Martha Ellen Rakestraw

Martha Ellen Rakestraw, age 96, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend to many, passed peacefully of natural causes on Tuesday, June 25, 2023.

She was born on October 4, 1926, in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Ralf F. Gould and Evelyn Holland Gould. She did not care for her given name and insisted on being called "ME". Anyone calling her by Martha was quickly reprimanded and set straight. She graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1944. She then attended nurses training at Baylor University during World War II.

She met her lifelong partner, David U. Rakestraw Jr., in the eighth grade at Jefferson Middle School. ME married her grade school sweetheart, in Albuquerque, on August 25th, 1947. They remained married for 70 years. She was involved with the Junior League where she formed many lifelong friendships. She was an accomplished gardener and loved to sew.

She traveled extensively, whether it be around New Mexico, the US or abroad. She spent many a night in a tiny travel trailer with two kids, her husband and a dog camping throughout the western US. She was an avid snow skier and a loyal animal lover. ME played the guitar and made every holiday special.

In 2007 David and ME built a home in Ocate, NM, where they enjoyed the beautiful scenery and wonderful people for 8 years. They moved back to Albuquerque in 2015. Wherever she lived she displayed her large collections of blue and white porcelain and copper.

ME was preceded in death by her husband, David. ME is survived by her daughter, Leslie Lynn Rakestraw; son, David U. Rakestraw III and his wife, Lori Feagler; granddaughters, Katie (Tim) Hintze and Claire (Darin) Colburn and three great-grandchildren.

The family thanks the staff at Corus Hospice for their compassionate care for ME in her last days. There will be no service in accordance with her wishes.