Kersh, Wilma M.

Wilma M. Kersh (nee 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 preceded 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) of Albuquerque, NM; 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 nephew Thomas Moore Baker of Castle Rock, CO.

A Memorial Rosary will be held Saturday, December 10, 2016,10:00 a.m. with a Memorial Mass, 10:30 a. m. at St. Patrick- St. Joseph Church, 104 Buena Vista St, Raton, NM. Interment will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Raton, NM.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

- cff.org. Please visit our online guestbook for Wilma at www.FrenchFunerals.com

FRENCH - Lomas 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE

(505) 275-3500