Nancy Garrett

Nancy Garrett passed away at Good Samaritan Health Center on September 15, 2008. She was born in Newark NJ in 1923 as Helen Nancy Swanson, the daughter of Frank and Lylah Swanson. She was raised in Fanwood and Scotch Plains, NJ.
Nancy contracted polio as a young child. Although the virus left her with lifelong physical challenges, it did not diminish Nancy's indomitable spirit. Nancy invested tremendous energy and stamina into everything she did.
After graduating from Scotch Plains high school, Nancy took a train to Silver City, NM where she enrolled in New Mexico Western Teachers' College. Soon after arriving, she met Edgar Garrett. Edgar was not the cowboy Nancy thought she was seeking, but he was certainly her life's love. Nancy and Edgar were married in 1943, during his service with the Army Air Corps. In the next several years, Nancy accompanied Edgar as he completed his tenure in the Service, pursued graduate education, and began his professional life. They lived in New Hampshire, North Carolina and Denver, before permanently settling in Las Cruces in 1952.
Nancy completed a Bachelors degree in English and a Masters degree in Education from New Mexico State University, while raising four children. She began teaching for the Las Cruces Public Schools in 1960. Nancy was one of the first Special Education teachers in the city and also taught first grade for many years. She taught at Central, MacArthur and University Hills schools. She was also a Head Start teacher at Booker T. Washington school when that program began in Las Cruces. "Mrs. Garrett" loved to teach. She especially enjoyed sharing her love of language with young students. She was interested in thoroughly understanding all of the children she taught, in order to support each of them educationally and emotionally.
From an early age Nancy enjoyed the beauty of patterns and colors.
She effectively used her artistic eye and technical skills in her roles as homemaker and teacher. It was important to her to create beautiful spaces. Whether she was decorating a room, designing a bulletin board, or working on a craft project, Nancy's creativity was always apparent.
Nancy loved textiles; as a child she marveled at the array of fabrics displayed in the garment district in New York City. During the mid-1960s, she began to weave and quickly mastered this craft. Her woven wall-hangings, garments and pillow tops, tagged with her "Wicked Warp" label, were displayed in numerous crafts fairs, and in shops in Las Cruces and Santa Fe.
Nancy also translated her passion for color and form into flower arranging, and more recently, into creating collages. Nancy was chosen as the Las Cruces's Senior Artist in July 2007 for her collage work.
Nancy participated in and supported many aspects of the Las Cruces and NMSU communities. She and Edgar generously welcomed friends, colleagues and students to their home on countless occasions. Together they greatly enjoyed their membership in the Iris Society. For many years, Nancy was an active member of Desert Daubers and other gardening clubs.
Nancy was a lifelong learner. She was forever curious and enthusiastically interested in people. Nancy loved to travel, to directly experience the sight and sound of new places. She enjoyed reading and puzzles, and hated losing at Scrabble. Nancy's greatest love was her family. She was devoted to Edgar for 62 years, and by his side when he died in 2005. She supported her children and grandchildren in all their endeavors and was happiest when surrounded by them.
For the past eight and a half months of her life, Nancy resided at the Health Center of Good Samaritan Village. She received excellent and loving care from the compassionate and professional staff, for which she, and her family have been deeply appreciative.
Nancy is survived by her children: Billy (Cynthia) of Staten Island, NY; Martha (Claes Granqvist) of Uppsala, Sweden; John of Albuquerque, and Margaret (Jim Locatelli) of Las Cruces. She is also survived by two grandchildren: Daniel Granqvist and Emma Locatelli.
At her request, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: The Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Dr, Ste 100, Arlington, VA 22203) or the Edgar R. Garrett Speech and Hearing Center Fund c/o NMSU Foundation, PO Box 3590, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88003.