Earnstene Coppedge

Earnestene (Bigham) Coppedge, 87, of Midland passed away on Monday, June 23, 2014 in Midland. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 27, 2014 from 5:00-7:00PM at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home, 3800 N. Big Spring St., Midland, TX, 79705. Funeral services will be on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 2:00PM at Crestview Baptist Church with Dr. John Gerlach officiating. In Albuquerque viewing is available 12:00-5:00 on Monday, June 30, 2014 at French Mortuary, 10500 Lomas Blvd., NE. Visitation with the family will be held on Monday, June 30, 2014 from 6:00-8:00PM at Del Norte Baptist Conference Center, 6100 Montgomery Blvd., NE. Graveside services will be on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 9:45AM at the Santa Fe National Cemetery 501 North Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, NM. Earnestene was born on August 3, 1926 in Rotan, TX as the last of 11 children to Robert Frank and Hattie Eva Lena (Ashley) Bigham. She and Christine were the second set of twins born to the family. The midwife assisting the delivery (Effie Coppedge) would later become her mother-in-law. She grew up in a hardworking farming family. Around 16 years of age she became a nurse’s aide. At 17, she traveled by train to Oregon to visit her sister Glade. While there, married Eugene V. Coppedge in 1945 when he returned from serving in the Navy. After Mike’s birth they returned to New Mexico and the west Texas oilfield, moving several times before settling in Hobbs and later Midland. She was in the truest sense a homemaker; decorating, sewing, cooking, baking and enjoyed all kinds of crafts. Always involved in her church, serving in a hospitality role, WMU, Sunday School, and Missions. As an adult she was a member of Taylor Memorial Baptist Church in Hobbs, Crestview Baptist Church in Midland, First Baptist Church of Tijeras in New Mexico, and presently Crestview Baptist of Midland. For many years she was an active member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority. She enjoyed traveling and “camping\, loving her little home on wheels. She decorated and played house wherever they traveled. She loved the mountains, not so much the fishing, but she could fry them up. She loved her grandchildren, playing dress up with them and watching them grow. Many of her grandchildren have sweet memories of her playing board games with them. She was very excited to win. She could make you feel very special even if she was hitting or pinching you when she lost. She was very, very competitive! Earnestene was a faithful Christian, wife, mother, Mema and friend! Earnestene is survived by her children, Mike and Caryn Coppedge of Albuquerque, NM; Teresa and Darwin Almand of Midland, TX; Steve and Jayna Coppedge of Tahlequah, OK; grandchildren, Sheila & Tom Boggess, Tom & Kathryn Coppedge, Robert & Amanda Coppedge, Julie & Chris Groves, Kathleen & Scott Walshaw, Ryan & Lynne Almand, Darla & Michael Bird, Laura Coppedge & Tyler Coppedge; 10 great grandchildren, Avery, Christian, Jaden, Levi, Karys, Ethan, Clay, Jacob, Cole, and Isabelle; and numerous nieces, nephews, and a multitude of friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Coppedge and daughter, Judy Whittemore; and her ten siblings. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Tom Coppedge, Robert Coppedge, Ryan Almand, Tyler Coppedge, Tom Boggess, Chris Groves, Michael Bird and Scott Walshaw. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory in Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com,