Funeral services for Ruth E. (Haynie) Visage will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 at First Baptist Church with Rev. David McFadden officiating. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Dr. Marlin Visage, Robert Visage, Jerry Visage, Eric Visage, Aaron Visage and Robert Crossley serving as pallbearers.

Ruth Visage was born on June 10, 1920 in Quail, Texas to the home of Belle D. (Guthrie) and Willis Franklin Haynie, and died on Jan. 25, 2019 in Farmington. Ruth moved to Portales in 1930 and graduated from Portales High School in 1939. She married Joe L. Visage on August 10, 1941, in Portales. After attending ENMU for 1 ½ years, she worked as a bookkeeper for Worley Mills and then for REA. After her husband Joe returned from the Army, she soon became the mother of five and a stay at home mom. In 1957, she went back to college and got her B.A. degree in 1960 and her M.A. in 1966. She began teaching in 1960 and taught Social Studies in the Portales Schools for 25 years. In 1974, she was recognized as the Teacher of the year. She was very active in the local NEA organization and served as their President for one term. She was inducted into the New Mexico Hall of Fame in 1989. In the women teacher’s organization, Delta Kappa Gamma, she was active and served as President for three years.

In the community, she was most active in serving on the Board of Directors for the Community Service Center for 17 years. She served in the capacity of President of the Board for about six years. In honor of her service, Assisted Living Apartments were given her name. She did volunteer income tax service at the center for a number of years. She taught Sunday School for almost 20 years and has also served as Prayer Coordinator since 1992 at First Baptist Church.

Ruth is survived by her sons, Dr. Marlin Visage of Tulsa, OK, Robert F. Visage and wife Lynn of Colorado Springs, CO, and Jerry L. Visage and wife Jenine of Colorado Springs, CO; her daughters, Melba Jo Crossley and husband Robert of Farmington and Patricia Margaret Visage of Clovis; six grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren She was preceded in death by her parents, Belle and Willis Franklin Haynie, her brothers, Burl D. and Dr. Firman Haynie, and her husband Joe L. Visage.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, PO Box 629, Portales, NM 88130.