Gertrude Twiss Delk 1925-2012

Gertrude "Gertie" Twiss Delk,87,passed away at Gila Regional Medical Center on September 18, 2012, after a brief illness.
Memorial Service will be held at Baca's Funeral Chapels in Silver City Saturday September 22, 2012 at 2 o'clock in the afternoon with Pastor Ernie Vineyard officiating.
Cards may be sent to:

Gertie Delk Family
 POB 879
Messilla Park NM 88047

Gertie was born to Richard Michael Twiss and Gertrude Pole Twiss on August 7, 1925, in El Paso,Texas. When she was four years old,her family moved to Vanadium, where her father was the business manager at the Ground Hog Mine. The family remained in the area and she graduated from Hurley High in 1944. After graduation, she went to work for the Empire Zinc Mine. She met Forrest Delk at the Bayard Lions Club where he and his Gully Jumpers band were playing for a dance. They married on January 20, 1945, and moved to the family ranch below the Kneeling Nun, where they lived together for the next 51years. Life revolved around cow work, Forrest's dance music, and their family. After Forrest's death in 1996,Gertie remained on the ranch. She loved her home in Lampbright Canyon even though she had to deal with everything from rough¬ sometimes impassable-roads to a bear outside her bedroom window. Not long before her 8ih birthday, she had to kill a rattlesnake near her porch. Throughout her life, Gertie tended to the needs of her family. She was always there supporting them,whether tapping her foot at the edge of the dance floor, cheering at basketball games, or baking to raise money for FFA. Gertie was a wonderful cook and served many meals, whether at the table at home or on the tailgate when working cattle. Gertie was active in Copper Cowbells and the Mimbres Booster Club. She was interested in antiques and enjoyed collecting purple glass. She loved to crochet and spent many hours making afghans for her family. Gertie is survived by her children, son Joe Delk (Diane) of Las Cruces, NM, daughter Linda Cox (Harlie) of Faywood, NM, son Jimmy Delk (Suanne) of Deming, NM. She was affectionately known as "Gramma" to her seven grandchildren: Neal (Tandee) Delk of Melrose, NM, Mark (Stacey) Delk of Las Cruces, NM, Byron (Jaylene) Delk of Las Cruces, NM, Lori (Wes) Hudson of Red Oak, OK,Tricia (JoBonney) LeCompte of Perryton, TX,Jennifer (Will) Shafer of Deming,NM,and Amy (Nathan) Yost of Los Alamos, NM,and thirteen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sister Mary Emerson of National City, CA,sister Pat Barker of Roswell, GA, sister-in-law Dee Johnson of Silver City,NM, and numerous nieces and nephews. Gertie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Forrest, and granddaughter Stacy Cox.