Obit, Montezuma County, Colorado :Abbie Jane Wagner -2001
Date:2/3/2001  
From:Tom Vaughan <wt@fone.net
http://files.usgwarchives.org/co/montezuma/obits/wagneraj.txt

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 Abbie Jane Wagner
 Abbie Jane Wagner was born July 6, 1914, in Mancos. She was the daughter of Grace A. and
 George W. Exon. Abbie Jane attended Mancos schools and started elementary school at the
 Wattles School. In Mancos High School, she was active in band and basketball and graduated
 in 1933.
 Abbie Jane married her lifetime partner, Herman Wagner, on Dec. 26, 1937. This anniversary
 was the celebration of 63 wonder-filled years together.
 She was the mother of Conrad and Kareen, mother-in-law of Ann Wagner and Dick Valdez,
 grandmother of Darin, Rob, Greg and Vonda. The fourth generation of seven great-grandsons
 includes Brant, Reed, Robby, Charlie, Nicholas, Matthew and, born on Sunday, Jan. 7, prior
 to Abbie Jane’s death, Alexander Ricardo.
 On New Year’s Day, 1999, Abbie Jane fell and had been confined to a walker and wheelchair
 for the past two years at the Valley Inn. With her mind intact but her body failing, she
 died Jan. 12, 2001. She was cremated and her ashes will be lifted to the wind in the
 mountains and at the seashore. Her parents and two half-brothers, Charles and Harris Rash,
 preceded her in death.
 Abbie Jane was active in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, VFW Auxiliary, PEO and was past
 Worthy Matron of Eastern Star. She was well-known in the community as an excellent cook.
 She was an avid recipe collector and always anxious to entertain or have bridge so she
 could try out the latest rich dessert! She was one of those cooks who knew the good
 recipes from the so-so ones and she only fixed the really good ones! In recent years,
 Herman helped in the kitchen and Abbie Jane “coached” him into a pretty good cook, too.
 Abbie Jane loved to travel, especially to the ocean from Alaska to Mexico. Together with
 Herman, family and friends, she enjoyed both the rustic nature of camping and the elegance
 of a cruise. With her sharp mind she was very knowledgeable and opinionated about current
 events in Mancos and the world. If you needed the name of a good book, you could count on
 Abbie Jane to have just read one she would recommend. But her real passion was bridge! She
 started playing in high school and continued for a lifetime, belong to three bridge clubs
 at one time! Being her partner, or her opponent, was a challenge!
 Another love of her life was her pets, from childhood kittens that she dressed up as
 playmates to the parakeet that she taught to say “Birds don’t talk.” She had a special way
 with animals. Most recently she was blessed with two dogs, first Cindy Lou and now Missy
 Lee. They provided many fun-loving moments and enjoyment beyond description for Abbie Jane.
 Her favorite names other than Abbie Jane (and you better have that right or she knew you
 didn’t know her!) were Mama, Mother, Grandma and Grandma Grape because the center of her
 life was her marriage, her home, family and friends. She held her loved ones so close to
 her heart. Their struggles and sorrows were her pain and their joys and successes were her
 delight. Nothing was more powerful than the love she had for her family.
 All who have been blessed with her presence knew the up side and down side of her honesty.
 She was proud to “tell it like it is” — with integrity and wisdom. Abbie Jane had the
 courage to call us all to task if we didn't measure up. By her honesty and with love she
 challenged us to confront ourselves and do our very best.
 We loved her and we will miss her.

-- 
Tom Vaughan, Editor
The Mancos Times-Tribune 
Serving the beautiful Mancos Valley since 1892
P.O. Box 987, Mancos, CO 81328
(970) 533-7766     (970) 565-8527
thomasv@cortezjournal.com  fax (970) 565-8532      


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