Lucille Swope

On August 25, 2023, Lucille Swope, 89, of Cloudcroft, NM passed away peacefully.  Her beloved husband of 72 years, David, was by her side.  Later that morning with her immediate family present, the clouds created a beautiful sunrise with hummingbirds present and the birds chipping as angels ushered her away. 

Lucille was born in Wink, Texas.  Within a month, the family had moved to Hobbs, NM.  In 1945 they moved to Cloudcroft.  Throughout her growing up years she worked in the local drug store as a soda jerk to help support her mother and her sister Vonzell.  In high school she was a cheerleader and played the clarinet.  She and David were high school sweethearts and when she was a Junior, David asked Lucille’s mother for her hand in marriage.  Her mother said yes but only if Lucille promised to finish high school, which she did.  She also worked at the REA Office (now Otero County Electrical Coop).  Lucille was always active in the Cloudcroft community.  She attended the Cloudcroft Baptist Church that her mother had help establish.  She also was active and held various offices in the Garden Club, and the Chamber of Commerce.  She, along with David, were awarded Honorary Chapter Farmer Degrees (the highest honor bestowed on an individual).  

Lucille had three sons with David (Dave, Jimmy, and Norman) who all graduated from Cloudcroft Schools.   As a young mother, she and the kids worked with David farming and then ranching on their property outside of Cloudcroft.  As a devoted mother, she attended all her kids’ school activities including basketball, football, track, band, and FFA events. She and David were members of the Sideliners which support Cloudcroft Athletics. 

For over four decades Lucille and David had the bus contract for Cloudcroft Schools. She drove a bus route as well as kept the books for the bus business.  They key supporters of many extracurricular activities, especially sports, both at home and away games and events.  A new transportation facility was dedicated to them recently in honor of their dedication to the Cloudcroft school system as well as the community at large.  While being a bus driver, Lucille, also kept the books for David’s Cloudcroft Concrete business and the Cox Canyon farm and ranch.   She also was the primary caregiver to her sister from 1978 to 1998.

Even after her own kids had graduated from Cloudcroft Schools, she was still a Cloudcroft Bear and went to most of the football, basketball, and volleyball games well into her 80s.  Up until a few years ago, Lucille served as the Archivist and was on the Board of Directors for the Sacramento Mountains Historical Museum and Pioneer Village.  If you had a question about someone or something on the mountain, chances were that Lucille could answer it for you.  

Lucille loved to experience new things and places.  Many weekends and holidays were spent camping, going to Elephant Butte, and travelling around New Mexico.  Once retired, she and David travelled to more exotic places including the Caribbean, Mexico, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Tennessee, Las Vegas, Laughlin, Austin, Catalina Island, Lake Tahoe, Reno and Big Bend.

Lucille was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Jimmy.  She lives on in spirit in her sons, Dave (wife Dee) and Norman (wife Libby); grandchildren Dawna, Shawna, Carl, Brandon, Savannah, Robbi, David, and Drew; 13 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.  

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at Alamogordo Funeral Home.

The Swope family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home to direct the service.

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