Former Tucumcari resident, Emma Jane Strong, died peacefully on October 18, 2017, in Alamogordo, New Mexico, with family at her side.
Emma Jane Randolph was born on January 30, 1923, to R.P. & Madge (Allred) Randolph, pioneer Harding County ranchers, in Rosebud, NM. The Randolph's had homesteaded in the area since 1918. She had one brother, Porter Randolph, who was 12 years older. Jane often said that "she was country when country wasn't cool." The Randolph's moved to Mosquero when Jane was 13. After having been in the one room school at Rosebud, she now was at a larger school with more friends, instead of just family friends.
Her father continued ranching in the area and also had the gas station in Mosquero. Jane was out-going & out-spoken & had a wonderful zeal for life. Her family had many friends in that area, where everyone worked hard & played hard. The community dances on the weekends entertained them and their church on Sunday is where they gathered to hear God's word. "Love thy neighbor as thy self" is how they lived their daily lives! They enjoyed going to Cimarron Canyon & on to Eagle Nest Lake for fish fries. The town of Roy, NM., was just 22 miles north of Mosquero, and she became friends with the Roy school kids. The dance hall at Regonies was a favorite place to gather to dance. That is where she met her future husband Robert Strong. They married April 21, 1940 in Springer, NM. They lived in Roy where they ran the Soda Fountain & the movie theater & Robert drove a school bus. Their first born son, Robert Porter, was born in July 1942. In 1943 her husband had been hired by the Southern Pacific Railroad in Tucumcari. Shortly thereafter he was drafted into the US Army. Robert was then called to serve his country, in the US Army, in Europe, in WWII. Jane & her son moved back to Mosquero with her parents for the two years that Robert was serving in WWII. Jane got a job at the Harding County Clerk's Office. When Robert returned home after the war, they moved to Tucumcari and he then began his career with the Southern Pacific Railroad. Their daughter, Tommie Jane, was born in May, 1948. The family made their home there for 24 years.
Jane was a wonderful wife, mother, homemaker, decorator, seamstress, cook, & friend to all. The family were members of the Center Street United Methodist Church. There she & the other Methodist Women prepared enchiladas every Wednesday. She & Robert attended all the sporting events their children participated in, hosted many parties, and were busy with her children's school activities. Jane was a seamstress & she kept busy sewing for her daughter, making many cheerleading costumes, skating costumes and curtains for their home. She was a Brownie & Girl Scout leader, and she sponsored the cheerleaders to Albuquerque for Cheerleading clinics. She also had a job at Turner's department store. When the Holiday Inn was built in Tucumcari in the early 60's, they approached her to work for them as their Head Housekeeper, her reputation for her own clean home got her the job! Jane enjoyed playing Bridge and belonged to a sewing club, called 'the sew & sews!'
The seven grandchildren, twenty two great grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren loved her dearly. She was the most generous & loving "Grandmother!"
The Bible scripture says in Proverbs 31:28 Her children (& grandchildren) call her Blessed! "Grandmother" was just another word for "LOVE!" Her home & her heart were always open to host them! Family meant everything to Jane. One of her Godly gifts was cooking. She never missed preparing a delicious and beautiful Thanksgiving meal for the whole family. Christmas meant home-made decorations, outside and inside the home. She was known for her beautiful and creative Christmas trees. The entire family gathered to exchange gifts and love and to eat another wonderful meal. Before leaving Tucumcari she held a Family Reunion at her home, complete with a chuck wagon. It was a joyous event for the entire family to gather & reminisce.
The Southern Pacific RR took Jane & Robert to El Paso in the early 70's. They enjoyed the change of living in a bigger city and meeting so many wonderful friends there. They loved their new Church homes. They called Canutillo their home until they moved back to Tucumcari, after Robert retired.
Jane lost her husband in 1994. She continued to live in the family home in Tucumcari. She enjoyed taking trips with family & friends & began making quilts. In 2013 she became a resident of Quail Ridge Assisted Living. She moved to Alamogordo to live at Betty Dare and to be closer to her daughter. This was her place of residency until her death.
Jane is survived by her son Robert Porter, and his wife Gay, daughter Tommie Jane, and her husband Bob, and her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and other members of her extended family.
The Pall Bearers are Robert Stanley Strong, Steven Randolph Strong, David Andrew Strong, Robert Marvin Doughty, III, Randolph Matthew Doughty, Robert Christopher Parrish and Ryan Cole Parrish.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Center Street United Methodist Church, Tucumcari, NM.
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Published in Alamogordo Daily News from Oct. 29 to Nov. 28, 2017
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