Bernice Irene Weems

Bernice Irene Weems, age 88, was greeted, after passing from this life, by her husband Gene and son Elton after one week of fighting to recover from a severe stroke on November 28, 2023, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Bernice was born in Cheyenne, Oklahoma on August 12, 1935, to Harry Howard Hagerman and Beola Rebecca Hagerman (Massey). She was the youngest of three girls: Lockie Mae, Mary Ellen and Bernice.

Bernice was married on December 8, 1951, in Portales, New Mexico to Richard Gene Weems. To this union four children were born: Richard Howard, Sherry Denise, Elton Ray (deceased) and Wallace Dean. Bernice was preceded in death by her husband Gene, her son Elton, parents Harry and Beola and her oldest sister Lockie Mae.

Bernice's surviving family includes: her children Richard Weems and wife Judy, of Winnemucca, Nevada; Sherry Collins and husband Paul of Moriarty, New Mexico; daughter-in-law Glennys Weems-Elliott and husband Rusty Elliott, of Socorro, New Mexico; Dean Weems and wife Janelle, of Centennial, Colorado; and one sister Mary Ellan Lee of Levelland, Texas.

Bernice has ten grandchildren – Shawn, Jason, Jennifer, Stephanie, Brandon, Preston, Nathaniel, Matthew, Chris, and Laura - and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bernice worked in many different roles as she and Gene moved around the western states raising their family. She was primarily a home maker early in married life but ultimately retired from Safeway after twenty years of working in the grocery industry. Bernice worked as a checker, stocker, florist and in the produce section. She always had a smile and a hug for anyone who would accept it from her. Gene and Bernice returned to Portales, New Mexico where it all began to semi retire in the 1990's.

When Gene was diagnosed with Dementia and became too sick to continue working as a farmer, he and Bernice moved to Moriarty to be closer to family and the necessary doctors. Bernice took care of Gene at home until it became necessary for him to live in a care facility.

After Gene passed away on May 22, 2013, Bernice lived in Moriarty for a couple more years and then moved into Albuquerque, New Mexico for the medical care she needed. She moved to Denver, Colorado, in June 2020 during the COVID pandemic to be closer to her son Dean. She passed away November 28, 2023, at the Collier Hospice Center in Wheat Ridge, Colorado due to complications from a stroke.

A remembrance ceremony will be planned for spring or summer of 2024 to be held in Portales, New Mexico, where her ashes will be laid to rest.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the New Mexico Christian Children's Home (NMCCH) in memory of Bernice at https://nmcch.org.