Loretta Jean Tyrrell

Obituary Loretta Jean (Jeanie) Hayes-Tyrrell was born July 14th, 1943 in Carlsbad New Mexico at St. Francis Hospital to Rufus and Madeline Hayes and passed peacefully at home with friends and family on August 1st, 2018. Loretta began life in Carlsbad in quite a typical fashion of the 1940's however, when she was about 3 years of age her lips and fingers began to turn blue. The condition was known as "Blue Baby Syndrome" due to a valve in her heart not working properly. The doctor's prescribed bed rest for the remainder of her life to minimize stress on her heart with her life expectancy to be only a few more years at best. After a few years of bed rest and growing ever more interested in the world outside, Loretta's parents decided it was time for her to become part of the world regardless of the consequences. Shortly thereafter, Loretta was to be one of the first child open heart surgery patients to undergo valve replacement. This was the first of many life hurdles Loretta overcame in her 75 years with us. She met the love of her life Terry Tyrrell, in high school in Carlsbad and married the day following graduation June 3rd, 1961. Loretta and Terry lived in Carlsbad, Kermit, Wagon Mound New Mexico and a short while in Wenatchee Washington. The couple has two children, Gena Ingram that resides in Carlsbad and Terry Wayne Tyrrell who lives in Golden Colorado. Loretta loved God, life, her family and friends with no limits of compassion and generosity. Loretta is preceded in death by her grandmother Velma Kasawitch, father Rufus, mother Madeline, Sister Geraldine Stinson, and granddaughter Aveah Ingram. She is survived by her sister and her husband Doris and Lanny Kidd, daughter and her husband Gena and Wayne Ingram, her son and his wife Terry and LeeAnn Tyrrell with a combined total of 8 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Loretta loved reading, playing games, traveling and spending time with her very close extended family and friends Mary Lou Alexander, Barbara Tagert, Terry Thompson, Ruby Burkham, JW Sutphin, Fern Rangle and Angie Lopez and many more. Most of her career revolved around helping people. She worked as an Administrator in various roles throughout her career including management, accounting, human resources and mentoring. Her time at Eddy County Community Action Corporation as the Project Director for Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs was a highlight of her service to the community. Throughout her professional life she was heavily involved with board positions with Altrusa, American Business Women, LVA Literacy of Carlsbad, Carlsbad Head Start Health Services, NM Association of Senior Service Corp and Eddy County Senior Olympic, Eddy County CASA and Eddy County Safe House. She was awarded the American Business Women Women of the Year award in 1985 and the Outstanding Foster Grandparent Director of the Year of 1989. Loretta's celebration of life will be held at Denton-Wood Chapel (1001 North Canal Street, Carlsbad, NM) on August 4th, 2018 and will be interned at Sunset Gardens Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com Loretta's favorite charity was the Carlsbad Literacy Program. If you would like to donate in her name you may send a check or money order to P.O. Box 3112, Carlsbad NM 88220. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Loretta Jean Tyrrell, please visit our floral store.