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Beth Gilbert Hagaman (Frances Elizabeth) quietly and peacefully passed away surrounded by loved ones, at her home in Corrales, of natural Causes, August 5, 2002 at age 92, after a very brief phase of physical decline. A native of New Mexico, born on May 20, 1910, in Alamogordo, The Territory of New Mexico, she was preceded in death by her parents Mary Edna Murphy Gilbert and Dr. Jesse Robert Gilbert of Alamogordo; a husband and father of her three children, George William Hagaman; one brother, Jesse Robert Gilbert, Jr. (Jack); and sister-in-law, Wilma Gilbert, husband, Jams Mahill; and daughter, Carolyn Hagaman Ortega. She is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Dr. Marylou Hagaman Witz and Gene Witz, and Dr. Betty Ann Hagaman and Dr. Ralph C. Friedenberg; and one other son-in-law, attorney, Victor R. Ortega; five grandchildren, David Marcial Ortega, John Victor Ortega, Annamarie Ortega, Paul Michael Friedenberg, Laura Elizabeth Friedenberg; and one great-granddaughter, Danielle Samantha Ortega, and a step-daughter, Beth Mahill; nephew, Von (Jimmy) Armstrong, his wife, Sally and their children; niece, Patricia Ann Gilbert Morin and her husband, Gerald Morin; and their son, Chris; and nephew, Jesse Robert Gilbert III, and his wife, Johnnie and their children. After being honored as valedictorian of her high school class in Alamogordo in 1928, Beth attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque during which time she was in the Chi Omega sorority and a member of the honorary scholastic society Mortarboard. She graduated in 1932 with a Bachelor of Science degree (Biology and Home Economics) and in 1933 married George William Hagaman in Alamogordo. Together they raised their three daughters until George Hagaman's death in 1950. Beth remained in Alamogordo until she moved to Albuquerque in the 1960s and to Corrales several years later. As an elementary school teacher, prolific artist, and author of numerous published papers and two books, Beth's life was filled with loving and devoted service to her family and the community. She served as a member of the Alamogordo School Board for many years and was an active member of Easter Star. In Albuquerque and Corrales she was active for many years until her death, in P.E.O, the Old Glass Club, Corrales Historical Society and a member of Central United Methodist Church. Beth also was a member of a prominent southern New Mexico pioneer family that is memorialized in Alamogordo's Founder Park for the key role it played in New Mexico's history. For further information contact Dr. Marylou Witz, 1920 N. Clark, Suite 13C, Chicago, IL 60614. Services to commemorate and celebrate Beth's life will take place at 1100 am Saturday, August 10, 2002 at Central United Methodist Church, 1615 Copper NE, Albuquerque. Final interment of cremains will take place in Alamogordo sometime in September. Memorial contributions can be made in the name of the"Beth Gilbert Hagaman Memorial Fund" to Tularosa Basin Historical Society, 1301 N. White Sands Blvd, Alamogordo, NM 88310; Central United Methodist Church, 1615 Copper NE, Albuquerque 87106; International Chapter, P.E.O. Sisterhood, 3700 Grand Av., Des Moines, IA 50312-2899, and the Corrales Historical Society, P.O.Box 1051, Corrales, NM 87048. American Burial & Cremation Center 700 Yale Blvd is handling the arrangements.
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