Rhetta Fran Simms

Rhetta Fran Simms, 58 a former Clovis, NM resident died Thursday, July 4, 2002 at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, TX. Rhetta was born May 20, 1944 in Clovis, NM to the home of Urby Jay “Hoss” Simms and the former Juanita Claudia McClure. She attended and graduated from Clovis High School. She attended the University of New Mexico where she received her Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts in 1969. Rhetta substituted at Albuquerque Public Schools for a short time. She later attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales where she received her Masters Degree in Fine Arts in 1972. She was an artist and painted in watercolor and oil paints. Rhetta made her home in Portales, Dallas, TX, and Clovis. Rhetta developed complications form a 1965 motor vehicle accident that required her stay in a care center for the past eight years. Rhetta loved to paint, take walks, sit in the sun and relax listening music. She was raised in the Church of Christ. Rhetta was preceded in death by her father Urby Jay Simms in 1991; three nephews Manzy Tye Simms in 1989, Sean Bryan Benderman in 1992, and Zachary Sean Benderman in 1995. Survivors include her mother Juanita Simms of Decatur, IL; one brother Manzy Simms of Dallas, TX; three sisters Martha Simms of Clovis, NM; Rebecca Pulford of Decatur, IL; Connie Simms of Phoenix, AZ; a nephew Weston Benderman his wife Beth and their children Ila and Maya of Albuquerque; two nieces Erin Pulford of Decatur, IL; and Mandy Simms and her children John Mark, Taylor, and Keeton all of Dallas, TX. Also surviving is her special caregiver Mickey Baker at Hobbs Health Care Center in Hobbs, NM. Graveside funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, July 8, 2002 from the Fort Sumner Cemetery with Mr. Skip Clark officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner, NM.