Hidalgo County New Mexico


Martin, Vivian Black
March 28, 1906 - September 24, 1994
Vivian was born in Oklahoma in 1906 to Luther Black and Birdie Belle Wallace. She was the eldest of their five children. She attended school in Oklahoma, then in northern New Mexico. Her parents were divorced during her early childhood. Her mother then re-married and moved to Pratt, New Mexico where her husband was employed by the railroad.

She met Beuford and they were married in Silver City, New Mexico on December 20, 1923. Their two daughters Norene (Posey) born in Douglas, Arizona 1926 and Rita Verne (Hill) born in Lordsburg, New Mexico in 1928 were raised on the family ranch until 1936 when they moved to Rodeo.

Vivian had many interests. She was an active church member and taught a Sunday School class for many years. She was gifted with a melodious voice and enjoyed singing for community gatherings. As a young adult she played the violin and loved all types of music. The local Sew What Club was a great joy to her as she enjoyed sewing and made all of her daughter’s clothing. She was an avid reader and was instrumental in organizing the Rodeo School Library. She was an excellent cook and fed many a hungry cowboy while she lived on the ranch. Gardening was also a favorite pastime.

After Beuford died, she went into mental decline and wasunable to live alone in Rodeo. She moved to Alamogordo in 1981 and was later placed in Betty Dare Nursing Home where she lived until her death.