Arla Scarborough

Arla Marie Scarborough December 3, 1929 to October 6, 2012 Arla was born in Alhambra, California to Archie David Hill and Marion Scherer Hill. In 1933 Archie moved the family to Aztec NM, where Arla grew up on a farm, graduating from Aztec High in 1946. She attended New Mexico State, acquiring both a BS (cum laude) in botany and a husband, William Bernard Scarborough. In 1951 Bill and Arla moved to El Rito, NM where Bill ran a dairy and Arla taught at New Mexico Normal School. Their first child William Kent was born in 1952. In 1953 the family moved to Espanola NM where Bill rand the dairy with his brother John. Her daughter Linda Kay was born there in 1955. Arla and her sister in law Peg, kept the business books and ran a small hobby shop next to the dairy office. In 1963 the family moved back to Las Cruces for a year while Bill got his MS. They then moved to Laramie Wyoming; Bill to work at the university there and Arla to get a MS, and then teach botany at the university. Later, the family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska. Bill and Arla both worked for University of Alaska, Arla teaching and doing research in arctic tundra fungi. Bill and Arla moved back to Espanola for retirement. After Bill passed away, Arla returned to work, as a chemistry technician at Los Alamos National Lab. Later she was very active in community service, working for the Espanola Hospital Auxiliary, United Methodist Women and tutoring at McCurdy School. She loved classical music and opera. She enjoyed foreign travel. Her special passion of course was gardening. She spent countless hours propagating plants, cultivating cacti and exotic plants (and cheerfully pulling weeds). She is survived by her son Kent Scarborough, daughter Linda Scarborough, grand children Kim Chatfield, Sara Chatfield, and Billy Scarborough. No formal services are planned at this time. Memorial contributions can be made to the Soup Kitchen, in care of Valley View Methodist Church.