Carla Muth

Carla L. Muth 07/10/42 - 10/29/24 

Carla was born in Lansing, Michigan on July 10, 1942, the daughter of Carl and Leah Peterson. The family followed her father to Los Alamos after the war and his work on the Manhattan Project. She spent her junior high and senior high school years in Los Alamos. Carla attended the University of New Mexico as a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority graduating with a Bachelor's degree in nursing. 

Carla had a long and varied career in New Mexico health care, starting as an RN at St. Vincent’s hospital. Carla later helped found the Visiting Nurse Service in Santa Fe, created the first hospice service in New Mexico and developed hospital-based and independent home health agencies across the state. She also collaborated with others to secure passage of a law allowing the use of county indigent funds for home health care clinics. Carla was the first nurse to be appointed to a Cabinet secretary position and served as the deputy secretary and secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health under the Curruthers administration. In 2013 she was honored with the “Legends in Nursing” award from the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence for her years long service to health care in our state. 

Carla branched out in 1986 to run for state representative of District 47 and lost by a very narrow margin. In addition, she and long-time friend Anne Bateman Noss ran a marketing consulting agency together for many years. 

Carla met Mark Muth in 1978 when she was looking for insurance that would cover home health care and The Kelly Agency sent him over to VNS to meet about it. They married March 24, 1979 and became a couple that would enjoy their common interests and be devoted to each other up until her last moment.  

Carla’s passions extended well beyond her work. She was a board member for both Santa Maria El Mirador and El Castillo. She was a talented artist in varied media and became a juried member of the Santa Fe Society of Artists and the Pastel Society of New Mexico. She showed her art both locally and at national shows where she received numerous awards. Carla loved to ski, hike and play tennis with family and friends. 

Carla is survived by her husband of 45 years, Mark Muth; brother David Peterson and wife Larsja.

Sons Darren Smith and wife Lucy Ranney; Greg Smith and wife Kate Reynolds; Stepdaughter LeeAnna Sacoman and husband David; Stepson Shane Muth and wife Lisa.

Grandchildren Ainsley Reynolds Smith, Daisy Smith, Charlie Reynolds Smith, Elsa Smith and Keelan Smith.

Step grandchildren Sean Sacoman and wife Kathleen, Drew Sacoman and wife Amy and Isabella Muth

Step great-grandchildren Abbey and Caleb.

All of the above were dearly loved as were her many other relatives and friends 

In lieu of flowers a donation to Alzheimer's Disease Research, a Bright Focus Foundation Program would be preferred.