Jeanette Louise Irby

Obituary - Jeanette Louise Irby Jan passed peacefully on September 9th at home with her family. Jan was born on November 23, 1935 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and her family moved to Albuquerque, NM when she was a year old. She lived a number of years in Oregon returning to Albuquerque and Grants New Mexico. Jan is survived by her daughters, Susan Gonzales and husband Pete, of Portland Oregon, Sharon Pruitt and husband Richard of Rio Rancho, NM , and Son Bill Irby Jr. and wife Donella of Los Lunas, NM; four Grandchildren and seven Great Grand children. Jan is also survived by her two sisters Virginia Arthurs of Paso Robles, CA and Geneva McDougall of Albuquerque, NM. She was preceded in death by her parents Gorden and Lucille Pruitt, and her husband Bill Irby, and two brothers Gary and Richard Pruitt. BIO Jeanette Louise Pruitt was born on November 23, 1935 in Oklahoma City Ok to Gorden and Lucille Pruitt and died September 9, 2013 in Rio Rancho, NM. Jeanette’s family nicknamed her Jan and was known by Jan to everyone. She went to school in Albuquerque, NM at Albuquerque High School. She liked to play basketball in school and worked in her Mother’s restaurant on Isleta Blvd as a waitress. Jan loved bike riding and spent many summers with her friend Carolyn Procter riding their bikes in the South Valley through orchards now known as Adobe Acres. She met her husband Bill through his sister Lemeta. They dated for three years and married Bill Irby on November 27, 1952. Bill was in the military and came home on leave for Thanksgiving and they decided to get married before he shipped out to Korea. After Bill returned from Korea, they had three children Susan, Sharon and Bill Jr. (nicknamed Butchie). Jan and Bill lived in Albuquerque, NM until 1963 and then they moved to Sacramento, CA. They moved from Sacramento to Oregon in 1967. In 1977, they retuned to Albuquerque to take care of Bill’s parents who were in poor health. Jan became the family traveling nurse and took care of everyone including her Mother who died from Alzhemeizers. Jan had the patience of Job, good humored, and was the most kindhearted person you could ever meet. Jan was an excellent cook and enjoyed sewing, crocheting and embroidering. She loved taking care of children and did child care with her friend Virginia Dixon in their mid years. After her husband Bill past away, Jan spent her time traveling between Oregon and New Mexico living and visiting with her family. She even spent some time living in Florida caring for a friend and also enjoyed living in Grants with her friend Virginia Dixon. Jan will be missed by many. She was very sick the last four years of her life and now has found peace in heaven and suffering no more. The angels in heaven welcomed her home.

Jeanette Louise Irby

November 23, 1935 - September 9, 2013