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Beatrice E. (Smallridge) Rankin peacefully passed from this world to the next late at night on January 11, 2007, at Socorro's Good Samaritan Village. She had celebrated her 99th birthday on Oct. 22, 2006. On the night she died, she fervently wished for two things: to go home again, and to dance. We trust the good deeds of her life, and the largesse of her heart, will serve as sufficient fare for the remainder of her journey. Grandma Bea, as she was known to her family, was born on Oct. 22, 1907 in Tularosa, New Mexico Territory, to Rosalio and Beatriz Escajada Lopez, one of five children, and the last survivor. She and her sister Mary were part of Fred Harvey's exclusive "Harvey Girls" crew at one time. Beatrice met her future husband and the father of her three children, West Virginia native, artist and sign painter, Cody O'Dell Smallridge, when she was working in a candy shop near the railroad station in Albuquerque. She was beautiful, he was handsome and dapper, and the couple married, in the early years spending time between their two native states, New Mexico and West Virginia. Beatrice was always a fiercely independent woman and a very devout Catholic, thrifty to the end, always conscious to have her hair just so and wearing lipstick, up until her final days. She raised her children as a single mother during the Depression, and in her time buried three husbands. She never really got "old" until reaching her mid-90s. Beatrice enjoyed Mexican food, pasta, baked ham and sweet potatoes - and a glass or two of inexpensive wine, in her day. She was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Church, where her life will be celebrated with the Mass of the Resurrection at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 15, 2007. Our beloved Grandma Bea is survived by two children, Carmie S. Campbell of Albuquerque and Nick Smallridge Sr. of Socorro; three grandchildren, Valerie Kimble of Socorro, Michael Campbell and wife Lynda of Albuquerque, and Nick Smallridge Jr. and wife Sue of El Paso, Texas; great grandchildren Douglas Campbell and wife Arishanda of Longmont, Colo., Nick Smallridge III of Socorro, and Jason Kimble and Brianna Kimble, both of Albuquerque; also two great-great-grandsons and several nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her beloved son, Val Smallridge; her son-in-law and daughter-in-law, Douglas Campbell and Virginia Smallridge; grandson Brian Smallridge, and great-grandson Mitchell Campbell. In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be made to Good Samaritan Village in Socorro, or to the local animal protective society of your choice. Strong-Thorne has been entrusted with her services, at Beatrice's request.
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