Anna Ruth Fraze Black

October 5, 1941 – February 16, 2026

Anna Ruth was born in the Hensley Hospital in Portales, NM to Leslie and Joyce Fraze of Rogers, NM. Their home was located half way between the Rogers and Dora communities. Anna Ruth graduated from Dora High School in 1959.

While in school she was very active in FHA, 4-H, choir and band during which she received many awards and accolades during her participation in these organizations. Anna Ruth played the piano for choir and the clarinet for band.

Her main interest while growing up was participating in 4-H showing beef calves from her family's own registered Herefords. In doing so, she placed every year while showing at the Roosevelt County and NM State Fairs, and the Southwestern Livestock Show in El Paso, TX.

It was her pride and joy to also show 2 registered Jerseys and a colt she raised herself for which she received the Showmanship award. She was also selected as a Fair Queen Candidate. Other awards and accolades she received include 1st place in the livestock demonstration of How to Groom Beef Calves which won her a trip to Denver as well as a trip to Chicago for the National 4-H Club Congress where she was on TV for her demonstration.

Being raised on a farm, ranch, dairy and among a passle of chickens was hard work but was always among the greatest and most cherished memories of her youth. So much so, that, even when she left for college at ENMU, she returned home every summer to drive tractor and truck during wheat harvest in addition to helping with round up.

Anna Ruth was also a very strong and devoted Christian being a member at the Dora Baptist Church where she often played the piano, acoustic guitar and participated in various music shows, community gatherings there and at other churches in the area.

While obtaining her undergraduate degree in Business & Office Administration at ENMU, she was also very active in music and choir, performing in productions such as Swanee, Die Fledermaus, Oklahoma and the Madrigal Singers. She was also a member of the following organizations: BSU, WRA and the FBLA in which she was a candidate for the ENMU Rodeo Queen.

She finished her BS in August of 1963 and went on to complete her Masters in Vocational Business Education in August of 1970. She first taught in Magdalena, NM for 16 years where she met and married the HS coach Sid Black in 1968 and ultimately thriving in her greatest love of being a mother to Lonnie, Brian and Melanie.

Her teaching career spanned 28 and half years including positions in House, Ft. Sumner and finally at Portales High School where she was most proud to retire in 1995 from the same school her father graduated from in 1929. Beyond high school education, she also taught at NMSU Dona Ana branch, ENMU Clovis Branch and Clovis Community College. Over the course of her teaching career she received many honors and awards including serving as the President and Vice-President for the NM Business Education Association, Advisor of the year for OEA/Business Professionals of America in 1987 and Teacher of the Year in 1988.

After retirement, she became a licensed Massage Therapist for a few years until it became necessary for her to become a full-time caregiver for her mother, daughter and occasionally for her beloved cousin Wilma Buzard. Anna Ruth's gift of teaching and caring touched the lives of so many students, colleagues, family and friends throughout her life.

Anna Ruth was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Ulysses S & Ruth (Hill) Fraze of Rogers, NM. Her maternal grandparents Eugene & Beulah (Christopher) Blakley of Dora, NM. Her parents Leslie & Joyce (Blakley) Fraze of Rogers, NM and her sister Nadine (Fraze) Sanders of Portales, NM. She is survived by her son Lonnie Black and his wife Cheryl of San Tan Valley, AZ, Brian Leslie Black and his daughter (her one and only precious granddaughter!) Calliope Rose Black of Seattle, WA, and her cherished and beloved daughter Melanie Black of Portales, NM.

Services for Anna Ruth will be held in the Chapel at Wheeler Mortuary in Portales, NM on Saturday February 21st at 2:00 pm. Please note that the family will not be having a receiving line following the end of services and will proceed directly to the Portales Cemetery following the service. However, in lieu of not having a receiving line at the service, the family will have a time of Visitation for family and friends to come and pay their respects to Anna and her family Friday February 20th from 5 to 7 pm at Wheeler Mortuary.

Finally, please note, the family wishes that all who attend know that the only reserved seating will be the first row for immediate family. Beyond that, there will not be any reserved behind the family as they wish for family and friends alike to gather and sit directly behind them to join in remembrance and celebration of the beautiful life of their beloved mother Anna Ruth.