Grace Miller Woolsey August 02, 1921 – February 14, 2019 Sign Guestbook| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Grace Miller Woolsey (1921-2019) Grace Miller Woolsey, loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Great Great Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, and Friend, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2019 in Alamogordo, New Mexico at the age of 97. She was born August 2, 1921, the ninth child of twelve children, to Leonard Chesley and Claudia Idell (Lucas) Miller in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Grace’s father developed TB in Kentucky, and in 1907 and was told to go to a drier climate.
He and his father traveled to Nara Visa, NM where they Homesteaded, and in 1908, Grace’s mom joined them. Her father was a contractor and built many buildings and homes in Nara Visa while proving the homestead and adding to the family. In 1914, they sold the land and moved to Tucumcari, NM to continue raising a familY,(4 children by then), and Construction many public buildings, Courthouse, First Baptist church, and many homes there.
The two story home he built for his increasing family at 109 E High still stands firm today, 95 years later. Grace’s mother died after childbirth of her twelfth child, left Grace and two siblings to care for the house and the young ones left at home until Aunt Lula moved in. In the summer of 1938, Grace met Don Woolsey at a High School Rally.
He was from Comanche Texas, and was working with the CCC’s at Conchas Dam. After a short courtship, Don asked her father if he could have her hand in marriage. Her dad said, “Well, I’ve fed her all these years so I guess you can now”.
On July 11, 1938, they were married across the street at the Presbyterian parsonage. Don left the CCC’s, and they moved to Comanche, Tx, but returned to Tucumcari in early 1941. Daughter JoAnn was born on 9-1-41 while Don was working for Crescent Creamery.
War broke out in 1941 and he went to California do “do what he could for his country”. Being unable to join the Navy right away, he became a security guard for San Diego Weapons Depot. Grace and JoAnn joined him in in 1942, and while they lived at Herlong, CA, grace became a Motorscooter Mail Delivery person on base.
On 12-1-1943 Emma Ruth joined the family. Don was finally able to join the Navy and was sent to Key West Hospital, so Grace and the two girls retua:::ned to Coma~che, TX. When Don was discharged in 1944, they returned to Tucumcari, he built a nice house on 501 S Dawson, which looks the same today.
They planted a large Victory Garden in the back yard, and Grace and Don started the joy of growing and canning which carried on for most of their lives. Tragedy struck on 6-28-1948, when Grace and girls were going with Don back to work so Grace could us the car, and a car t-boned the Model B Ford Don was driving, seriously injuring Grace and killing Ruthie. In 1951, Don was recalled to serve in the Korean War at the Navy Hospital in Oakland, CA.
, returning home in 1953. Work was hard to find after the war, so the family moved to Roswell in 1954where Grace’s brother LC. was in construction.
Grace worked at the meat packing plant in Roswell until 1956 when her brother Johnny and husband Don decided to move to Alamogordo, NM to buy the Alamogordo and Tularosa Maytag Company. In 1958, JoAnn married, and Grace and Don eventually became grandparents of four grandchildren upon whom they doted, later followed by six great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren. In 1961, Don went back to construction and was superintendent and inspector for many buildings, International Space Hall, several NMSUA buildings, several Gerald Champion Hospital additions, the Security Bank building, building for the Space Monkey Program, and many more.
and Grace went to work for the School cafeterias for the next 23 years. In 1975, Don built them another nice home on Lockheed Drive where they planted 78 fruit and pecan trees and another big garden, and they once again canned and shared with friends and neighbors until Don passed away in 1996. They hadi been married 58 years.
Grace loved her time as a teacher of Sunday school and Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church where she was a member for 62 years, and was the oldest member when she passed. She was a 44 year member and Past Matron of Alamo 11 Order of Eastern Star, and a 21 year member of GCRMC Auxiliary Pink Ladies. She was very proud to earn her Lifetime membership pin.
Grace and Don had made many trips to interesting places after retirement, Tahiti, Mexico Pyramids, Hawaii, Orient Tour from China to Australia, European tour from Switzerland to Italy, and many more. Grace was preceded in death by her Father and Mother, Leonard and Claudia. In Laws, Edward and Emma Woolsey, Infant brother Richard Miller, Daughter Emma Ruth Woolsey, Husband Don Woolsey, Grandson Robert Woodard.
Great Grandson Dustin Bartz, Granddaughter JoLyn Bartz, Great Grandson Donald T. Woodard II. Grace, at 97, was the last of a 46 person generation, preceded by brothers, sisters and their spouses; Esther (Paus) McCarty, Thelma (Emile) Mackey, Leonard C (Opal) Miller JR, Roberta (bill) Stephens, Merlyn (Woodrow) Brown, David (Wilma) Miller, Jessie LeRoy (Sybeline) Miller, Myrtle Virginia (Merle) Wallace, John L (Arlone) Miller, Flora Dell (Bob) Streety. And her husbands 11 brothers and sisters and their spouses.
Grace is survived by her daughter, Donna JoAnn Tally, Grandson Donald Thomas (Julie) Woodard, Granddaughter Donna Jean(Tim) Tash, Great Granddaughters Tanya M (Jay) Ryle, Darcy Lyn (Daniel) Leech, Great Granddaughters Jessica Grace Woodard, Amber Rae Tash, Great Great Granddaughters Sophie Ryle, Eliora Ryle, Hannah Grace Leech and Great Great Grandson Ely Ryan Leech, Grandson-in¬law Randy Bartz And 47 nephews and nieces. It was stated by a nephew, that with all the family waiting for her, Thursday was a great day of rejoicing , in Heaven. AMEN Funeral will be held at February 22, 2019 at 10:00 am at the Alamogordo Funeral Home, Alamogordo.
2301 First Street Alamogordo, NM 88310. 575-434-5253. Brother Kyle Bueermann officiting.
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