Eileen Hopkins

1929 - 2021

Eileen Hopkins

Farmington, NM - Alice Eileen Hopkins, passed away on March 20, 2021 in Farmington, New Mexico. Eileen was born in the family farmhouse on September 27, 1929, near Hayes Center, Nebraska, to parents Richard F. and Juanita A. (Hanson) McKillip. She met her husband, James "Jim" L. Hopkins at a country dance near her hometown in 1953 while he was working on a seismograph crew, and they were married several months later on June 14, 1954.

Eileen was a pre-school and kindergarten teacher, who held classes in her home. She started her school in 1960 and continued it until 1997. Over 700 local kids claim Kultural Korral as their kindergarten alma mater. She was active with her children at Sacred Heart School as a room mom and PTA member/officer, she was a Den Mom for Cub Scouts and always helped out with Boy and Girl Scout activities. Whether she was assisting with selling Christmas trees with Boy Scout Troop 179 or keeping books for Knight of Columbus charity projects selling tootsie rolls and Christmas wreaths, she was always involved and organizing. Her daughters-in-law were special people to her, and she always called them her daughters. Jim and Eileen loved the Connie Mack World Series and had season tickets every year on the first base side. When they moved to Farmington, Eileen and her young family became members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and then became an original member of St. Mary's Catholic Church after it was established as a separate Farmington parish in 1963. She and Jim were very active in the church and sat for adoration duty weekly at St. Mary's. Her faith and her church were huge priorities in her life and paved her way to heaven.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Juanita McKillip; brothers William (Mary) McKillip, Bob (Jo) McKillip, Richard "Gene" (Mary Jane) McKillip; sister Nadine McKillip Hood and sister-in-law Sylvia McKillip.

She is survived by her husband, James L. Hopkins; sons, Robert J. (Paula) Hopkins, of The Woodlands, TX, James D. (Polly) Hopkins of Farmington, brother Ken McKillip, of Rio Verde, AZ, sisters Pat McKillip McCoy, of Arlington, TX, Mary Ellen (Larry) McKillip Ourada, of Tulsa, OK; grandchildren, Brad Alexander Hopkins, of Brenham, TX, Shannon (Joe) Hopkins McKie, of Dallas, TX, Caitlyn (Wayne) Hopkins Mullanix, of Marble Falls, TX, Ryan (Latisha) Hopkins, of Farmington, NM, Chandler Hopkins, of Las Cruces, NM, great- grandchildren, Conner Joseph McKie and Bradley Ann McKie, of Dallas, TX, Austin Alexander Mullanix and Charlotte "Charlee" Marie Mullanix, of Marble Falls, TX, Jasper "Jack" James Hopkins of Farmington, NM. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Due to the pandemic, a celebration of her life will be held at a future date, so that family and friends can celebrate her extraordinary life together. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the charity of your choice in her memory.