Memorial services will be arranged at a later time for Sarah E. Miles, 99, formerly of Tucumcari, NM. Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to the ENMU Foundation, for the J. Wade and Sarah E. Miles Rodeo Scholarship.
Sarah Ellen Miles was born Sept. 2, 1918 in Los Angeles, CA to the home of Bessie Leona (Parker) and S. E. “Boots” Yates, and died Feb. 20, 2018 in Portales, NM. Mrs. Miles was reared near Valley Wells, CA. On June 13, 1937 in Riverside, CA she was married to J. Wade Miles. They ranched in CA until 1947 when they relocated to Santa Fe, NM. After moving to Santa Fe, Mrs. Miles earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Santa Fe College, and later completed her Master’s Degree at the University of New Mexico.
The Miles’ made their home in Santa Fe until 1960, when they moved to Tucumcari, and then returned to Santa Fe in 1965. They moved back to Tucumcari in 1979. Mrs. Miles taught in the elementary schools in Santa Fe and Tucumcari, and retired in 1981. Even though she was retired, she remained a lifelong learner, and was always expanding her knowledge. Education was very important to her. Tucumcari remained her home until 2013 when she came to Portales to live with her daughter.
Mrs. Miles was a very active member of St. John’s Methodist Church in Santa Fe, and in the Center Street Methodist Church in Tucumcari. She served at the state level on various boards and committees, as well as at the local level. In Santa Fe, she was a member of Nell’s Girls, a local service club. She enjoyed sewing and modeling clothing. Mrs. Miles also raised longhorn cattle. Whenever her children or grandchildren were involved in anything, she was always there to support in whatever way she could.
She is survived by a son, Jim Miles of Brighton, CO; a daughter and son-in-law, Jenny and Albert Flinn of Portales; ten grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; two other sons-in-law, Jim Norris of Tucumcari and Jim Peck of Santa Fe. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Bessie Leona Sparks, two daughters, Sarah Ellen Norris in 2013 and Vae Peck in 2014, a great grandson, Grady Wade Henson, as well as by her husband, J. Wade Miles who died Mar. 17, 2011.
