Rita Adkins

Rita Adkins, age 91, went to heaven peacefully on Thursday, July 13, 2023, surrounded by her four children. Born in Durango, Colorado on Sunday, January 17, 1932, to Myra Hoagland Cummins and Michael Cummins, Rita was the third of five children. She had a busy and lively childhood growing up in Durango helping out at her father's grocery store, fishing at local lakes and rivers and developing a lifelong love of the great outdoors.
She attended St. Columba Catholic School and Durango High School graduating in 1949. She enrolled at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and was active at the Newman Center. In 1953, she graduated with a BS in education. From 1953 to 1959 she first taught at a small school in rural Illinois, at Las Cruces High School and then Highland High School in Albuquerque. At some point during this time, she met Frank Adkins at the UNM Newman Center, and they were married on June 20, 1959 in Durango and honeymooned in Mexico City. Their married life began in Hobbs, NM where Frank had already been living and working for a finance company. Rita took a position as a counselor at Hobbs High School. They welcomed their first child, Kathryn Ann, in June of 1960. During the summer of 1961, they relocated to Albuquerque with Frank continuing to work in finance and insurance while Rita worked as a homemaker, substitute teacher and earned a Master of Arts Degree in Guidance and Counseling at UNM. In October of 1961, they embraced the birth of Carolyn Louise, followed by the arrival of Mary Frances in May of 1963 and then a son, Edward Jess in September of 1965, all born in Albuquerque at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Tragically, in August of 1967, Rita was widowed by the untimely death of Frank, aged 37, due to a heart attack. She was left with four children, aged 7, 5, 4 and 23 months. After losing Frank, Rita took over his business and traveled the state of New Mexico calling on banks selling credit life insurance and later became a successful real estate agent, a "Million Dollar Producer" at Doyle Pargin Realty winning the ABQ Board of Realtors Los Mejores Award in 1987 and 1988. A one-of-a-kind single mother, she raised the children on her own inspiring a deep faith in God, service to others and a love of adventure. Thanks to good planning, she put her kids through college at New Mexico State University where all four graduated in four years! She always owned rental property and later in life, she and her sister, Teresa Moulds, started A.M. Courses and taught continuing education classes to insurance agents.

Throughout her life, Rita enjoyed traveling and took many cruises and international trips with friends and family. She was an avid bridge player with friends, neighbors and church groups. She loved to fish and took great pleasure in drifting around in her float tube. As a devoted sports fan, she enjoyed watching football, golf and tennis on TV and was a Lobo football and basketball season ticket holder for over fifty years. She was a member of the Los Altos Women's Golf Association and the Gourmet Golfers for many years and was honored with a trophy for "Most Improved Golfer" at the ripe old age of 80.

During her life, Rita was a devout Catholic, often attending daily mass. A true woman of faith, Rita was committed to service to the poor, unborn and those less fortunate always standing up for what she believed in and advocating for those in need while instilling faith in others. She was a member of Our Lady of the Annunciation parish for more than 57 years and served on the Annunciation School Board, the Annunciation Church Finance Committee and the Annunciation Women's Guild. As an active supporter of the Brothers of the Good Shepherd, she volunteered as a Board Member for Good Shepherd Manor and the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd Auxiliary Board. Casa Angelica was very important to her, and she was a Board Member there for many years. Other significant organizations to her were The Right to Life Committee, Birthright, Catholic Daughters, Catholic Charities and EWTN. She was a frequent patron of the performing arts in Albuquerque and an active member of the UNM Alumni serving a term on both the UNM Alumni Association Board and the UNM Robert O. Anderson School of Business Foundation Board.

Rita was blessed with grandchildren, Jacqueline and Forrest, who brought her tremendous love, joy, happiness and pride. She was a wonderful and beloved daughter, sister, wife, grandmother, aunt, great aunt, great-great aunt, cousin, friend and volunteer.

She is survived by all of her four children, Kathryn Adkins and husband Quin Papp of San Diego, CA and Hartland, WI, Carolyn Metzler and husband Deacon Chuck Metzler of Albuquerque, Mary Adkins and husband Gene Clingan of Albuquerque, Edward Adkins and wife Heidi Yore Adkins of Denver, CO and grandchildren Jacqueline and Forrest.

She was predeceased by her parents Myra and Mike Cummins and siblings and in-laws, Louis Cummins (Pat), Margaret Pargin (Doyle), M. Teresa Moulds (Bill), Helen Miller (Reese), brother-in-law, Sam Adkins (Jeddy); and sisters-in-law, Rita Adkins and Carla Adkins. She is survived by her brothers-in-law, Bill Adkins and Reese Miller (Dolores). Also predeceasing her were nephews, Christopher Cummins, Robert Moulds, Grant Adkins, Lloyd Adkins and nieces, K. Lynn Pargin, Barbara Moulds, Myra Miller and Erin Adkins.

She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews as well as a multitude of cousins from the Cummins, Hoagland, Adkins, Schaefer, Pargin, Moulds, Laughlin, Vittitow, Miller, Urquhart and Ortiz Families.

A special tribute goes out to her beloved first cousin, friend and confidant, Father Raymond Decker, age 92, of Santa Rosa, California. He has presided over countless weddings and funerals and other special occasions in the family over the years and will concelebrate her funeral mass.

Much appreciation and gratitude goes out to all the friends and family who have supported Rita and her family during the time leading up to her loss and after her death.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., followed by a rosary at 6:30 p.m., FRENCH - Lomas.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 8:30 a.m., at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church, 2621 Vermont St NE, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, and a reception, location to be announced.

Rita was extremely well loved and will be missed greatly. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Casa Angelica or The Good Shepherd Center.