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Grace Byrne Wagers, 87, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 following a short illness. Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 4, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2801 Lomas Blvd. NE. Grace was born in Des Moines, IA in 1918. In the summer of 1927, she, her parents, her brother, Ruby, and her two sisters, Garnet and Gertrude, made the long journey to Albuquerque in an open touring car via the newly-opened Route 66 highway. She was a graduate of Albuquerque High School, class of 1936. In 1942, she met and married Richard M.D. Wagers of Phoenix, AZ, who was then on active duty with the U.S. Army Air Corps. After the war they settled in Phoenix, where Grace was employed as a secretary at the Standard Oil Company, and later as a Deputy Court Clerk with the Maricopa County Superior Court. Richard died in 1974, and Grace never remarried. In retirement, she worked for many years as a volunteer at the Tempe (Arizona) Historical Society Museum. She was a lifelong Democrat, and was active in many political campaigns. She continued to reside in Tempe until 1996, when she returned to Albuquerque to be closer to her family. She is survived by many loving family members and friends. Contributions in her name to VistaCare Hospice Foundation, 5639 Jefferson St. NE, or to the Democratic National Committee, would be appreciated. Friends may call the home for further information.
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