Obituary of Mildred Irene Saffel

Watch the Tribute Mildred Irene Saffel March 23, 1921 - April 06, 2013 Funeral services for Mildred Irene Saffel, 92, of Montclair, California and formerly of Lovington, NM will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 2:00 pm at First United Methodist Church with Dave Whitman, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 19, 2013 from noon until 8:00 pm at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home of Lovington. Mildred was born on March 23, 1921 in Yazoo County, Mississippi to Levi N. and Cornelia (Melvina) Cain and passed away on April 6, 2013 in Montclair, CA where she had lived for the past six years. She had celebrated her 92nd birthday two weeks earlier with her daughter, Mickey and husband Jim Gallivan, granddaughters, Michele and husband Rick Lias, Yvonne and husband Phillip Au and Britney Gallivan and fiancé Nick Crisafi and great-grandchildren, Cosette, Austin and Ricky , along with other residents and staff at Jasmine Terrace Assisted Living where she resided. Mildred was the youngest of nine siblings and three older half-sisters and grew up in rural Mississippi, graduating from Benton High School where she worked as secretary to the Principal throughout high school. Upon graduation she worked fulltime in the Office for the County Welfare Department and also part time as a bookkeeper for a furniture store. In 1941 she accepted a position in the records department with the Department of Navy and moved to Washington, D.C. At age 14 she had begun an ongoing correspondence with a young man from Grafton, West Virginia, Roy E. Saffel. Roy was working for the shipyards in Baltimore, Maryland and met her at the train station upon her arrival in D. C. They were married on November 21, 1942 in Jefferson County, Louisiana. The family lived in West Virginia, New Orleans, Yazoo City, MS, and Texas prior to moving to Lovington in 1957. Four children were born to this union. Mildred was busy raising her children and serving as Cub Scout leader and other activities until 1955 when she returned to office work for a pharmaceutical Company in Midland, TX and later for an oil company. Shortly after the move to Lovington she went to work for Lea County Electric Co-Op where she worked until her retirement in 1986. Mildred loved meeting and providing services to the Lovington Community which she loved dearly. She was an active member of the community, being active in Order of Eastern Star, Lovington Chapter # 35, where she served as Worthy Matron, Rainbow Mom, and in many other capacities and was a 50 year member. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, participating in Sunday School, Bible Study and United Methodist Women’s Circle. Also she was active in Lea County Association for Retarded Children and made many contributions to improve the lives of mentally challenged children and adults. She was also a member of B & PW, Grandmother’s Club and the Senior Center. She enjoyed camping with Roy and they belonged to several Good SAMs Clubs until his death in 1999. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Roy, and one son: Michael Saffel; three brothers: James Lee, Theodore and Thad Cain and four sisters: Ruby Cain, Idahlia Carter, Gussie May Meggs and Coallie Meggs. Mildred is survived by one son: Roy E. Saffel of Schulenburg, TX; two daughters: Mickey and husband Jim Gallivan of Pomona, CA and Kaye Buchholtz of Amarillo, TX; eleven grandchildren: Michele (Rick) Lias of Upland, CA, Cheley (Chris) Galligher of Midlothian, VA; Yvonne (Phillip )Au of Riverside, CA; Melissa (Bryan) McWilliams of Amarillo, TX, Angella (Quinton) Marburger of rural Amarillo, TX, Nicholas (Marina) Saffel of Atlanta, GA, Adam (Aline) Saffel of Hillsboro, OR., Lindsey Lee of Houston, TX, Phillip (Amanda) Saffel of Lubbock, TX, Danielle (Oliver) Thomas of London, England; and Britney (Nick Crisafi) Gallivan of Pomona, CA. Also surviving her are great-grandchildren: Allison and Austin Au, Cosette and Ricky Lias, Cameron and Courtney Galligher, Gracie, Paisley, and Bentley Marburger; Natalie and Reagan Saffel, Emma McWilliams, Olivia Saffel and Alexander Thomas. She also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the management and staff at Jasmine Terrace Assisted Living for their love and care of Mildred during the past six years. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 745, Lovington, NM 88260 in Mildred’s memory. .