Roosters. Copper. Mountains. Fountain Coke. Family. All things that Cleta Wiggins loved during her 77 years. Born July 10, 1947 in Portales, New Mexico, Cleta is described as being a classy, sassy, and loving woman. In the early morning of July 3, 2024, Cleta took her last breath and passed away peacefully.
Cleta is preceded in death by her son, Clinton Fred Wiggins and two grandsons, Lance Corporal Chad Robert Hildebrandt and Woodrowe Garrett Hildebrandt; her parents, Boyd Tex Ellison and Evelyn Ellison, sister Wanda Horn, brothers Billy Lon Ellison and Randy Ellison.
She is survived by her sweetheart for almost 59 years, Fred Wiggins, daughters, Coleen Hildebrandt and husband Bob of Amarillo, Texas, Cindy Rhoads and husband Bill of Hillsboro, Oregon. She is also survived by what she called her “two beautiful granddaughters” Ashley Hildebrandt and Amberly Hildebrandt Winningham and husband Kaleb.
Cleta grew up from the age of 5 in Las Vegas NM where her dad moved the family to be a logger leaving the farming life behind. Cleta attended Castle (Robertson) High School and met her life-long love during football homecoming preparations. He was a "college boy" at NMHU. Six months later they began to date and married October 2, 1965. Cleta began making a beautiful home for her and Fred with an eye for home decor and was an exceptional cook. Cleta and Fred welcomed their three children over the years and she continued to be a homemaker and stay-at-home mom that truly was always there for her kids and their never ending activities. Cleta took great care of her family and cared for her aging mother for several years. She was a caregiver and had a heart of gold. Cleta would do anything to make a person feel welcomed and loved. Fred and Cleta went into business and that grew over the years to where they owned and operated three lumberyards. Cleta jumped right in to running a business taking on the bookkeeping chores and enjoyed working alongside Fred for several years. Cleta was a member of the AC PEO Chapter, Elks Lodge 408 and helped with many things throughout the years in her community, but was generally known for helping her friends. It might be cooking, wallpapering a bathroom, maybe even help insulating a roof with Fred and her son, Clinton. Whatever it was, Cleta was always there to help. We must not forget that this woman could shop. You might need to pack a snack if you went shopping with her, but she knew how to find the sales—that is what gave her the biggest thrill. Cleta had many talents including sewing, crochet, needlepoint and other crafts such as macrame and was never afraid of trying a new hobby, even oil painting. And she could still roll an old fashioned hair permanent as good as any beautician. She made friends easily and many of the friendships she made throughout the years in Las Vegas became lifelong friends. In 2019 Cleta and Fred sold their home of 46 years and moved to Amarillo, Texas. She made a new home and it was filled with the beauty of her decorative touch. Moving here at a later age made for a new adventure and soon both Cleta and Fred had a busy social life in their retirement community where she resided until her passing. You would find her playing bean bag baseball, dimes, a game of 42, and always ready to help with a potluck with their new circle of friends.
Cleta known to many but to her family she is Fred's sweetheart, Momma to her children and Nana to her grandchildren. She will always be remembered for her classy self with a touch of sass and the most giving and generous heart and love that never ends for her family.
Visitation for Cleta will be held on Monday, July 8th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Gardens. Celebration of life memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. followed immediately by a private family burial.
On behalf of Cleta's family we would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the Interim Hospice Care team that helped us bring her home Friday, June 28th where she once again enjoyed time with her family and friends before she said hello to her loved ones that have passed on.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests making a donation to St. Jude's Children Hospital.
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