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PUCKETT -- Margaret Eloise Moulton Puckett, 91, left this life this January 7, 2004, to make her tee time at the golf course out there in all of our dreams. Eloise was preceded by her golfing husband of 34 years, Earl F. Puckett, Sr. PE, in 1968. Eloise was born on November 18, 1912, and raised in Las Vegas, just as New Mexico was attaining statehood. Eloise's Mom, Eddie Rogers Ackerman Moulton, who died in 1964, was the oldest of thirteen. So, Eloise leaves many cousins and relations in Northern and throughout NM and Texas: Richard Cook, Espanola; Nene Koch, Santa Fe; Peggy Ackerman, Denver; David Abercrombie, Rociada; Bill Ackerman, Santa Teresa; and Ray McCormic, El Paso. Eloise's dad, Wesley Gunn Moulton, who died in 1947, was a lifelong railroad engineer, coming to NM from Texas. Wesley and Eddie must be commended for their inspiration to their offspring, Eloise and Bus, to venture on to college from little Las Vegas. Eloise to the University of Alabama and later, UNM, and Bus to Colorado School of Mines. Wesley Gunn Moulton, Eloise's brother, passed away in Juneau, Alaska in 1996. Eloise was packed up and shipped off on the railroad to the University of Alabama by her railroad parents at the tender age of sixteen. There, Eloise began her lifelong association with the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. Pledging Alpha Chi Omega in 1928, Eloise has recently attained her 75th year AX? pin. After one year, Eloise returned to the University of New Mexico, completing her degree in 1932. Starting teaching in 1932 in Rincon, near Las Vegas, she shared a room in the home of one of her students, walking each day to the one room schoolhouse. While rural New Mexico was affected by the Great Depression, then as now the boom and excitement of the time was the road construction project being done in the developing area. Eloise met the tall, gangly, Oklahoma born, Texas Tech educated Project Engineer on that area's road project. This began the gypsy life of her construction project family. Project locations were in Santa Rosa, Vaughn, Roswell, Artesia, Hobbs, Las Cruces, San Ysidro, and Shiprock. And again in the fifties and sixties, Zuni, Los Alamos, and even returning to Shiprock Las Cruces, and Roswell where friendships made in the thirties were always rekindled. This odyssey was to construct many of the highways and buildings throughout NM. Early family stories centered on the living conditions afforded by the Highway department of the "Highway Shacks" for home---the predecessor to the now common "5th Wheel Trailer" that most road construction crews nowadays live in. These Pioneer days on the highway crews created friends of many longtime NM people met and cherished for life. Golfing was a family function with probably some of the road equipment even being used to fashion a fairway, and sand oiled greens to play on during the few hours and days that crews were not working. Of course, no materials from the road job were used to construct these golf links. Earl F. Puckett, Jr., was soon to arrive, and in the early years of the project golf courses, was handed a cut-off golf club and some bets were likely made as to how far the little kid could hit that ball! All of Eloise's son's, Earl, now of Chicago and West Palm Beach Gardens, Bob, now of Naples, Florida, and Jim, of Albuquerque were born "on the road" and became part of the entourage of the highway building Project Engineer and his wife Eloise in the thirties of developing New Mexico. As the Second World War began, Eloise was charged with setting up the household in the city of Albuquerque as Earl was assigned as Project Engineer on the road construction project of the Central and Tijeras railroad underpasses. This assignment ended the road construction treks for about fifteen years, allowing Eloise the luxury of raising her family in one town, without regular moves and even returning to work in the schoolhouse at Bandelier Elementary School. In the mid-fifties, Eloise became the administrative half of Earl F. Puckett, Contractor-Engineer, Inc., a general building construction company, returning to the life on the road to constructing many a building in rural NM. The highway shacks had given way to the modern mobile home, however, the moves and the gypsy life were the same. In 1968 Eloise returned to Albuquerque to live and pursue her dedicated life and involvement with Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, the Ladies golf groups, the St. Marks ladies groups, and her friends for regular bridge games at a penny a point to the winner! Eloise was elected and served as the Province President to her beloved Alpha Chi Omega Sorority in the early seventies. Involvement with and participation in local ladies golf groups and travels consumed her interest and time. Eloise is survived by her three son's, Earl, Bob, and Jim; her nephews Holm Bursom, Socorro; Mark Moulton, Juneau, AK; Ted Cotton, New Orleans; Robert Lopez Puckett, Manila, Philippines; her Grandchildren Suzanne and Ralph Parks, Cedar Crest; Danette Elizabeth Puckett-Brehart and Toney Brehart, Chicago; Tami Puckett, Chicago; Virginia Corazon, T or C; Perianne and Enrique Cubillo, New York City; James and Nancy Puckett, Mill Valley, CA; James and Jennifer Puckett, Bowie, MD; and Amanda Puckett Seif, Colorado Springs. Nine Great Grand Children: Mario Garcia, Amber Parks, Brook Parks, May McGowan Puckett, Clayton James Puckett, Morgan Leigh Puckett, Chase Paul Puckett, Daniel, Heather, and Melissa Seif. And two wonderful Great-Great Grand Children, Jacob Grayson, and Madeline, son and daughter of Eloise's favorite US Navy Seal, Mario, and Michelle Garcia of Virginia Beach, VA. Eloise has been living at Valle Norte Caring Center and Los Colinas Assisted Living Center. Of recent, she has been cared for by the able staff at Presbyterian Hospice Services. We want to thank ALL of the ANGELS of those three organizations for their fine care and attention to her comfort, her care, and her fine quality of life that has been afforded. The Doctor's and Nurse's at Presbyterian Hospital are to be commended for their exemplary professional care to Eloise in these recent weeks, and many times past! We thank you all for your superb professionalism and attention to Eloise's needs. Eloise will be missed by all. Her lifelong desire to have all of her family and all of her friends live life to the greatest extent possible will live on in her memory and be her greatest gift to all. Eloise's life will be remembered in a celebration at St. Marks on the Mesa on September 24, 2004, at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, Eloise requests your remembrance to the Ladies groups of St. Marks who serve the community so ably.
        Published on: Sun January 11, 2004