Mabel (July 2-1896-May 30, 1989) was born in Maxwell, New Mexico, a tiny little town in northern New Mexico where her father was a telegraph operator for the railroad. (It might have been bigger back then judging from the county fair flyer below). Her parents were Henry and Minnie Lee, and she was the fifth child born to them. Three had previously died, (Mamie, Harry and Carl) and when she was born she had a big brother, Henry Claude, who died at the age of ten, when she was two. She was followed by Grace, Blanche, and Harlan. Minnie wrote her name as “Ruby Mabel Isabelle Lee” in her journal when Mabel was born, but it seems like Mabel may have dropped the Ruby. Pappy and Blanche always called her Mae, and the grandkids called her Mamie (she sometimes signed her letters to them “Mae-Mae”)

Minnie’s journal entry

Mabel in 1896

Mabel in 1898

Mabel, 1900

They moved several times during her early childhood, to small towns near the railroad stations mostly in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. It seems like it may have been a a hard life for them, in rather makeshift living conditions.

Harlan, Blanche, Grace and Mabel Lee

They travelled to Timewell, Illinois periodically to visit their grandparents, Newton and Barbara Lucas.

Grace, Henry, Barbara (seated), Blanche, Minnie (seated), a friend, Mabel and Harlan

When she was a teenager, they moved to Trinidad, Colorado and eventually moved to 809 Tillotson, where they lived from then on.

Mabel, Grace and Blanche

She married Clyde Roper (1895-1968) in 1924. It’s not clear why Clyde moved to Trinidad from Arkansas but may have been because his brother Earl lived there.

Mabel is in the black hat in front, Clyde on the right, maybe?

It seems like they had a big group of friends in Trinidad, and would go mountain climbing together to Fisher’s Peak and other nearby spots.

Mabel is fourth from the right, and Clyde’s hand is on her shoulder. It’s possible this could be their wedding day. It seems like they may have had a small civil wedding.

Clyde and Mabel

Mabel and Clyde lived in Trinidad for the early years of their marriage and had two children, Edgar (1925-2014) and Joan (1930-2022). Mabel worked as a court stenographer in Trinidad and she always was good at numbers, accounting and office work, and enjoyed working.

When Clyde started working at Nebraska Salesbook Company, they moved to Council Bluffs, Lincoln, Denver, Houston, and then finally to Albuquerque. Mabel managed and kept the accounts for Clyde’s job. They joined Monte Vista Christian Church in Albuquerque and went there for years, where she was active in the Christian Women’s Fellowship, and did home visits to the elderly and homebound members, as well as some treasurer work for the church.

Mabel and Clyde had four grandchildren, Colleen, Suky, Buddy and Steve. They took care of them a good amount of the time – entertained them, fed them, watched them, took them on trips , drove them to school, and provided a second home for them and all their pets and paraphernalia. Their lives may have been upended by the arrival of the grandchildren, but they didn’t seem to bat an eye, and gave them such security and love. Mabel was a wonderful cook – her fried chicken, pork chops, spaghetti with pork, artichokes, black eyed peas and rice, okra with tomatoes, chili, enchilada casserole – all delicious. She had two tv shows she didn’t like to miss – Concentration and Jeopardy - the kids would usually watch with her and guess along.

Mabel and Blanchie at Monument Lake

She and Clyde often travelled to Trinidad to see her sister Blanche, to California to visit Grace, and to Timewell to see Aunt Ruth, Sadie and Jessie. She and Blanchie were very close. She wrote great letters to Blanchie and to her son, Edgar. Here’s a funny snippet from one to Edgar about Roy:

Roy, Blanche, Helen, Mabel, Clyde

Mabel Lee Roper

Grandmother

Great grandmother

Great great grandmother