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HERNDON -- Joan J. Herndon, born in Orr, OK in March of 1926 to Joe Lee and Mary Elizabeth Porter, died Friday, September 25, 2009. A child of the Great Depression, Joan learned early the gift of imagination, yet clearly saw the benefit of a secure career. Her compassion and desire to help others lead her to a life of nursing. In 1946, she graduated from Memorial Medical and Surgical Hospital School of Nursing in San Antonio, TX. She soon accepted a private nursing position in Greeley, CO. There she married her love, Gene L. Herndon. Together they raised three children. Joan continued her career at Fort Bayard Hospital near Silver City, NM, the Public Health Clinic in Roswell, NM and PHS Indian Hospital in Albuquerque. While living in Albuquerque, Joan assisted the Red Cross as a disaster relief nurse in Corpus Christi, TX. Also, she joined a tour of China with the International Council of Nurses, learning and assisting in hospitals and outlying clinics. After retirement, Joan showed her appreciation for the arts by volunteering for the New Mexico Ballet Company and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. Always gracious, and a deeply devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt. and friend; Joan was surrounded with family and loving prayer as she passed into the arms of the Lord. Joan leaves behind: Brad Herndon and his wife, Stacia, Janet Herndon-Smith, Kathie Herndon-Norris, Haley Rae Norris, Alisa Herndon-Noyola and her husband, Miguel Noyola, Michael and John Bradley Noyola, Zack Palen and his wife, Renea, Destini, and Elizabeth Palen, Carol, Mike, Gary and "Bern". A memorial service will be Saturday, October 3, 2009, 5:00 p.m., at Northdale Baptist Church, 123 Osuna Rd. NW. If desired, contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or the American Red Cross, 142 Monroe NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Please visit our online guestbook for Joan at www.RememberTheirStory.com. French 1111 University Blvd. NE. (505) 843-6333
        Published on: Fri October 02, 2009