Mabel Eikleberry

Mabel Morse Eikleberry was born May 10, 1909, in Phillipsburg, Kansas. She was the youngest child of Sarah Ann Goddard Morse and Josiah Sherman Morse. She had four siblings: Austin and Orietta, who died in childhood, Bernice (George) Kimball, and Laurene (Loyal) Swope, all of whom have preceded her in death. Mabel moved to Greeley, Colorado with her family as a young girl. She graduated from Greeley High School and Colorado State Teacher’s College (now the University of Northern Colorado). She married Joe Patterson and a son, Robert, was born to this marriage. They separated after several years and Mabel moved to Weed, New Mexico, where she began her teaching career. Mabel and Robert returned to Colorado in 1942 when a job with Farm Security in Baca County became available. She was traveling around the county and stopped a local farmer to ask for directions. The farmer’s name was Roy Eikleberry. They were married in 1943. They moved to Roy’s farm in Utleyville where Mabel was very busy with her new career as a farm wife. They had two daughters, Barbara Marie and Royce Laurene. She was also active in her community and served as president of the McArthur Home Demonstration Club. Later, the Eikleberrys moved to Pritchett where Mabel resumed her teaching career She taught for over 20 years in the Pritchett School system where her duties included upper elementary and junior high classes, high school Home Economics classes, cheerleader sponsor, and librarian. She said her most memorable class was Home Economics for Boys. Mabel was a 4-H leader for a number of years. She was also active in the Pritchett PTA and was president of that organization. She was a member of the Springfield Chapter of the Rebekah Lodge and served as president and musician. Mabel retired from her teaching career, but she remained active in the community and the Baca County Senior Citizens. She was president of the Pritchett Senior Citizens where she carried petitions for the Southeast Colorado Hospital Nursing Home and was instrumental in helping establish Meals-On-Wheels for Baca County. She enjoyed the weekly trips on the Senior Citizen bus and participated in the monthly Vision Group meetings. She was truly honored when she was selected as the 2002 Baca County Parade Marshal. Mabel was preceded in death by her husband, Roy, in 1993 after almost 50 years of marriage. She was also preceded by her daughter, Barbara Page, in February of 2008. She is survived by her son, Robert (Bunny) Patterson of Kim; daughter Royce (David) Turner of Aransas Pass, Texas; son-in-law, Leo Page of Springfield, 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren, and a host of former students and friends. Mabel lived in her home at Pritchett until age 95. She moved to the Morton County Special Care Unit in Elkhart, Kansas, in 2004 where she lived until her passing November 2, 2008, just a few months before her 100th birthday. She was always proud to call Baca County home. She enjoyed the agriculture, the crops grown here, and the friendly people--and she watched for rain every day. Her love of life and many clever sayings will be truly missed.