Cover photo for Gladys Mae Juarez's Obituary
Gladys

Gladys Mae Juarez

d. June 26, 2020

Gladys Juarez, 92, battling a brain tumor since December 2019, went to be with the Lord, Friday, June 26, 2020 at 7:49 am.

Gladys was born Thursday, August 16, 1928 to Ila Mae and Joseph Terrell residing in Artesia, New Mexico. Her father worked for the ATSF Railroad. Throughout her childhood, they moved to small surrounding towns. She attended schools in Negra, Willard, Lakewood and Artesia, graduating from Artesia High School May 24, 1946.

After graduation from high school, she attended Western New Mexico University in Silver City on a tuition scholarship. It was there she met her first love. Jerald H. Longbotham and Gladys Mae were married January 16, 1947.  As a team they raised three children, Vanna, Jerry and Vanita. Dreams of their future were shattered when Jerald died October 1958, in Colorado. Eventually Gladys, along with her three children, moved to be closer to her parents and worked as a secretary for the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home in Portales.

Another chapter in her life was soon to be written when she met the second love of her life, Lonnie Juarez Sr. who had lost his wife, Cuca in death November 1959. Lonnie Sr. and Cuca had three children of their own: Lonnie Jr., Jerry T., and Gloria.

Lonnie Sr. and Gladys were married December 5, 1960. Soon after, he was transferred to Belen, NM as a Track Supervisor for the ATSF Railroad. In December 1963, Lionel Juarez was born, completing the family of seven children.

Gladys showed the love of her Lord and maker to all. She held piano playing, singing, writing poetry and music, her family and her church family near and dear to her heart. She was a fun loving Christian woman that would brighten any room she walked into. She loved music so much that she taught private lessons in Belen.

In late 1975 early 1976 Gladys and Lonnie moved back to Albuquerque, NM. She became active with Montgomery Church of Christ and volunteered as a music teacher for the children’s programs, vacation bible school and head cook at Ponderosa Christian Camp. She was currently attending Netherwood Church of Christ. She was loved and cherished by all throughout her life and will greatly be missed.

She is preceded in death by her stepson, Lonnie Jr, her two husbands, Lonnie Sr. and Jerald, her parents Ila Mae and Joseph Terrell and a sister Ethyl Pearl. She is survived by her loving children, Vanna, Jerry, Jerry T., Vanita, Gloria and Lionel. She also leaves behind 19 grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren.

Gladys will be buried at Woodbine Cemetery in Artesia, NM Saturday, October 24, 2020, 1:00 p.m.

The Family is asking, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to NM Christian Children’s Home in Portales NM or the Albuquerque Christian Children’s Home in Albuquerque, NM.

To send flowers to the family in memory of Gladys Mae Juarez, please visit our flower store.

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