Jeanette Owens

Jeanette Owens was born on December 4, 1933, in Gorman Texas.  She grew up on a farm outside Gorman and attended school in Desdemona, Texas.   Mom was always a good student except in citizenship which was like conduct.   A girl must talk to find out all the needed information, even in elementary school.   Mom was an athlete and played basketball and softball.   She was a very good basketball player and played on a competitive team in AAU league.   Mom met and married our dad.  She then moved with him to attend college and followed him wherever his career led him from Bangor, Maine, to California, Texas and New Mexico.  While we were living in Amarillo, Texas, she graduated from Northwest Texas Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse.  She passed her boards on her first try.  She worked as an RN in various hospitals in Texas, New Mexico and Illinois.  She later married her second husband, who was in the US Navy, and traveled to many locations including Japan, Hawaii, Washington and Illinois.  In her late 40’s mom developed severe arthritis which ended her working life.   She then relocated to Albuquerque, NM, and became involved in local organizations.  As her health declined, she moved to Artesia, NM, where her oldest daughter lived and worked to help her with her daughter and her activities.    In Artesia she loved Bulldog football and jumped into the local Senior Center where she attended the weekly dances and participated in the line dancing group.  She loved to dance and was a great dancer.   Mom’s green thumb was evident by beautiful flower beds.  Her yard was full of multicolored flowers in beds and pots.  Her favorite was purple petunias as they smelled so good.  Her neighbors loved to walk by her home and see her lovely flowers and enjoy their scents.  Mom loved strawberry shortcake and even her great-grandchildren remember eating the little sponge cakes with strawberries smothered in sugar to make their own syrup and topped with whipped cream.  Mom volunteered at the Senior Center assisting in preparing taxes for over 20 plus years.  She was honored by the State of NM for her longtime contribution.  As mom’s mobility changed, she had to give up some of her favorite activities and found new interests in reading, watching sports on TV, and making homemade salsa.  We all remember the chop, chop, chop on the plate as she cut all her ingredients up for salsa.  Mom enjoyed many trips in her later years with her 2 girls and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She also spent time in the mountains at the homes of brothers and their wives.  Mom was always the life of the party.  She was funny and had a beautiful smile and a snow-white head of hair.   After a serious health crisis mom had to go into a nursing home to receive the care and rehabilitation she needed.    Her health continued to decline.   Mom passed away at Artesia Healthcare and Rehabilitation with both her daughters by her side, as she joined the angels on her journey to heaven.   She was ready, we pray Heaven was.  She is survived by her 2 daughters, Patricia Wood and Pam (Bryan) Gavin, 3 surviving grandchildren, Lauren, Mollie and Erin Gavin and 6 great-grandchildren, Chance, Meghan, Kison, Miracle, Mileena, Milo, and Alaya.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, a granddaughter, Tara Wood Cephus and a great-granddaughter Kaylee Wood Cephus.  The family wishes to thank all of mom’s nurses and CNA’s and her hospice staff and volunteers.  To her special friend at the nursing home, Mr. Porter, special thanks.  All of you helped her along her journey and we are forever grateful.