Iola Dever

Iola Goodman Dever, passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2016. Iola was born on July 9, 1914 to Ethel Vae Jones Goodman and Oliver Addison Goodman in Big Spring Texas. She was the fourth born child of fifteen children to Ethel and Ollie. She grew up with her 14 siblings, and two cousins in a three bedroom house on a cotton farm outside of Big Spring. Her father was a railroad worker and her mother a homemaker. Iola often spoke with fondness about growing up on the 80 acre farm with her brothers and sisters.

In 1941, Iola married her true love, Robert E Lee Dever. Robert worked on a ranch in the Ft. Sumner area until he went to work for Armstrong & Armstrong Construction Road Construction, as their Superintendent, paving roads throughout New Mexico in the fifties and early sixties. As part of Robert's travel with the construction company, he and Iola made their permanent home in Roswell. His family traveled with him making their temporary home in numerous NM communities, including Ruidoso. Iola was a homemaker until, Robert's death in 1963. Following Robert's death, Iola worked for the Levi Strauss Company, in Arizona, then as a seamstress at J. Borne and Pappagallos in Midland, Tx. In the seventies, she moved back to Ruidoso which became her permanent home.

Iola became a Christian in 1937 at a tent revival in Texas and her faith remained an important part of her life. On a daily basis, Iola enjoyed drinking Coca-Cola, reading her Bible, and discussing, or arguing politics, depending on whose side you were on. She also loved football and was an enthusiastic Dallas Cowboys fan. Iola was very social and loved being around people. She continued to sew and perform alterations for many Ruidoso businesses and personal clients until she was admitted to the Mescalero Care Center at the age of 96.

Iola is preceded in death by her mother Ethel (1976) and father Ollie (1955), her husband Robert (1963), and siblings Ollie Mae Garner (1986), Norma Eloise Robbins (1981) , Lillian Vae Goodman (2003), Wanda Lucille Goodman (1994), Gladys "Sally" Beulah Blancett (1987), OA Goodman (2005), Jesse Robert Goodman (1973), Francis Claudine Brooks (1990), Frank Sholte Goodman (1983), Buddy Carlton Goodman (1940), Hugh Leslie Goodman (1937), and Nina Joyce Goodman (2006).

She is survived by her sisters Glenda Sue McDaniel and Doris Fern Williams. Her children, Bobby Dever and his wife Linda of Colorado Springs, CO, Paula Stirman and her husband Reed of Ruidoso, NM, and Linda Gair of Tehachapi, CA. Her grandchildren, Sean Dever and his wife Stacy, of Colorado Springs, CO, April Buckman and her husband Keith of Portland, OR , Autumn Dever of Canon City, CO, Todd Stirman and his wife April of Ruidoso, Dahn Freed and her husband Dirk of Ruidoso, and Brett Stirman, of Ruidoso, NM, Kirk Gair and his wife Jeanette of Temecula, CA, Kathleen Gair of Tehachapi, CA, and Kevin Gair of Squaw Valley, CA.She is also survived by 13 great grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren and many more nieces and nephews.

Wayne Joyce will officiate a memorial service at the Lagrone Chapel on March 26th at 11:00 am. Friends of Iola are invited to attend and celebrate her life. Burial will be at South Park Cemetery in Roswell where she will be interred alongside Robert. The family encourages you to make a memorial contribution the church or charity of your choice in her name.

Additionally, the family would like to thank the staff at the Mescalero Care Center for their attention and loving care Iola received, especially in her last days.

Iola did not live a life rich with material wealth, however she lived a rich and full happy life full of love for her family. She was known to her family and friends by many different names, Iola, Mrs. Dever, Mother, Odie, Aunt Sky, and Mom-Odie. The generations she created will remember her with love and miss her spirited personality.

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