Graveside services for Mildred JoAnn Bownds, 79, currently of Portales, will be held in Tucumcari, NM at a later time.
Mildred JoAnn Bownds was born to Ada Elizabeth Turnbeaugh on February 14th, 1938 in Tucumcari, NM, passed from this life at her home, surrounded by her family on May 6, 2017. She attended school in Tucumcari, NM until her senior year when she moved to Amarillo, TX. JoAnn graduated from Palo Duro High School in May of 1957.
She returned to Amarillo, TX in 1966 where she met Jim Bownds. They were married October 26, 1967. JoAnn and Jim Bownds moved to Portales, NM four years ago. Prior or moving to Portales, she was a long time resident of Phoenix, AZ where she was a school bus driver for many years.
JoAnn loved her family, visiting with her grandchildren, debating politics, watching daytime soap operas, and rooting for her Dallas Cowboys.
She is survived by her husband Jim Bownds of Portales, NM; their sons Mark Franken and his wife Mary Franken of Portales, NM; and Brian Bownds and his girlfriend Pollysue Ferris of Hartland, WI; grandchildren Leland Cook and his family of Albuquerque, NM; Kristin Weems and her family of Portales, NM; Shawn Franken of Albuquerque, NM; Ashley Glodek and her family of Phoenix, AZ; Krista Bownds of Phoenix, AZ; and their mother Jackie Brauer of Phoenix, AZ; and Nathan and Robin Ferris of Hartland, WI. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Andrea, Breanna, Markus, Landon, Dexter, and Carter along with many nieces and nephews.
JoAnn is preceded in death by her mother Ada Elizabeth Turnbeaugh, her brothers Floyd McKinney and Bob Turnbeaugh, and her sisters Val Hodges and Dorthea Mitchell.