Jacquelyn Spence

Jacquelyn Faye Warnica Spence, Jackie, was born December 29, 1931 in New Hobbs, New Mexico, the only child of Ralph Beaver Warnica and Lillian Fay Douglass. She passed away on June 16, 2011 in Artesia, N.M.

Jackie married James Solon Spence II on January 5, 1950. They spent their entire lives together farming the family farm in the Cottonwood community north of Artesia. Jackie was a stayathome mom, not working out of the home or off the farm until the baby started school.

Jackie worked at Artesia High School as an assistant librarian where she fed her love of books and her joy of working with young people. She loved the interaction with the students and faculty every day. From 1971 to 2001, she was the rural mail carrier out of the Lake Arthur post office. She loved to greet her customers, hand deliver their packages and know their families. Because of her punctuality and dedication to her job, her patrons relied on her timeliness on mail delivery. If she happened to be late, they would call Solon to see if something was wrong with Jackie. She was named Rural Mail Carrier of the year in 2000. She retired from the postal service in 2001 but continued to be active in 4H and her church community.

She was a 4H leader and fair judge for over 50 years. She and Solon were honored by the Eddy County Fair Board for their dedication and efforts to help with the building and development of the county fair and youth programs.

Jackie was a longtime member of the St. Anthonys Altar Society and served as a lector at mass on a regular basis.

She loved to read and collect recipe books and novels. She maintained a great library at her home and loved to loan her books to other avid readers.

She loved to pick produce from her garden and share it with family and friends.

Jackie loved to play cards, gamble a little, and visit new places. In recent years she especially loved to attend legislative sessions, and to debate issues with several elected officials, especially Sen. Tim Jennings. She was a proud member of the National Rifle Association.

Her greatest love was her family, or as she commonly referred to them, her footsteps into the future.

Her husband, Solon, preceded her in death on June 16, 1998. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her sister Janie, and a daughterinlaw Cheryl.

She is survived by he children: Mary Jane and spouse Larry Ward Candy and spouse Calder Ezzell Jim Spence and friend Carol Apple Steve and spouse Shellye Spence and Trampas and spouse Vicki Spence. She had 18 grandchildren: Robert, Kathleen, Brian, Chris, Stuart, Leslie, Caleb, Shawn, Drew, Stephanie husband John, Shyann, Justin wife Sarah, Lindsey husband Drew, Lisa husband Steve, and Jodi. She had 15 greatgrandchildren: Avery, Cooper, Ethan, Reese, Katelyn, Sterling, Spencer, Kaleb, Aubrey, Addyson, Antonia, Sarah, Mason, Ansley and Baylee.

If friends would like to make a donation in Jackies honor, we would like you to consider the Assurance Home of Roswell, Eddy County Youth Supporters or the charity of your choice.

Pallbearers will be Don Alam, Harold Huntsman, A.A. Klein, Pug Thigpen, Jon Solt, Bill Johnson, Ross Menefee and Isadoro Delgado.

A rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 19, at Terpening Son Chapel. Mass will be at 8:00 a.m. Monday June 20, at St. Anthonys Catholic Church, 502 S. 9th in Artesia, with burial to follow at Woodbine Cemetery.