Montezuma County CO Archives Obituaries.....Wagner, Abbie Jane January 12, 2001 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tom Vaughn wr@fone.net February 3, 2001 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 File located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/montezuma/obits/w/wagner-abbie-j.txt