanders of New Home, TX, Tara and Matthew Long of Gallup, and Zach and Laura Green of Ft. Worth, TX; eleven great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Jay and Nancy Simpson of Lubbock; and a sister and brother-in-law, Lena and Jimmy Hill of Plainview. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Myrtie Belle Eden-Beatty and Fredda Mae Vail, as well as her beloved husband, Jim Green who died May 6, 2011 after nearly 65 years of marriage.
