Elizabeth A. “Lib” Cortese

Elizabeth A. “Lib” Cortese, age 100 of Fort Sumner, NM passed away Thursday, August 26, 2021 at Retirement Ranch of Clovis.
Lib was born January 06, 1921 in Hereford, TX the daughter of William and Lula (Boydston) Adkisson. She grew up in Hereford, Amarillo and Grady. Lib graduated from Grady High School in 1938. She attended Eastern New Mexico University and received an Associate Degree in Bookkeeping. Following her first year at ENMU she worked at the Harvey House in Carrizozo, NM. Elizabeth came to Fort Sumner where she worked for the Soil Conservation Service.
Elizabeth married Ralph Cortese on March 12, 1942 in Fort Sumner. Together they owned and operated the Valley Feed and Grain Store.
Lib was a charter member of Powderhorn Cowbelles and served the Fort Sumner community on the NM Agency on Aging. Lib was a longtime member of First Baptist Church where she taught every level of Sunday school including 40 years of teaching Ruth Sunday School Class.
Lib was an avid reader, and she loved studying her Bible. She enjoyed traveling across the country and internationally. She was an accomplished seamstress. Her greatest pleasure was preparing meals for her family and spending time with her grandkids.
Lib is preceded in death by her husband Ralph Cortese; her parents and a sister Dessa Ramsey.
A loving mother and grandmother, Lib will be missed by her family. She is survived by children, Ralph “Buddy” Cortese and wife Mary Ann, Nick Cortese and wife Karen all of Fort Sumner, a daughter LuAnn Cortese of Albuquerque; grandchildren Misty McShanag (Chris) of Glendale, AZ, James “Jay” Cortese (Tara) of Canyon, TX, Sarah Fitzgerald (Jimmie) of Fort Sumner, Elizabeth Autrey (Ryan) of Texico, Ross L. Cortese (Ashley) of Allen, TX, and Brett W. Cortese (Nicole Meoli) of Oklahoma City, OK; great-grandchildren Brady, Kyla, and Joshua Cortese, Adalyn and Nathan Autrey, Slate, and Della Fitzgerald, Hunter, Caleb, Madison and Heath McShanag.
Funeral Services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, August 30, 2021 at First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner with Dr. Joe Bunce, Rev. Jim Peabody and Anna Teeter-Gentile officiating. Interment followed in the Cortese family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers included grandsons James “Jay” Cortese, Ross L. Cortese, Brett W. Cortese, Ryan Autrey, Jimmie Fitzgerald, and Chris McShanag. Honorary bearers were members of First Baptist Church Ruth Sunday School Class.
Memorial contributions in memory of Elizabeth “Lib” Cortese may be made to First Baptist Church Memorial Fund P.O. 287, Fort Sumner, NM 88119, or NM Baptist Children’s Home, 2200 S. Avenue I, Portales, NM 88130.
Services are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311.