Mabel Claire Culpepper

Went home to be with the Lord October 24, 2013. She was the daughter of John Raymond Bondurant and Mabel Hardy Bondurant and was born in St. Louis, MO on June 20, 1936. She grew up in Columbia, Missouri, surrounded by farmland, Missouri University and two women's colleges. Her youthful interests included horseback riding, Girl Scouts, and deep love of her church and of drawing and painting. Later she earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Christian College and a BS in Elementary Education from Missouri University where she was a member of Delta Gamma and Mortar Board. She met her future husband, Jim Culpepper at the First Baptist Church and they were married there on Christmas Eve, 1957. The couple spent three years stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army and enjoyed many trips and international exchanges. 1961 found Mabel and Jim in Columbia in graduate school where she earned a M Ed. in Art Education. Jim also earned a Masters Degree in Businesss and Public Administration. They made moves to St. Louis, Missouri; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Rockville, Maryland and Damascus, Maryland. During those years the family increased to include three children, Julie, Jeff and John. Mabel's life revolved around family and volunteer activities including Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, church and school activities, and American Field Service including hosting a student from Brazil for a year. The family became active tent campers traveling up and down the east coast and into Nova Scotia. While in Maryland, Mabel developed her ever present interest in art work while sharing studio space in Frederick and taking numerous art and art history courses at Montgomery College. In 1988 Jim was transferred to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to serve as the Deputy Manager of the DOE office. This was a perfect fit for Mabel and her art! During more than 25 years in Albuquerque she had the opportunity to serve as the President of the New Mexico Watercolor Society, President of the Yucca Branch of the National League of American Penwomen, docent at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, and longtime member of the Amapola Coop Gallery. In addition to winning many awards with the New Mexico Watercolor Society, she was selected as a Signature Member of the National Watercolor Society in a 2001 ceremony in California. Her work is in many private collections. Mabel and Jim have been longtime members of Hope Evangelical Free Church in Albuquerque. Mabel especially enjoyed singing in the choir for many years, serving as a co-chair of the Care Committee with Jim, and bible studies with a number of women's study groups. The Culpeppers renewed their wedding vows at Hope after 50 years of marriage with their three children and six grandchildren taking part. It was a happy time and the Lord was glorified and praised. Mabel's great joy during her senior years were her children and participating in the lives of her grandchildren. She leaves husband, Jim; daughter, Julie Roberson and husband, Kevin of Albuquerque; son, John William Culpepper of Albuquerque and son, James Jeffrey Culpepper and wife, Susan of Morgantown, West Virginia. She also leaves six grandchildren and one great grandson: Mrs. Caitlin Lee Schreiner and husband, J.P. and great grandson, Jonathon Lee Schreiner; Mrs. Audrey Blanco and husband, Dorian; Warren Roberson and Ian Roberson all of Albuquerque and Tess and Jamie Culpepper of Morgantown, West Virginia. In lieu of flowers please donate to the NM Autism Society, P.O. Box 30955, Albuquerque, NM 87190 or the charity of your choice. A Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 30, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at FRENCH - Lomas. A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, October 31, 2013, 10:00 a.m. at FRENCH - Lomas. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held Friday, November 1, 2013, 10:00 a.m. at Hope Evangelical Free Church, 4710 Juan Tabo NE.