Winifred Pearsall

Winifred (Winnie) Marie Pearsall, age 93, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and music on Saturday, October 25, 2025. She was born in Beloit, Kansas to Mabel May Rugg and Alfred Ellis Prather on September 1,  1932.

Winnie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She grew up in rural Kansas on a farm near Scottsville. She enjoyed taking care of the sheep and played the clarinet at Randall High School. She attended the College of Emporia and graduated in 1954 with a degree in Christian Education. She then went to Arizona as a social worker with the Presbyterian Church and there she met Lewis Pearsall who was in the military stationed at Luke Air Force Base. The following year they were married on August 9, 1955 in Scottsville, Kansas. They raised four children, living for short times in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Las Cruces, NM (where she worked as a school bus driver), as well as Albuquerque. For the last thirty-one years of their lives together they lived in Sandia Park, NM and attended Mountainside United Methodist Church. They owned and operated two businesses: Cedar Crest Laundromat and Carlisle Paint and Wallpaper. Winnie enjoyed volunteering with All Faiths Receiving Home and East Mountain Food Pantry (for over 20 years) as well as being a Girl Scout Leader. She taught Sunday School and held several leadership positions with the United Methodist Women's group. She and Lewis were members of the Mountainside Jug Band. She played the tambourine and jug. They also attended the Montosa Cowboy Camp Meeting for about 50 years. One of Winnie's hobbies that she has enjoyed over the years was sewing and quilting. She has made quilts for most of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as sewing many dresses including two wedding dresses for her daughters. Her life was centered around her family as well as giving her time to her church and community. 

She is survived by one sister, Janice Cross and one brother, Vaughn Prather: her children, Ann Marie (Doug) Cline, Bob (Sirpa) Pearsall, Caryn (Bryan) Cook, and Laura Krout. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and one on the way. She was preceded in death by her loving husband (Lewis) of 67 years, one daughter (Barbara Kay), her parents and one brother (Harold).

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 - FRENCH-University at 5:30pm. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at New Life Fellowship Belen at 10:00am with a graveside to follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:30pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to Montosa Camp Meeting Association or New Life Fellowship of Belen.