Rosemary Phelps

Rosemary H. Phelps of Tularosa died peacefully at home on March 6th 2023 after a brief battle with cancer.

Rosemary was born January 31, 1945 in El Paso, Texas to Magdalena Apodaca Holguin and Edward  Utter Holguin and was raised in Tularosa, graduating from Tularosa High School, Class of 1963, and later graduating from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM in 1965.

Rosemary began her career in civil service at Holloman AFB.  Rosemary worked at the Aero Med Lab working as a clerk stenographer.  Next she began at Central Inertial Guidance Test Facility, also as a clerk stenographer.  From here, her career moved her to the Test Track, as a clerk stenographer.  The final stretch of Rosemary's career was at the 46th test group as a management assistant, retiring in 2007 after 42 years of civil service.

Rosemary was also an integral part of her husband's home building business, staging and preparing homes for model and sale.  She was very avid of the outdoors, spending much of her time keeping her yard and property in tip top shape. 

Rosemary is survived by her only son, Joseph Edward Phelps (George Luis Olvera) of El Paso, Tx, as well as numerous other relatives and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her husband, James Joseph (Jim) Phelps in 2009; her parents, Magdalena Apodaca Holguin and Edward  Utter Holguin; her father and mother-in-law, S.J. and Margaret Mary Phelps; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

The family will greet friends from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm on March 13, 2023, at St. Francis de Paula Catholic Church, followed by the Rosary at 6:00 pm.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Francis de Paula Catholic Church on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 11:00 am.

Burial will be at Fort Bliss National Cemetery on Friday, March 17 at 10:00 am.

Pallbearers are Billy Artiaga, Michael Gaston, Robert Danke, Kevin Gilliland, Rafael Olvera and Robert Olvera.

The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Luci Wood of Alamogordo Hospice.

The family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Scenic Chapel to direct the funeral services.

To sign the online register book, please visit https://www.scenicchapel.com/.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rosemary Phelps, please visit our floral store.