Roberta Louise (Davis) Wellems, age 93, joined her husband in eternal life on Saturday, August 29, 2020. Roberta was born in Miles City, Montana, to Bertha Alice (Kaiser) and Lewis N. Davis.
Roberta was a proud alumna of Montana State University receiving her BA in Applied Art. While teaching high school art in Montana, she met Thomas J Wellems. They married in 1950. After Tom completed his degree at Purdue University, they lived briefly in Zion, IL, before settling in Albuquerque, NM, in 1955 where they raised their six children.
Roberta was active in the parish communities of Regina Coeli (later named Queen of Heaven), then Risen Savior. It was also during this time her children introduced her to a variety of pets, eventually leading to her participation in the Irish Setter Club of Albuquerque.
Returning to her passion for art, Roberta stepped beyond the norm for women of the time, and completed a M.A. in Art Education at the University of New Mexico, while raising her family. She joined the New Mexico Watercolor Society in 1978, about which she once wrote, “My life changed.” Recalling the many art workshops in which she participated, she mentioned one in Greece, in 1990, as the most interesting. She enjoyed traveling and, in all, visited 15 other countries around the world, journaling, sketching and painting along the way. Her love of travel, perhaps nurtured by her year long visit to Hawaii at the age of 11, influenced much of her mixed media paintings, although watercolor was her favorite medium with which to work. She was an early participant in the Amapola Gallery in Albuquerque. Roberta and Tom lived in Placitas for over thirty years, where she was inspired by the beauty of the sunsets and mountains, which became the subject matter for many paintings of the land and people of northern New Mexico.
Roberta received many awards for her art, including several Best of Show in exhibitions in the southwest US. Her work can be found in homes, offices, churches and schools across the country. Her most recent exhibition was at Manzano Del Sol, where she resided for the past six years.
A women of letters as well as art, Roberta had long memberships in the National League of American Pen Women, American Association of University Women, and Las Dineras, a women’s investment club.
When asked for a word to describe their Grandmother, her grandchildren responded with “sassy, spirited, and quick witted, avant-garde and opalescent, supportive and graceful, fashionable and known for impeccable style, and resilient,” Roberta leaves her “indomitable spirit” behind in a large and loving family. Just hours before her passing, Roberta expressed her love and gratitude, and offered a big smile for her entire family.
Besides her husband Thomas J. and her parents, Roberta was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, Lewis N. and Patricia Davis.
Roberta is survived by: her children: Thomas E. (Marilyn Powell), L. David, Bruce (Angela Kolacinski), Mary, Michael (Debbie Masloski), Gregory (Alice Johnson), and her grandchildren: Nicholas (Alysen), Alexander (Lauren), Dianne, Christopher, Michaela, Annamarie, Ryan Nicole and Mary Elizabeth “Emmie”. She also leaves behind four great-grandchildren, Julie, Matthew, Thomas Hooper, and Roxanne. Roberta is also survived by her brother, Bruce (Lyn) Davis, and cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Roberta was a proud alumna of Montana State University receiving her BA in Applied Art. While teaching high school art in Montana, she met Thomas J Wellems. They married in 1950. After Tom completed his degree at Purdue University, they lived briefly in Zion, IL, before settling in Albuquerque, NM, in 1955 where they raised their six children.
Roberta was active in the parish communities of Regina Coeli (later named Queen of Heaven), then Risen Savior. It was also during this time her children introduced her to a variety of pets, eventually leading to her participation in the Irish Setter Club of Albuquerque.
Returning to her passion for art, Roberta stepped beyond the norm for women of the time, and completed a M.A. in Art Education at the University of New Mexico, while raising her family. She joined the New Mexico Watercolor Society in 1978, about which she once wrote, “My life changed.” Recalling the many art workshops in which she participated, she mentioned one in Greece, in 1990, as the most interesting. She enjoyed traveling and, in all, visited 15 other countries around the world, journaling, sketching and painting along the way. Her love of travel, perhaps nurtured by her year long visit to Hawaii at the age of 11, influenced much of her mixed media paintings, although watercolor was her favorite medium with which to work. She was an early participant in the Amapola Gallery in Albuquerque. Roberta and Tom lived in Placitas for over thirty years, where she was inspired by the beauty of the sunsets and mountains, which became the subject matter for many paintings of the land and people of northern New Mexico.
Roberta received many awards for her art, including several Best of Show in exhibitions in the southwest US. Her work can be found in homes, offices, churches and schools across the country. Her most recent exhibition was at Manzano Del Sol, where she resided for the past six years.
A women of letters as well as art, Roberta had long memberships in the National League of American Pen Women, American Association of University Women, and Las Dineras, a women’s investment club.
When asked for a word to describe their Grandmother, her grandchildren responded with “sassy, spirited, and quick witted, avant-garde and opalescent, supportive and graceful, fashionable and known for impeccable style, and resilient,” Roberta leaves her “indomitable spirit” behind in a large and loving family. Just hours before her passing, Roberta expressed her love and gratitude, and offered a big smile for her entire family.
Besides her husband Thomas J. and her parents, Roberta was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, Lewis N. and Patricia Davis.
Roberta is survived by: her children: Thomas E. (Marilyn Powell), L. David, Bruce (Angela Kolacinski), Mary, Michael (Debbie Masloski), Gregory (Alice Johnson), and her grandchildren: Nicholas (Alysen), Alexander (Lauren), Dianne, Christopher, Michaela, Annamarie, Ryan Nicole and Mary Elizabeth “Emmie”. She also leaves behind four great-grandchildren, Julie, Matthew, Thomas Hooper, and Roxanne. Roberta is also survived by her brother, Bruce (Lyn) Davis, and cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Roberta Louise (Davis) Wellems, age 93, joined her husband in eternal life on Saturday, August 29, 2020. Roberta was born in Miles City, Montana, to Bertha Alice (Kaiser) and Lewis N. Davis.
