William Ebie

William Dennis “Bill” Ebie passed away peacefully at home in the early hours of Monday, January 5, 2026 after a long illness. Bill was born February 7, 1942 in Akron, Ohio to Mary Lou Karam and William Percy Ebie, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of thirty-six years, Teresa Hayes Ebie; children Jason William Ebie (Erin); Alexandra Ebie Tan (Fred); grandsons Ethan Riley Tan and Zachary Archer Tan; his sister Patricia Felder Uldal; niece Carrie Lynn Felder; nephew Jaime Michael Felder (Mandy) as well as many treasured cousins and friends.

A highly respected member of the New Mexico arts community, Bill was captivated by art from an early age. He is remembered for his vibrant figure paintings and his wood working inspired by traditional Spanish Colonial designs. Bill is also well known for his mentoring and championing of artists throughout his long career as a museum administrator, artist residency director, teacher, and board member of the New Mexico State Capitol Art Foundation and the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation.

After completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Akron and finding inspiration in President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to young Americans to volunteer abroad, Bill became one of the earliest Peace Corps volunteers, serving from 1964-1966 in Cuzco, Peru. Bill often recalled his Peace Corps experience as one of the most significant choices of his life.

Following the completion of his Peace Corps service, Bill attained his Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. After brief teaching stints in Tallahassee, Florida and Lawrence, Kansas, in 1971 Bill accepted the dual position of Managing Director for the Roswell Museum and Art Center’s Artist in Residence program and Assistant Director of the Museum. Here Bill found his true calling as an insightful and generous mentor to creative artists from all walks of life. Many of these artists today, forty to fifty years later, fondly remember Bill as a pivotal influence on their creative development and careers. From 1987-1998 Bill served as director of the Roswell Museum and Art Center, where he continued to mentor artists, and to oversee the expansion and preservation of the museum’s physical facility, collections and educational programs. In 1998, Bill accepted the position of Director of the Millicent Rogers Museum, and he and Teresa moved to their beloved Taos. Bill remained in this position, nurturing the museum with vision and resolve, until his retirement in 2002.

Bill was a founding member of the board of the New Mexico State Capitol Art Foundation in Santa Fe, where he served from 1992-2020, including service as board President from 2010-2019. Bill played a vital role in building one of the finest collections of contemporary New Mexican art in existence as well as one of the most renowned public art collections in America.

Bill was equally invested in the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, where he served as board member and officer from 1999-2023. He worked tirelessly as juror for the residency program and provided valuable expertise on the care and development of the Foundation’s permanent art collection.

Although it would be easy to believe that Bill only ever worked in the arts, he thrived on outdoor projects, working with Teresa over the course of two decades to create their small homestead ‘farm’ in Arroyo Hondo, building latilla fences, rustic gates, garden beds, a root cellar, greenhouse, henhouse, and planting many trees. Those who knew Bill were aware of his ulterior motive when it came to the gardens: his love of fresh, homegrown food. Art and food intersected in the salads Bill loved to compose, where color, form and texture played key roles. Bill loved to go for hikes around the Taos area, and was an avid reader. He also loved listening to music across a wide variety of genres. In his final years Bill still enjoyed daily walks around the neighborhood as well as visits from friends and family members, and FaceTime with his beloved grandsons. Bill also enjoyed the faithful companionship of Sunny, the most recent in a long line of Ebie family cats.

The family extends sincerest appreciation to Bill’s loving caregiver, Lina who provided respite to Teresa for more than two years; Ann Garcia, MD; Caroline Colonna, DOM; and the compassionate staff of Red Willow Hospice.

Memorial contributions can be made in Bill’s honor to the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, Taos https://wurlitzerfoundation.org/

The family of William Dennis “Bill” Ebie has entrusted the care of their loved one to the caring staff of DeVargas Funeral Home of Taos. 866-657-4019 www.devargastaos.com