Marguerite Poling, age 88, died Sunday, October 2, 2011 in Clayton, New Mexico.

Funeral Services were held at 2:00 P. M. on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church in Clayton with Rev. Jay Jones, pastor officiating. Burial followed in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton.

Marguerite (Carter) Poling was born on May 14, 1923 in Burnham, San Juan County; which later became part of Union County, New Mexico to James McDonald Carter and Mamie Fay (Darden) Carter. She married George Allen Poling on October 3, 1940 in Union County, New Mexico and he preceded her in death on December 12, 1980. They were true partners in family and business. He included her in all aspects of the family business so she was well prepared to carry on when he died. Marguerite was a 2nd generation New Mexican with her matriarchal family, the Steeles, coming from Tyholland, Ireland to what is now Union County in 1880 arriving in the US on the immigrant ship "Ethiopia". Her Patriarchal family, the Carter's came from Dundreenan, Scotland. She was proud of her Irish, Scottish and New Mexican heritage. She attended school in Beenham, NM and had many stories to tell about traveling to and from school in all sorts of weather with her brothers and sisters. She appropriately received the award for Distinguished Pioneer of Union County and was a vital member of a group of "old timers" that were recording oral history. She was a strong supporter of education urging her children and grandchildren to gain as much education as possible and supported them both emotionally and financially in their pursuits of education. She also supported land owners rights and was actively involved in such rights related to mineral resources including Carbon Dioxide for more than 35 years. She was one of the founding members of the Clapham Extension Homemakers Club, a member of Cowbelles, and the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association. She was an outstanding business woman, managing two ranches and a bank after the death of her husband. She used to say that the ranches and bank were managed with the support of her children; but everyone knew who the true boss was! Marguerite was truly a pioneer and western woman and she served as a role model to many. Her type of woman is almost totally gone from Union County and the west and it will be a huge void. She was loved and admired by many people and will be missed by all. In addition to her parents and husband, Marguerite was preceded in death by 2 sisters; Verna "Babe" Daves and Phoebe "Baby" Lawrence and 3 brothers; James Carter, Donald "Bud" Carter and Robert "Bob" Carter. She is one of the last survivors of what was once a strong and thriving community of Clapham which was a strong part of her life for more than 70 years.

SURVIVORS:

2 DAUGHTERS: Peggy Poling of Kabul, Afghanistan and Judy Robertson and her husband Van of Ione, New Mexico.

1 SON: G. A. "Buster" Poling and his wife Kay of Clayton, New Mexico.

5 GRANDCHILDREN: Bryan Kimsey and his wife Georgia of Grenville, New Mexico; Tres Poling of Clayton, New Mexico; Jamie Poling Wormsbaker and her husband Kelcey of Lubbock, Texas; Jana Robertson Lees and her husband Russell of Logan, New Mexico and Dustin Robertson of Ione, New Mexico.

10 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: Brianna Kimsey, David Kimsey, Derek Kimsey, Ryder Wormsbaker, Aubrey Wilson, Garrett Wilson, Matt Lees, Ani Lees, Brook Robertson and Hailee Robertson.

She was particularly close to many of her nephews and nieces from the Poling and Carter families and several preceded her in death.

MEMORIALS: The family suggests that memorials be made to the Herzstein Memorial Museum or to the CHS Alumni Scholarship Fund