La Jara resident Paula Rae Hensley, 75, passed away at the Conejos County Hospital in La Jara on September 21, 2017.
Paula’s life began on June 21, 1942 in Alamosa, the proud daughter of Melvin Paul Jefferson
and Hilda Cornum Jefferson. She married Gary Quiller in May 1962, into their union was
brought their daughter Crystal but after being married for three years they divorced. Paula
married Glenn Hensley on August 24, 1972 and they enjoyed 36 years until his death in 2008.
Paula worked in the kitchen at the Alamosa community hospital for many years. She worked
at the Romeo school as a teacher’s assistant as well as the secretary at CAL Gas. She also
worked several years in the gift shop at the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad. She was a very good
piano player and could be found standing at the piano pounding out a tune, in her younger
years she even wrote a song. Paula loved her grandchildren and cherished the time spent
with them over the years. In her spare time, she enjoyed sewing, making jewelry, working in
her yard or fishing in the mountains.
Paula is survived by her daughter Crystal (Chris) Otteson of Sanford, CO; her step-sons Ron
(Mandy) Hensley and Bruce (Kathy) Hensley; her grandchildren Wendy Heminger, Brody
(Chantel) Otteson and Jason (Quincee) Otteson, William Hensley, Matthew Hensley, Laramie
(Heather) Hensley, Shawn (Kelcee) Hensley; nine great-grandchildren; and a host of friends
and extended family.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her great-grandson Peyton Loch, her
sister Wanda Harris and her brother Quinten Jefferson.
Her family will greet friends and family at a visitation Tuesday, September 26th from 6:30-8:00
p.m. at the Rogers Family Mortuary in Manassa and on Wednesday, September 27th from
10:00-10:45 a.m. in the Relief Society Room at the La Jara Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
day Saints. Following the visitation will be the Funeral Service 11:00 a.m. at the La Lara First
Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Interment will take place in the
Sanford Cemetery.
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