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Zona Henry, born December 11, 1927, in Deep River, Iowa, to Alvin and Mabel Ehret, passed away on Thursday October 1, 2009. She was raised on a farm in Iowa during the depression, with no electricity, plumbing or central heating. She started school in the January following her fifth birthday and completed first grade in that semester, in a one room country schoolhouse with Potbelly stove, outhouses and no electricity. She went on to complete the second and third grade the next year and continued to attend country schools through high school. After graduating from high school at 16, she attended Central College in Pella, Iowa, for two years and then worked a year on the Grinnell Herald-Register as society editor. She attended the University of Iowa following WWII while living in a barracks with 11 other girls and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. After living in California, she returned to Iowa where she was a reporter-photographer for the Oskaloosa, Iowa Daily Herald, working 6 days a week for $40.00 a week. She then moved to Albuquerque in l953 to live here happily ever after. She was involved for many years in democratic politics, a lifelong community activist and a 40 year member of the First Congregational Church. She served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Public Library and was a tireless volunteer at Project Share. Zona was a lover of the arts, active in neighborhood activities and a patron of Musical Theatre Southwest. She also served as mediator for the Metropolitan Court for over 20 years. Her claims to fame included skydiving (tandem) when she was 70, her love to travel throughout Europe and Mexico, and, for those who knew her, a colossal collection of Nativity Scenes from around the world. She is survived by her husband, Howard W. Henry, her daughter Sharon Henry along with her partner Karen Austin and their children Ryan, Katie and Caroline, son Daniel and her niece Debra Hankins. Her life was also enriched by her multitude of friends - many of whom have preceded her in death. A celebration of her life will be held at the First Congregational Church (2801 Lomas Blvd. NE on Saturday October 10, 2009, at 2:00 pm, with an after party to be held in her honor at one of her favorite restaurants, the Quarters Restaurant, 801Yale, SE, immediately following. The remembrances will feature Frank Sinatra's "The Lady is a Tramp" and Louie Armstrong's "When the Saints go Marching In." In lieu of flowers, the family requests your donation of time, money or energy to Project Share, 1515 Yale SE, Albq. NM 87106
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