Lindit’ Elizabeth (Lambert) Hopson, age 86, died Monday, November 23, 2015, at her home on the Triangle Ranch East of Mosquero, New Mexico.
All family and friends are invited to join our family in a Celebration of Lindit’ (Mama Hop) Hopson’s Life on Dec. 15 at 10:00 AM at the Mosquero Community Church for lunch and Fellowship to follow the Service.
Linda Elizabeth Hopson was born on June 12, 1929 in Sherman, Texas to Marion Sanford and Linda Elizabeth (Mitchell) Sanford and was later adopted by Jack Lambert. The granddaughter of T. E Mitchell of Tequesquite Ranch in Albert, NM, she was one of five Linda Elizabeth’s in the Mitchell Family at that time, so was given the affectionate name of Lindita because she was “little Linda” and this was later shortened to Lindit’, as she is known to most. Lindit’ will be remembered as a true Pioneer and gracious spirit of Northeastern New Mexico. At the age of 12 she started working cattle and building fence on her new home at the Triangle Ranch in Harding County while home-schooling with Calvert Correspondence. Lindit’ was soon elected the first Secretary of the NM Junior Cattle growers association at 15 and helped to build a registered Hereford herd with her Mother, Linda Mitchell Lambert on the Triangle Ranch. Lindit’ attended her Senior year of High School in Denver, CO. She then attended Arizona State University and later transferred to New Mexico Agricultural & Mechanics College (now NMSU), after she met and later married Harry Hopson of Clayton, NM on August 30, 1950 on the Triangle Ranch. She returned to college in Las Cruces with her two oldest children in tow. In 1955 she made history by graduating as NM A&M’s first female with a degree in Animal Husbandry. Her career following graduation was varied and noteworthy. Lindit’ ran the Triangle Ranch and broke Ranch horses for many years with her husband, Harry. During these years she was the Secretary of the NM Registered Quarter Horse Association. She was also active in Eastern Star, the Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches, and an instrumental Youth Horse Show and 4-H Leader. Later she helped to implement the founding of the Sandoval County Fair in Cuba, NM. She was also a High School Teacher of English and Biology in Schools in Springer, Cuba and Mosquero, NM and Barnsdall and Nelagoney, OK. In Albuquerque, she served for nearly a decade as a Church Secretary, and also for Drs. Herbert Beatty and Lyman Atchley. She is a published writer, remembered fondly for her “Lindit’s Recipes” Column in the Union County Leader, and perhaps most notably for her leadership and inspiration, contributing greatly to the Harding County History Book. She was preceded in death by her mother Linda Mitchell Lambert, Her father Marion Alexander Sanford, Stepfather Jack Lambert and a half-sister Mercedes Sanford.
SURVIVORS:
HUSBAND: Harry Hopson of Mosquero, NM.
2 SONS: Rev. Harry Jeffrey Hopson of Stockton, CA and Thomas Jay Hopson of Mosquero, NM.
2 DAUGHTERS: Linda Jill Chatfield and her husband Jack of Mosquero, NM and Joy Elaine Harris and her husband Doak of Clayton, NM.
11 GRANDCHILDREN: Randy Cook and his wife Suzanne, Kelly (Swagerty) Chaudry, Shawn Marie Swagerty, Jesse James Swagerty IV, Jimmy Jack Chatfield and his wife Natalie, Robin Shelayne Chatfield, John David Chatfield, Tassi Ranae Jones and her husband Justin, Macy Danielle Millican and her husband Matthew, Lane Elizabeth Harris and Shay LeeAnn Harris.
10 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: Joseph Cook, Robert Cook, Thomas Cook, Teagan Chatfield, Truitt Chatfield, Kezlyn Jones, Blayton Jones, Axtin Jones, Ryder Millican and Zaiden Chaudry.
2 HALF-BROTHERS: Marion Sanford and his wife Sandy of Austin, TX and Douglas Sanford of Lubbock, TX and their families.
