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OBITUARY

Joan Marion (Raitt) Rawson

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Joan Marion (Raitt) Rawson left her earthly body Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. Joan was the eldest child of George and Virginia Raitt, in Irvington, New Jersey, on April 17, 1935. At the young age of 16, Joan met a charming soldier, Barney Rawson, rooming nearby. They married as soon as she completed 10th grade and he finished his stint with the Army, and they moved to the booming town of Albuquerque in the Wild West.

Joan managed to finish her high school diploma via correspondence courses while starting their family and learning to cope in rustic conditions. That determination is what kept them going while chasing painting jobs around New Mexico, helping Barney's mother with her restaurants around the state, building homes and commercial buildings in Las Cruces, flying a small plane so they could visit relatives in New Jersey in a shorter time, building the first storage units in town, keeping the books for all their businesses, sewing the drapes for all their rental units, being a licensed realtor, all while being involved with her children's Scouting and canoeing pursuits.

And there were all the model airplanes, antique cars and races, RollBack trailers, river cruises, and she even played the organ and quilted! Somehow, she still loved to host her grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they came along and attend their piano recitals and ball games. Joan was involved with her large family and her business, even up through the last day, so her absence is deeply felt.

Joan is predeceased by her husband, Barney, and his brother, Leonard Lane, and sister, LouEllen, as well as her brother, George. She is survived by her large Las Cruces family: son George and his wife Yvonne, son Lee and his wife Moira, and their children, Nicole, Ben, Simon, Philip, Morgan and Caleb, and their 18 grandchildren, as well as other family members and friends all over the United States.

A memorial service will be held Friday, March 5, at First Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Boutz Road at 10 a.m. The service will be live streamed for those who may not be able to attend. Internment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Even though Joan had not been able to attend church for several years, she lived her life to help people and churches thrive, so in lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to First Presbyterian Church, noting for Youth Ministries.

Joan Marion

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