Rebecca Sue Cates Coggins

Rebecca Sue Cates Coggins was born June 15, 1931, in Atoka, Oklahoma, to Robert George Cates and Carrie Winters Cates. She attended Atoka public schools and graduated from The Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas.  She attended Oklahoma University where she met the love of her life, Paul Edward Coggins. They were married May 31, 1950.

In 1965, they settled in Portales, New Mexico, raising four children together until Paul’s death in 2009.  Becky taught elementary school in the Portales public school system for over 30 years.  In 2017, she moved to The Bayshore on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where she resided until 2022.  She spent the final year of her life at Calder Woods, a retirement home in Beaumont, Texas.

Becky is preceded in death by her parents; six siblings; husband; son, John Coggins; and three grandchildren.

She is survived by her sons,  Paul Coggins (Regina) and Mark Coggins (Wendy); daughter, Cheryl Coggins DeVoe (James); daughter-in-law Cathy Coggins;  grandchildren, Christina Holcomb (Alan), Allison Robbins (Zachary), Jessica Montoya Coggins, Anita Rickard (Steve), and Tim Coggins; and twelve great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at the First Baptist Church in Portales, New Mexico, on October 26, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.  Her burial will take place at a later date.

Her cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard’s Crematorium under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to P.E.O. in care of Mildred Porter at 1324 South Abilene Street, Portales, New Mexico 88130.