Obits July 22

Ronald Hutchings, 71

Mr. Ronald I. Hutchings, 71, of Watseka, Ill., died July 1, 2003, at his home.

He was born June 28, 1932, in Fairmont City, Minn., to Ivan E. and Alice M. Musser Hutchings.

He married Christine Borders on Oct. 13, 1979, in Hammond, Ind. He worked 23 years as clergy and nine years as a truck driver. He was a member of Prairie View Bible Church. He was a minister in Portales.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife; his former wife, Betty Hutchings; four sons, Michael Hutchings (and wife, Katie) of Florida, James Hutchings (Priscella) of New Jersey, Cecil “Butch” Hutchings (Debra) of Indiana and Jeffrey Hutchings (Peggy) of Wisconsin; three daughters, Claudette Sue Vincent (Mike) of Colorado, Rebekah “Becky” Hellein (Mark) of Pennsylvania and Patti Jo Rausch (Barney) of Indiana; two brothers, Tom Hutchings (Grace) of California and Charles Hutchings (Denise) of Wisconsin; three step-daughters, Kimberly Blenn (Steve) of Indiana, Lisa McCarty of Wisconsin and Teresa Mazure (Eric) of Indiana; two nieces; three nephews; 26 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were held July 5 at Flesher Cemetery in Crescent City, Ill.

Burial was at Flescher Cemetery in Crescent City.

Arrangements were by Baier Funeral Home of Watseka.

Vera Moore, 88

Mrs. Vera Juanita Pickens Moore, 88, of Albuquerque, a longtime resident of New Mexico and Texas, died Friday, July 18, 2003, at Manzano del Sol in Albuquerque.

She was born Aug. 3, 1914, in Lorraine, Texas, to the Rev. Finus Roden and Vera Costin Pickens.

She received a bachelor’s degree from McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. She married Don W. Moore in 1934 in Abilene. She taught school for 15 years in Hereford and 10 years in Portales and Clovis. During her career she was a strong literacy advocate, helping organize the first International Reading Council in eastern New Mexico. In 1975-76 she was named Teacher of the Year by the Hereford Independent School District. They moved to Espanola after her retirement in the late 1970s. In 1985 they moved to Albuquerque.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Finus Roden Pickens Jr.; a sister, Mary Byrd Christopher; and a son, Larry Don Moore.

She is survived by her husband; two sons, Pickens Moore of Gallup and Cyrus Moore of New York City; two daughters, Sandra Starr of San Francisco and Amanda Moore of Santa Fe; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a brother, the Rev. James T. Pickens of Abilene, Texas.

Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Albuquerque.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Manzano del Sol Good Samaritan Village Alzheimer’s Care.

Arrangements are by Metropolitan Direct Burial and Cremation Center of Albuquerque.

Iris Pettiet, 71

Ms. Iris Irene Cox Pettiet, 71, of Leland, Miss., died Friday, July 18, 2003, at Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville, Miss.

She was born in Inez to Luther Clinton and Opal Irene Corbin Cox.

She graduated from Inez High School and was a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University in 1952. She taught home economics. She married Joe V. Pettiet in January 1953. They moved to Leland in 1964. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Leland.

She is survived by her husband; two daughters, Jorene P. Lishman of Ocean Springs, Miss., and Kathryn P. Ellis of Vicksburg, Miss.; a son, Clinton Pettiet of Leland; two sisters, Mozelle C. Gaudet of Fort Worth, Texas, and Lavada C. Fishback of Grand Junction, Colo.; a brother, Weldon Cox (and wife, Sue) of Portales; a grandson, Joseph Ellis; and six granddaughters, Erin, Nicole and Kaitlyn Ellis and Stephanie, Samantha and Catherine Pettiet.

Services were held Monday at First Baptist Church in Leland.

Burial was at Leland-Stoneville Cemetery in Stoneville, Miss.

Arrangements were by Boone Funeral Home of Leland.