Wilma M. Kersh (née Moore) age 92, died on Sunday, November 27, 2016 in Albuquerque, NM, surrounded by her family.
Wilma “Wim” was born July 11, 1924 to Josephine and Eugene Moore in the coal camp of Brilliant, just outside Raton, New Mexico. Five years later saw the birth of her sister Jo Madlyn. Moving to town, Wilma attended St. Patrick’s Academy in Raton and Raton High School, from which she graduated in 1942. Wilma later enrolled and attended Loretto Heights College in Denver, CO. After spending two semesters at the University of Arizona, she returned to Loretto Heights and graduated with a BA in English Literature in 1947. She returned to Raton and took a job on the staff of the local paper, Raton Daily Range. In 1949 Wilma accepted an elementary teaching position in the Raton Public Schools.
She was married in 1953 to Blake F. Kersh, Jr. of Shamrock, TX, a graduate of Texas Tech University and WWII Veteran. Following the wedding they moved to Amarillo, TX, and started a family. In 1967, they returned to New Mexico along with their seven children. By 1969 Wilma was once more teaching third grade at Kearny Elementary in Raton. After spending 25 years in the Public Schools, she retired from teaching and pursued her passions of cooking, gardening, crafting, and keeping up with her children’s busy lives.
She was proceeded in death by her devoted husband Blake, on July 8, 2007.
She is survived by her children: Krista Kersh and husband Randall Hicks of Albuquerque, NM; Blake F. Kersh, III of Raton, NM; Gene Kersh and wife Ellen Fogg Kersh of Albuquerque, NM, and grandsons Andrew (27) of Bend, OR and Stephen (25) of Flagstaff, AZ; Tim Kersh and wife Conna Meader of Albuquerque and grandson Lyle (17); Jeff Kersh and wife Ann of Post Falls, ID and grandchildren Elizabeth (26), Madeleine (24), Joseph (22), Maria (21), Antonia (19), and Jeffrey II (18), all of Post Falls, ID; Gretchen Torline and husband Terry of Wichita, KS, and grandchildren Blake (22), Gabrielle (20), and Kathryn (17) all of Wichita, KS; Amy Wendt and husband Richard of Lawrence, KS, and grandchildren Alexandra (22) and Aidan (18) both of Lawrence, KS. She is survived by her sister Jo Baker and husband Mickey of Raton, NM, and one nephew Thomas Moore Baker of Castle Rock, CO.
Recitation of the Most Holy Rosary will be Saturday December 10, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Patrick’s-St. Joseph’s Catholic Church recited by Frank Cimino Jr. Mass of the Resurection will follow at 10:30 with Father William Woytavich as the celebrant. Rite of commital will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Raton.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – cff.org.
Arrangements and celebration of love for Wilma M. Kersh are under the direction of the Yaksich-Long Funeral Home of Raton.
Ms. Kersh was my 3rd grade and first teacher when I moved from Vaughn, NM. She instilled in me a work ethic and the value of an education which has continued to influence my life today. Those values have been passed in to my children. You will be missed. GodvBless the Kersh Family and may you find peace.
Miss Wilma and I had a few front porch visits about family and the importance of having them near, which I will always treasure, as she always had a way of driving a point home!! One conversation that comes to mind often, is when I spoke to her about moving to Texas (which by the way she was VERY fond of) to be closer to our children, but how my husband hated to leave his home here in Raton, she told me, “Kim, a house can’t put it’s arms around you!”, and yes Miss Wilma you are so VERY right. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for our great visits and for being one my favorite teachers who was always reminding me of how nice my Mom dressed me and curled my hair! You will be sadly missed, but NEVER forgotten! Love and sympathy to the family
We enjoyed Wilma during our years of living in Raton. She was one of a kind, and our connection was
about Texas, which was our bond with her, plus she and Crews always talked politics.
Our sympathy to the family.