Obituary of Helen Hastie

Helen (Punkin) Hastie passed away peacefully at her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico on May 18, 2022, at the age of 92. Punkin, as she was known by all, was born June 22, 1929, in El Paseo, Texas to Gladys and Ford Raborn. She is predeceased in death by her husband Tom Hastie and her parents, Gladys and Ford Raborn. Punkin is survived by her son Randy Chilton and wife Trinnie Chilton of Mountainair New Mexico, grandchildren Jessica and Adam Wood of Donie, Texas, Roy and Vera Gibson of Tome, New Mexico, Crystal Chilton of Corsicana, Texas, Justin and Kendall Gibson of Edgewood, New Mexico, and Valerie and Joshua De Le Fuente of Buffalo, Texas. She was a loving Nana Punkin to 15 great-grandchildren, and one second great-grandchild. Punkin was also a dear friend to many residents of Uptown Square apartments and the Uptown Neighborhood in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she lived the past 22 years after the passing of her husband Tom.

Punkin grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico where she later attended and graduated from New Mexico A&M, currently known as New Mexico State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education when, as Punkin said it “back when the University and Las Cruces were not in the same town.” Punkin later settled in Moriarty, New Mexico where she worked for the United States Postal Service, where she retired after 22 years of service. Punkin and Tom spent many afternoons at their home in Moriarty looking after their lush yard and visiting with friends and family from the garage patio. Punkin and Tom later moved to the North Valley of Albuquerque where many summer days were spent taking grandkids to the pool and fall mornings watching hot air balloons from the front yard. Punkin was known for her ability to eat extra hot green chile as well as her exceptional baking skills, particularly her rum cake and “My Man” cookies. Punkin will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Services will be held for family and friends in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Punkin will be laid to rest with her husband at the United States National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.