Zella Lee Camfield

Camfield, Zella Lee Johnston Zella Lee Johnston Camfield was the second of two children born to Victor George Johnston and Anna B Groff Johnston. She was born on Nov. 3, 1923 in Miller County, Missouri, a full twelve years after her only sibling and big brother Raymond. As the baby girl, she was certainly the apple of her parents� eyes and spent her time learning from them both. She learned to drive when her dad took her with him on the MFA fuel truck deliveries in the hills of Miller County. She learned to cook by her mother�s side using pinches, dabs, and handfuls! At the age of 16, Zella graduated from Crocker High School then attended Iberia Academy, the alma mater of both of her parents. After 2 years she moved to the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO where she earned a Bachelor of Science in August of 1947. She received her training for Medical Technology at Research Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. While working and attending the University, she met her future husband, Paul Edgar Camfield of Neosho, Missouri. The Air Force officer, who had recently returned from action in the Pacific Theatre of WWII and was then studying at the university, caught her eye. Paul and Zella were married September 2, 1948 in Crocker, MO. Paul and Zella lived in Columbia while Paul finished his degree, a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1949. Shortly after graduation, they moved to Iola, Kansas where the first of their two daughters was born. Rebecca Sue (Becky) joined the family September 21, 1950. After a brief time in Iola, Paul, Zella and Becky relocated to Corpus Christi, TX where Paul went back to his roots by joining up with an all-Jersey Dairy, Knolle�s. Zella continued her career as a Medical Technologist at Spohn Hospital where she was soon Lab Manager. It was here at Spohn that their second daughter, Mary Ruth, was born 3 years later on October 28, 1953. Paul and Zella were loyal supporters of the Shrine and loved to travel and camp no matter where they lived - Iola, Corpus, Waco, Alexandria and New Orleans, LA, finally settling in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was through these moves and travels and through work with the Shrine that Paul and Zella instilled a love of people, places, community and sharing with both their daughters and their grandchildren. Zella died and was released from the chains of Alzheimer's on Monday, August 12, 2013 into the loving arms of her Heavenly Father and Savior. Zella�s confession of faith at an early age in the First Baptist Church of Crocker was her life foundation. Zella was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Anna Johnston; her brother, Raymond and his wife Evelyn Johnston; her soldier and loving husband of 47 years, Paul and a nephew, Ray Johnston. She is survived by her daughters, Becky Rinehart and Mary Ruth Williams and their husbands, Joe and Larry; her three grandchildren, Molly Adams, Meredith McCollum, and Chris Williams and their spouses, Marcus, Mark and Julieta; one great grandchild, Juliana Williams. Additional survivors include her brother�s children, Libby Boeye and Pat Gallagher and their families as well as Paul�s nephews John and Stephen Mills and their families. Ask anyone and they will tell you what they remember most about Zella was her smile! She was always smiling, even when her eyes were closed. Perhaps the penmanship practice sentence once assigned to her by a teacher was the reason, �Don�t worry about your work; do the best you can; let the rest go, and smile all the time!� A Visitation will be held at 10:00 am, Thursday, August 15, 2013 at Daniels Family Funeral Services, Sara Chapel, 4310 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, NM. A Graveside service will follow at 11:00 am, at Vista Verde Memorial Park, 4310 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, NM. The family gratefully requests donations to a charity of your choice or Paul and Zella�s favorite, the Shriner�s Travel Fund at the Ballut Abyad Temple in Albuquerque, NM where Paul was a long-time member. Donations to this fund may be sent to Ballut Abyad Temple, 6600 Zuni Road SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. To view information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Road SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 505-892-9920