Jettie A. Sullenger

Jettie A. Sullenger passed away at her home in Mountainair, New Mexico on November 24, 2012. She was 92 years old. Jettie was born on August 8, 1920 in Hillsboro, New Mexico to Bundy and Theresa (West) Avant and was welcomed by her older sister, Velma. Jettie spent the majority of her life in New Mexico and lived in many communities throughout the state. Most of her childhood was spent on her grandparents’ family ranch in Alto, NM. After graduating from Capitan High School, Jettie moved to Reserve, NM where she began her career working for the Health and Human Services Department and married her first husband, Oral Tinney. Together they had two children, Jean Ornett Tinney and Eddie B. Tinney. In 1960, Jettie moved to Belen, NM for a short time before moving to Estancia, NM where she took charge of the Health and Human Services Department for Torrance County. Shortly after moving to Estancia, she met and married Hugh R Sullenger and together they moved to the ranch at Mountainair where they had a daughter, Sharyl. Jettie worked for the Health and Human Services department for over 35 years until her retirement in 1980. She helped many families through difficult times and was always happy when they stopped to greet her with “Hello, Mrs. Sullenger.” Jettie loved the outdoors it showed through her collections of pieces of driftwood, rocks, birds and horse figurines that decorated her home. She spent much of her youth riding her horse through the Sierra Blancas or camping and fishing with her husbands. She also loved her house plants and had as many as 200 to tend through the long, cold winters. Her flowerbeds and her yard were her pride and joy as were her kids and grandkids. Jettie was a published writer with articles appearing in New Mexico magazine. In Reserve she worked for the local Conservation District which started a newspaper in the early 1940’s. She contributed her “Passing Thoughts” each week to the publication and published a collection of her poetry in the mid 80’s. She also spent countless hours with her father traveling all over the state. As they rode around, Bundy would say, “I remember when-” Mom would stop him, “Wait, Dad, let me turn on the recorder.” Jettie managed to capture hundreds of stories about her Dad’s early life. She transcribed the stories and self-published his stories in a manuscript entitled, “ These Hands”. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bundy and Theresa Mae Avant, her sister Velma Trout, daughter Jean Jones and grandson Travis Jones. She is survived by her son, Eddie Tinney and daughter Sharyl (Sullenger) Stockstill and husband Jerry Stockstill, all of Mountainair. She is also survived by a niece, Bundimae McElroy of Albuquerque, five grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the congregation of the 1st Baptist Church of Mountainair. The family also wishes to express their appreciation to Vista Care Hospice Services for their outstanding care of her during her final years. Jettie’s wish was to die at her home in Mountainair. Her final wish was fulfilled due to the unselfish, dedicated and loving care of her son Eddie and her granddaughter Jennifer. There will be a viewing on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00PM at Harris-Hanlon Mortuary in Mountainair. The Funeral Service will be on Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 10:00AM at First Baptist Church in Mountainair. Pallbearers will be Mike Padilla, Mitch McKinley, Oscar Medders, John Ayers, Duane Watts, and Johnny Paez. Honorary Pallbearers will be her grandchildren. Burial will follow the service at the Mountainair Cemetery in Mountainair, NM.