Nettie Irene Buckeley

Nettie Irene (Towery) Wood Bulkeley, age 98, of Carlsbad, NM passed away February 15, 2016 at her home. There is no visitation, cremation will take place. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 10:00 AM with Kevin Pence of First Baptist Church officiating and Reverend Voncile King singing. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Irene was born August 20, 1917 in Smithville, MS to Lonie Bell Cowart and Wiley Azof Towery. At the age of 7, the family packed up their home, along with lumber from her father's sawmill, and moved to Raymondville, TX to build their new home. They traveled along the railroad tracks and camped by them at night. As young kids, Irene and her siblings began working in her father's fields while they weren't in school. After high school, Irene worked at the school tax office, then she began to work for General Telephone Company as an operator (number please). She met Richard Loell Wood in Raymondville where he worked at his uncle's service station and they married August 19, 1937 in Harlingen, TX. Richard began work with Pan American Airlines and they moved to Miami, FL for 2 years until moving back to Texas. Irene worked her way up to cashier with GTE and was transferred to Weslaco, and then Robstown. She then took a promotion as the Business Office Supervisor with GTE in Carlsbad in 1971. When the office closed in Carlsbad, she transferred to Hobbs, NM in 1976. She retired in 1981 after working with GTE for 32 years. After retirement she moved back to Carlsbad, NM. Irene was active at the Senior Center, a member of the Rebecca Lodge, Oddfellows, ABWA, Extension Club, and Grandmothers Club. She enjoyed camping with her daughter and family. Her hobbies included gardening, cooking, knitting, crocheting and reading. Irene entered several of her crafts in the Eddy County Fair and won numerous awards including Woman of the Year. During her retirement years, she met Raymond Loren Bulkeley and they were married September 16, 2006 in her daughter's home in Carlsbad. Irene is survived by her daughter, Pamela Irene Roberts; granddaughters: Misty Light and Tammy Bowman (Stacy); 5 great-grandkids: Chassidy Jennings, Sidney Light Rogers (Zach), Patrick Bowman, Staciana Bowman and Ayden Bowman and 2 great-great-grandsons: Whyett and Rhylee Rogers, all of Carlsbad, NM. She is also survived by her brother, Ronald Towery and wife, Louise (Cookie) of Austin, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, baby daughter, Marsha Faye Wood (1946), husband, Richard Wood (1991), husband, Raymond Bulkeley (2011), sister, Elgene Perry Allen, and brothers: Dr. Raymond Towery (Dr. Sophia), Clifton Towery (Geneva), Otis Towery (Opal), Tuble Towery (Velma), Dr. David Towery (Peggy), James Towery, and baby brother Little Greely Towery. Irene tried to live the Golden Rule "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Her parents taught her that to "not talk about anyone unless it was something good and to be honest". She lived a full life. Irene always made friends wherever she was. She will dearly miss her new found friend from Good Life, Ms. Maggie Lee. They were always together on the porch when weather permitted sitting in their rockers. Irene will be waiting for Maggie so they may sit once again in their rockers looking down on their family and friends, and enjoying a good laugh over something they did. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com