Roberta was a proud alumna of Montana State University receiving her BA in Applied Art. While teaching high school art in Montana, she met Thomas J Wellems. They married in 1950. After Tom completed his degree at Purdue University, they lived briefly in Zion, IL, before settling in Albuquerque, NM, in 1955 where they raised their six children.
Roberta was active in the parish communities of Regina Coeli (later named Queen of Heaven), then Risen Savior. It was also during this time her children introduced her to a variety of pets, eventually leading to her participation in the Irish Setter Club of Albuquerque.
Returning to her passion for art, Roberta stepped beyond the norm for women of the time, and completed a M.A. in Art Education at the University of New Mexico, while raising her family. She joined the New Mexico Watercolor Society in 1978, about which she once wrote, “My life changed.” Recalling the many art workshops in which she participated, she mentioned one in Greece, in 1990, as the most interesting. She enjoyed traveling and, in all, visited 15 other countries around the world, journaling, sketching and painting along the way. Her love of travel, perhaps nurtured by her year long visit to Hawaii at the age of 11, influenced much of her mixed media paintings, although watercolor was her favorite medium with which to work. She was an early participant in the Amapola Gallery in Albuquerque. Roberta and Tom lived in Placitas for over thirty years, where she was inspired by the beauty of the sunsets and mountains, which became the subject matter for many paintings of the land and people of northern New Mexico.
Roberta received many awards for her art, including several Best of Show in exhibitions in the southwest US. Her work can be found in homes, offices, churches and schools across the country. Her most recent exhibition was at Manzano Del Sol, where she resided for the past six years.
A women of letters as well as art, Roberta had long memberships in the National League of American Pen Women, American Association of University Women, and Las Dineras, a women’s investment club.
When asked for a word to describe their Grandmother, her grandchildren responded with “sassy, spirited, and quick witted, avant-garde and opalescent, supportive and graceful, fashionable and known for impeccable style, and resilient,” Roberta leaves her “indomitable spirit” behind in a large and loving family. Just hours before her passing, Roberta expressed her love and gratitude, and offered a big smile for her entire family.
Besides her husband Thomas J. and her parents, Roberta was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, Lewis N. and Patricia Davis.
Roberta is survived by: her children: Thomas E. (Marilyn Powell), L. David, Bruce (Angela Kolacinski), Mary, Michael (Debbie Masloski), Gregory (Alice Johnson), and her grandchildren: Nicholas (Alysen), Alexander (Lauren), Dianne, Christopher, Michaela, Annamarie, Ryan Nicole and Mary Elizabeth “Emmie”. She also leaves behind four great-grandchildren, Julie, Matthew, Thomas Hooper, and Roxanne. Roberta is also survived by her brother, Bruce (Lyn) Davis, and cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Roberta was a proud alumna of Montana State University receiving her BA in Applied Art. While teaching high school art in Montana, she met Thomas J Wellems. They married in 1950. After Tom completed his degree at Purdue University, they lived briefly in Zion, IL, before settling in Albuquerque, NM, in 1955 where they raised their six children.
Roberta was active in the parish communities of Regina Coeli (later named Queen of Heaven), then Risen Savior. It was also during this time her children introduced her to a variety of pets, eventually leading to her participation in the Irish Setter Club of Albuquerque.
Returning to her passion for art, Roberta stepped beyond the norm for women of the time, and completed a M.A. in Art Education at the University of New Mexico, while raising her family. She joined the New Mexico Watercolor Society in 1978, about which she once wrote, “My life changed.” Recalling the many art workshops in which she participated, she mentioned one in Greece, in 1990, as the most interesting. She enjoyed traveling and, in all, visited 15 other countries around the world, journaling, sketching and painting along the way. Her love of travel, perhaps nurtured by her year long visit to Hawaii at the age of 11, influenced much of her mixed media paintings, although watercolor was her favorite medium with which to work. She was an early participant in the Amapola Gallery in Albuquerque. Roberta and Tom lived in Placitas for over thirty years, where she was inspired by the beauty of the sunsets and mountains, which became the subject matter for many paintings of the land and people of northern New Mexico.
Roberta received many awards for her art, including several Best of Show in exhibitions in the southwest US. Her work can be found in homes, offices, churches and schools across the country. Her most recent exhibition was at Manzano Del Sol, where she resided for the past six years.
A women of letters as well as art, Roberta had long memberships in the National League of American Pen Women, American Association of University Women, and Las Dineras, a women’s investment club.
When asked for a word to describe their Grandmother, her grandchildren responded with “sassy, spirited, and quick witted, avant-garde and opalescent, supportive and graceful, fashionable and known for impeccable style, and resilient,” Roberta leaves her “indomitable spirit” behind in a large and loving family. Just hours before her passing, Roberta expressed her love and gratitude, and offered a big smile for her entire family.
Besides her husband Thomas J. and her parents, Roberta was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, Lewis N. and Patricia Davis.
Roberta is survived by: her children: Thomas E. (Marilyn Powell), L. David, Bruce (Angela Kolacinski), Mary, Michael (Debbie Masloski), Gregory (Alice Johnson), and her grandchildren: Nicholas (Alysen), Alexander (Lauren), Dianne, Christopher, Michaela, Annamarie, Ryan Nicole and Mary Elizabeth “Emmie”. She also leaves behind four great-grandchildren, Julie, Matthew, Thomas Hooper, and Roxanne. Roberta is also survived by her brother, Bruce (Lyn) Davis, and cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
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