|
Jo Heyer Slade, born March 27, 1925, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and a grand one at that, passed away on Saturday, September 4, 2010. She was 85. She was born Billie Jo Ellis in Chandler, Arizona, one of five children of Horace and Henrietta Ellis. Her father's depression-era electrician's work brought her to New Mexico, where she graduated from Carlsbad High School. She was married to Charles Nowell Heyer, Pat Maxwell, and Ernest Slade. In her final years, her companion was her beloved Lhasa Apso, Saki. Jo Slade was a consummate executive secretary, working at Sandia Labs, GE Tempo, Kaman Sciences, and for Dean Fitz of the UNM School of Medicine in its earliest days. She was an accomplished cook, painter and poet laureate of her family's personal greeting cards. She brought humor and grace to whatever she did and never forgot the lyrics to her favorite 40's songs. Her greatest skill and dearest love was caring for and nurturing her children, grandchildren, and great - grandchildren, always accepting and treasuring their unique, even eccentric, qualities. She is survived by her sons, Lynn Slade (Susan Zimmerman), Stephen Heyer, and Barton Slade (Natalie); her daughter, Sheron Criswell (Bill); six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many other loving family members. She will be greatly missed, but never replaced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the local PBS affiliate, her link to the world, KNME: http://www.knme.org/support/index.php. There will be a memorial gathering for her family on the morning of Saturday, September 11, 2010. Please visit our online guestbook for Jo at www.RememberTheirStory.com. French 1111 University Blvd. NE. (505) 843-6333
|
