Virginia Ethel "MaPoe" Poe

A graveside service for Virginia Poe, 82, of Portales, will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, August 27, 2022, in the Portales Cemetery with Rev. Mark McAfee officiating.
Virginia Ethel Newberry Poe was born January 1, 1940, in Portales, New Mexico to Maude Johnson Newberry and Roy Dudley Newberry and passed away on August 18, 2022, in Portales, New Mexico.
MaPoe grew up in Portales and after graduating from high school she moved to Colorado and lived there briefly with her sister and her family. She returned to Portales and started working at Mac's Drive-In where she would meet her future husband Stephen Earl Poe. They married March 3, 1959, in Portales. When Papoe was to be stationed in Germany the couple moved to Pennsylvania where they had Joyce Lynn Poe and Stephen Earl Poe Jr. When Papoe finished his tour in Germany they lost Joyce Lynn in a tragic drowning accident. They moved back to Portales and had Edward Dale Poe and Johnny Morgan Poe. Mapoe was a strong, smart, and talented woman. She started her own upholstery business where she specialized in recovering furniture and car seats. She did this all while keeping up with day to day chores on the family farm and raising 3 boys. Mapoe loved sports, she played softball growing up and never missed any of her boys football, baseball, or basketball games.
Sadly she suffered two minor strokes that slowed her down a little, but she was able to bounce back. As her boys left the nest, the farming and upholstering slowed to just doing small jobs for family and friends. Papoe retired in 1995 and they started chasing grandkids and supporting them in whatever sport they were involved in. Mapoe had fun playing practical jokes on anyone she thought needed it, which was everyone. From putting loads in cigarettes to her shocking pen, lighter, and tape measure you never trusted touching anything she handed you. Her favorite was the mustard bottle with the string and the fake rock. She was fun to be around and always had a smile.
She is survived by two sons, Stephen Poe Jr & Fiancée Jana, from Artesia, NM, Johnny & Lindy Poe of Silver City, NM and daughter in law, Trina Poe & Eddy of Mesa, AZ; eight grandchildren, Stephanie Poe & Fiancé Bryan, Scott & Dawnell Poe, Stacey & Jacob Mendoza, Brennan & Samantha Poe, Kayla & Ryan Cherry, Kyren & Ashley Poe, Peyton Poe, Garrett & Charli Poe; 17 great grandchildren; three brothers, Herb Newberry, Gale Newberry, Robert Newberry; and one sister, Mary Morgan.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stephen; daughter, Joyce Lynn; son, Edward; and seven sisters.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wheeler Mortuary of Portales. 575-356-4455, wheelermortuary.net