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Maud Olean Thorp went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, peacefully on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the age of 85. She was born in Richland, New Mexico, on October 9, 1938, to Noah (N.B.) and Olean Mae Duncan. “Maud O.,” as she was affectionately called by many, was the youngest of eight children and attended school in Dora, New Mexico. After graduating high school, she attended Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, Texas, and Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico.
Maud married Donald Thorp on July 2, 1958, and they had two sons, Steven and Barry. The couple lived in Portales and Tucumcari, New Mexico, and Crowley, Morton and Littlefield, Texas, before settling in Alamogordo, New Mexico, in 1966. While raising her family, she taught school in Morton and Alamogordo and worked as a clerk in businesses in Portales and Alamogordo–including an optical shop, a clothing store, and a carpet and paint store. Throughout their marriage Maud served alongside her husband at numerous churches and schools where Don worked as a music minister and/or choral director.
Maud loved the Lord and was a dedicated member of Grace Baptist Church in her later years. She cherished her church friends and faithfully attended a women’s Bible study group right up to the day before her passing. Maud was a wonderful wife and mother. She greatly loved, and took pride in, her family. Maud had a lovely soprano voice and enjoyed singing and playing the piano (exceptionally well by ear). She had a keen eye and an affinity for the arts and decorating, so she enjoyed drawing and painting, appointing her home well, and dressing smartly. Maud enjoyed traveling with, or to see, friends and family (in places as far away as South America and Europe). She was highly competitive and enjoyed playing board games and watching all kinds of sporting events on TV (especially Dallas Cowboys games and the Olympics). One of her more recent favorite pastimes was scrolling through Facebook on her iPad to keep up with family and friends. Maud will be most fondly remembered for her fun-loving, light-hearted spirit and an infectious laugh that could brighten any room.
Maud is survived by Don Thorp, her loving husband of 65 years; sons Steve Thorp and wife, Vanda of Roswell, New Mexico, and Barry Thorp and wife, Susan of Alamogordo, New Mexico; sister Mary King of Artesia, New Mexico; grandchildren Lauren Gadzia and husband, Graham of Des Moines, Washington, Zachary Thorp and wife, Audrey of Arcadia, Florida, Mara Thorp and partner, Louis Emerson of Phoenix, Arizona, Caleb Thorp of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Michael Merritt of Alamogordo; great-grandchildren Evie Thorp, Raven Thorp, Atlas Thorp, Bryte Gadzia, Wade Emerson and Maddox Merritt; and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, T.Z. Duncan, Ernest Duncan, and Oscar Duncan; and sisters, Helen Jones, Freida Slone, and Ila Mae Smith.
A celebration of Maud’s life will take place at 10:00 AM on Monday, May 20th, at Grace Baptist Church, 2324 Indian Wells Rd. in Alamogordo, New Mexico, with Pastor Joe Bryant officiating.
Memorials may be made to the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, PO Box 629, Portales, NM 88130 (website: www.nmbch.com) or to one’s charity of choice.
The Thorp family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Scenic Chapel funeral services.
