Wanda Lilly Cogburn

Wanda L. Cogburn, 82, of Carver St., Carlsbad, NM, passed away, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Carlsbad, New Mexico. There is no visitation and cremation has taken place. Memorial gathering will take place at a later date. Wanda Lilly Cogburn, aka "Nonny" was born in Alamogordo, NM on July 29, 1942, to Kirby Lester Weems and Elsie Janice (Patton) Weems. She grew up in the Alamogordo area and mountains near Weed, NM. Wanda was a homemaker, and lifelong caregiver to her grandson, Joseph Cogburn, whose care she valiantly took over when he contracted meningitis at 5 months of age, causing severe brain damage. Her amazing love, care and compassion sustained him on this earth for 21 years until his passing in 2003. Nonny loved her family fiercely and although she never had much, she did her best to take care of her family and help others in any way she could. She was a woman of simple pleasures and found fulfillment in her family to whom she devoted her role as homemaker and caregiver. Even as old age crept in and her health began to fail, she never lost her need and desire to care for those around her. Her heart never dimmed, her witty mouth never failed to chime in, and though ornery old age sometimes got the best of her, her smile and laughter remained the light of a room. Her wit and fast tongue will live on through all of her living kin, as well as her heart for others. She enjoyed going to the CARC Farm Country Store and the Cat's Meow, to search for treasures. She was never a woman of earthly riches, but she was rich in family, wealthy in love, and now set in fruitful eternity with God and the rest of her rowdy bunch that filled heaven with laughter and joy the day she went home. Wanda was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Sheila Graves; grandchildren: Joshua Graves Joseph Cogburn and Amanda Graves; brother Carl "Frank" Weems and sister Alma Meeker. She is survived by her children: Claude Cogburn of Raton, NM, Leonard, Cogburn of Carlsbad, NM, Pam Gossett of Jacksonville, FL, and Susan Barksdale, Dora Foreman-Young and Alberta Farmer, all of Carlsbad, NM; sister, Mildred Jackson of Rochester, NY; sister-in-law Jewel Weems of Loving, NM; 14 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.