Sophie Lanning

Funeral services for Sophie B. Lanning, 85, of Roswell will be held at 9:30 am Friday, January 2, 2009, at Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home Chapel, with Elton Dilbeck of the Country Club Rd. Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 8a.m. – 8p.m. and Thursday 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Sophie passed away Sunday, December 28, 2008. Sophie was born December 5, 1923 to Earl Richard Paxton and Elizabeth Anne Parker in Hope, New Mexico. She was a devout lifelong member of the Church of Christ, former member of the FOE Ladies Auxillary and an incredible seamstress. Sophie had a green thumb, loved gardening and her flowers also enjoyed playing pinnecle, solitare, dominos, putting puzzles together, watching hospital television shows and Perry Mason. Her favorite things in life were being surrounded by her family and little puppies, especially Daisy and her memories of growing up on the family ranch. Sophie is survived by three daughters; Kay Stirman of Ruidoso, Stephanie Hitt and her husband Joe of San Diego, CA and Jeanne Hudson-Dunaway of Central, AZ, one sister; Earlene P. Rives and her husband Charles of Scottsdale, AZ, her grandchildren; Charles Richard, Hal Rives, Laura Stadjuhar and her husband Randy of Las Cruces, Logan Stirman of Denver, CO, Daniel Clifford and his wife Jeanie of Merced, CA, D’Anna O’Mera and her husband John of Central, AZ, Lydia Kuykendall and her husband Brandon, April Hudson Hill and her husband Jason, Jason Hudson and his fiancée Michelle Carter, Jeanne Dunaway and her fiancée Tim Lester all of Roswell, Billy Dunaway II, of Central, AZ, her great-grandchildren; James Stirman, Colby Stadjuhar, Georgana Stadjuhar, Gavin and Rowan Clifford, and Crimson O’Mera, K’leigh, Katelyn and Kayla Jordan, Jeffrey and Cameron Marshall, Orion Dwinell, Michaela Hudson and Timothy Lester. Sophie was preceded in death by both her parents, her husband Kenneth Joseph Lanning, one brother; John William “JW” Paxton and one grandson; Thomas Gerald Clifford III. Pallbearers will be Jason Hudson, Billy Dunaway II, Logan Stirman, John O’Mera, Jason Hill and Tim Lester. Honorary Pallbearers will be Joe Hitt, Daniel Clifford and Lonnie Lee. The family would like to express their great appreciation for the wonderful care of Sophie to Vista Care Hospice. 24 “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 “And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” Please share your thoughts and memories with the family in the online register book at andersonbethany.com Services are under the direction of Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home & Crematory.

Sophie Lanning

December 5, 1923 - December 28, 2008