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Lena B. Menefee-Scheier. Long-time Silver City resident Lena B. Scheier, 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep Sunday, October 12, 2008, at her home in Albuquerque. Her family was at her bedside and in her heart. She was preceded in death by her husbands: Clyde Alton Menefee of Artesia, and Ollie M. Scheier of Roy, NM. Born at Mills, NM in 1919, Lena was the youngest of eight children born to Giovanni and Nicoletta Bonomo who emigrated from Asiago, Italy. She was the last survivor among her six brothers and one sister. Lena became a Registered Nurse in 1945. In March 1946, Lena married Clyde Menefee. During 17 years of marriage, they had nine children as they moved around New Mexico with Clyde's job with the Soil Conservation Service. They finally settled at Silver City in 1952. In 1955, the Menefees arrived at 1919 Alabama Street, where the family remained for 47 years. In 1964, Clyde died in an automobile accident south of Silver City. Lena raised the nine Menefees with ample love and support from her family, many friends and neighbors. In April, 1972, Lena married Ollie Scheier, the general mill foreman at Phelps Dodge's Tyrone operation. Ollie died in 1992, and Lena continued to run the household on Alabama Street until she moved to Albuquerque in 2002. Throughout the years in Silver City, Lena, together with her dear friend Martha Hill, were fixtures at daily Mass at St. Vincent de Paul and then at the Newman Center, where both still have reserved seats waiting for them. Lena was an avid gardener, seamstress, and swimmer and enjoyed word puzzles. Her peanut brittle and chicken cacciatore are unrivaled. She loved watching basketball and her feet always tapped whenever music was playing. Most of all, Lena was a loving and loved mother, mother-in-law, grandma and great-grandma. Lena is survived by her nine children and three stepchildren and their spouses, 25 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren (with one more on the way). She will be missed by her family: Nicolynn and Bob Womack of Cortez, Colorado; John and Gailyn Menefee and son Matthew, of Savannah, Georgia; Janine Menefee of Albuquerque; Mary Menefee and Bruce Ellison, and son Jon, of Albuquerque; Judy Menefee and Doug Neher of Silver City; Judy's daughter, Holly and husband Scott Palm of Tucson; Judy's son Aaron Salars and wife Courtenay and their two daughters, Morgan and Sydney of Sonoma, California; Steve Menefee of Phoenix, and his three children, Joshua, Jennifer and Victoria, all of Tucson; Chris and Steve Scholl, their son Andy, and their daughter Stefanie and her husband Brett Thompson and their daughter Ellen, all of Albuquerque; Mike and Cathe Menefee of Phoenix, and their children Jean, Paula, Martha and Thomas; Cathy and Tim Keller of Albuquerque and their children Rachel, Peter, Steven and Benjamin. Lena is also survived by Ollie's three children: Charles, Kenny and Darlyne Draper, their spouses, 10 grandchildren and several great- grandchildren. A Viewing will be held Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. followed by Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Risen Savior Catholic Community, 7701 Wyoming Blvd. N.E., Albuquerque. Silver City services on Saturday include a Viewing at 9:00 a.m. followed by 10:00 a.m. Funeral Mass at the Newman Center with Burial at Memory Lane Cemetery. Please post online condolences for the family to: www.Reflectionoflife.com. REFLECTIONS Funerals & Life Celebrations 2400 Washington St. NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-884-5777
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