Evelyn M. Coughenour, 89, passed away Saturday, April 11, 2020, at Gerald Champion Hospital in Alamogordo.
She was born March 26, 1931, in Artesia to Emil P. and Mary M. Bach, and lived in Tucumcari for 57 years before moving to Alamogordo in 2017.
Evelyn retired after many years working in the Tucumcari school system. She was a longtime member of the Trigg Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Altrusa Club, and the Entre Nous social club.
She and her husband, Warren, enjoyed their retirement years travelling North America in their RV and camping with the local Good Sams club. Evelyn was a longtime, active member of the First Baptist Church of Tucumcari until her move to Alamogordo, where she was lovingly embraced by Eternity Baptist Church. She was an avid reader and seamstress, creating quilts and other pieces that were shown in the county fair, but she also made many holiday outfits and dress-up costumes for her grandchildren. One of Evelyn’s favorite hobbies was playing games – she was always ready for a game of dominoes or cards. This love was taught and passed on to her grandchildren and continued through her time in Alamogordo by hosting a weekly game time with many friends.
Survivors include daughters Cindy Payne and Andrew of Alamogordo, and Cathy McCord of Pflugerville, Texas; and her three beloved grandchildren, Alex Baker and Bonner of Austin, Texas, Geoff Payne and Brittany of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Anna Payne of Temple, Texas. She was thrilled to become a “GG” to three great-grandchildren, Zoë Baker, Grey Payne and Finn Payne. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Warren; her parents; and brothers James Earl, Emil and Albert.
Interment will be held at Woodbine Cemetery, and a memorial service will be scheduled once we can all safely gather as family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home in Portales.
Arrangements are under the direction of Alamogordo Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at http://www.alamogordofuneralhome.org.
