Montez Bertram

Montez Bertram truly lived a good and exceptional life and kept the faith for all of her 98 years. She remained a positive example and influence to her family and friends throughout her life, as she accepted each new challenge with courage and determination to make the best of each situation. She passed from this life into the arms of God and her waiting loved ones on January 13, 2015.

Services of remembrance will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Griffin Funeral Home Chapel, with burial to follow in Memory Gardens in Hobbs, NM. Officiating will be Rev. Darren Skinner of First United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held on Friday the 16th from 9:00 AM-7:00 PM at Griffin Funeral Home.

Montez was born January 7, 1917 in Wood County, Texas, the fifth of six children born to Henry Houston and Della Bailey Corbitt. In 1924, when her family moved from east Texas to Lamesa in west Texas, they traveled by covered wagon. What remarkable changes she experienced during her lifetime!

Montez attended schools in Dawson County, Texas, graduating from Lamesa High School in 1935. As part of the social life at the time, families gathered for singings on Sunday evenings. This is where Montez met Thomas Edward Bertram, who would become her beloved husband on August 24, 1935 in Lamesa. They celebrated 70 wonderful years of marriage before his death in 2006. The family moved to Hobbs, NM in 1945 where Tom was manager of the Fair Department Store. While Tom managed the store, Montez did the alterations. In 1951 Tom and Montez opened Economy Shoe Store on Broadway. A move led them to a larger building in 1964 and a name change to Bertram Shoes. Montez kept the books, helped the customers find just the right shoes, and wrapped beautiful packages for special occasions for their customers. They closed the store and retired in 1979.

Montez loved gardening, whether it was vegetables or flowers, she definitely knew what it took to reap a bounteous harvest. She especially loved her iris gardens and knew each variety by name. A visit to their home included a tour to see her iris, roses, and California poppies and a variety of other flowers. She won many prizes for her beautiful arrangements and individual entries in both the Iris and Rose Shows in Hobbs. During her active years, she was a member of the Hobbs Woman's Civic Club, Canasta Club, Yucca Garden Club, Grandmother's Club and the Women's Society of Christian Service at First United Methodist Church of Hobbs. She arranged the altar flowers at FUMC for a number of years, served on the parlor committee, and was in charge of the wedding receptions catered by the WSCS at the church. She and Tom joined First United Methodist Church shortly after their move to Hobbs in 1945. She also served on the Cemetery Board for the city of Hobbs for a number of years. She loved to be involved and active in whatever pursuit she undertook.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, in 2006 and by their son, Jerral, in 2001, and by two brothers and two sisters. She is survived by daughters, Carol (Lewis) McGuire of Waco, TX, Elaine (JC) Pierce of Oklahoma City, OK, and Beverly (Barry) Dyer of Midland, TX, and by her daughter-in-law Donna Bertram of Colleyville, TX. She especially loved her 8 grandchildren and their families: Joe Bohannon of Summerville, SC, Sally Stoldt of Wichita, KS, Julee Higgins of Plano, TX, Susan Harriman and Angie Rodgers, both of Waco, TX, Denise White of Flower Mound, TX, Dena Duren of Argyle, TX, and Blake Dyer of Saratoga Springs, UT. Also surviving are 16 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson; her sister, Dorothy Terry, of Brownfield, TX, and several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the physicians and nursing staff at Lea Regional. Special thanks is also extended to the staff and residents of Desert Gardens Assisted Living for helping make her last years pleasant ones.
Arrangements are under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made to:www.griffinfuneralhomehobbs.com

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