Glorietta Miller

Friends and family gathered at Nogal Cemetery on June 18 to say farewell to Glorietta Marie Miller, 67, who passed away June 3, 2018 in El Paso. Glorietta was born August 30, 1950 in El Paso to Vernon (Buddy) and Marietta (Means) Miller. She attended El Paso Schools graduating from Irvin High in 1969.

After high school graduation, Glorietta moved with her family to Nogal Canyon. Glorietta soon began working for then Citizens Bank in Carrizozo and continued working in the Carrizozo branch when it changed to United New Mexico, Norwest and Wells Fargo banks.

She met Joe Thornton when he came to Carrizozo in 1994 to operate the Tastee Freeze restaurant. Glorietta eventually left employment at the bank to help Thornton with the restaurant.

A devout Christian, Glorietta loved the Lord and had grown up attending the Church of Christ.

Many in Carrizozo also remember Glorietta for her delicious home made bread she sold in the courthouse and other offices around town and for her home made salsas.
Glorietta was active with the Lincoln County Republican Party, helping with the precinct work and campaigns. She and Joe won a Republic raffle trip to South Carolina. She survived a stroke in 2008 which left her less active, but still involved.
Glorietta was preceded in death by her parents and brother James Luke Miller, who are also buried in Nogal Cemetery.

She is survived by her long time companion Joe Thornton of Carrizozo, Thorton's son Joe Jr. and granddaughters Jacie and Taylor Thornton also of Carrizozo, who considered her "grandma". She is also survived by her sister Esther Hinson of Lancaster, CA; brother Vernon Lee Miller of Corpus Christi, TX; first cousins Tim Means, June Holmes, Doris Cherry all of Lincoln County; first cousins Sandra Jones of Dallas area, Jeanie Burris of El Paso and several nieces in Lincoln County and nephews in California and numerous other cousins in the Means and Miller families.

Graveside services were conducted by Carrizozo First Baptist Church minister Hayden Smith.