Maida Lindley (Armstrong) Blackman

Maida Lindley (Blackman) Armstrong, beloved wife, mother, sister and aunt, let go of her pain and suffering on May 31, 2017, and went to a better place.  Her husband of 55 years, Martin R. Armstrong, was at her bedside and stayed with her as she slipped away. 

Maida was born on September 6, 1942, in Santa Rita, New Mexico, the daughter of Darrow and Marjorie Blackman.  She grew up in Hurley, New Mexico and graduated from Cobre High School in Bayard.  Following graduation, Maida moved to Albuquerque, NM.  On July 28, 1962, Maida and Martin were married.  She lived in Albuquerque with her husband, first born daughter Dana Robin Armstrong, and son, Wayne Martin Armstrong, until 1973 when the family moved to Peralta, New Mexico.  

Maida worked in the banking industry for over 18 years; originally at Albuquerque National Bank and then at the First National Bank of Bosque Farms.  She started out as an entry level proof operator before advancing to the teller position and ultimately rising to the position of escrow officer in the Real Estate Department.  Following the move from Albuquerque to Peralta, Martin started his own high voltage power line construction business; New Mexico Pole Line Inc.  Maida retired from the banking industry to serve as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Bookkeeper for the corporation; a position she held for over 30 years.  In 1996, after her children were grown, she and Martin moved to Silver City, New Mexico where she continued running the business office while simultaneously caring for her elderly mother. 

Maida unselfishly and tirelessly devoted her entire life to the service of family, friends and loved ones, all of whom were given priority over anything she might have wanted for herself.  Maida will be remembered for far too many good reasons to list, not the least of which will be her sense of humor, loyalty to family and her wonderful New Mexican and Chinese food cooking skills.  She was an avid reader and a fan of classic movies, especially Westerns.  She loved music, played piano and above all, loved to dance (despite the difficulty finding a willing dance partner who could keep up with her.)  

Maida is survived by her husband, Martin, daughter Dana, son Wayne, daughter-in-law Jolanta, grandchildren Leah and Natalie, sisters Paige and Donna, sister in law Su Chen and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her twin brother, Darry, who passed away in 2016; father, Darrow Blackman, who worked 44 years at the Hurley Power Plant for Kennecott Copper, mother, Marjorie Blackman, who taught school in North Hurley and stepson, Vance Lee Armstrong, who she loved as her own until his untimely death in 1985.    

Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala, Nebraska and East Lawn Palms Mortuary in Tucson, Arizona oversaw the final arrangements.  Per her own specific instructions, Maida’s remains were cremated and will be divided between family plots at Memory Lane Cemetery in Silver City, NM and Ash Hollow Cemetery in Lewellen, Nebraska.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. 

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