Eliza (Hamilton) Heinsen

Eliza Heinsen has changed addresses, she has gone to be with our Lord in Heaven. She passed away on May 24, 2020 due to complications from a fall.

Eliza was born on August 23, 1920 to John and Mallie Hamilton in Frew, Kentucky.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Heinsen; parents, John and Mallie Hamilton; siblings, May, Carl, Mollie, Dan, Will, Anne, Jim, Howard, Harriet, Bob, and Clifford; Son, Marvin; Daughters, Joy and Jill; Granddaughter, Amanda; Nephew, Donnie; and 3 nieces, Susan, Annie and Ruth as well as countless friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Ginger Trujillo (Johnny); and her son, Larry Heinsen (Jenette). She was able to watch her 9 grandchildren grow up to adults: Marie, Amanda (Joey), Howie, Kenneth (Eve), Kelly (Cody), Michelle (Noah), Tisha (Patrick), Robbie, and Jeff (Kara). She enjoyed 11 great-grandchildren: Janet, Tasha and Bella, Hannah, Westley and Wyatt, Aiden and Madysen, and Alex, Jenna and Mallory.

In 1945, she moved to Flagstaff, Arizona and met and married Harold Heinsen. Harold gave her the nickname “Sally” and she went by that name for the rest of her life. In Kentucky though, she was still “Eliza.”

In 1946, she and Harold moved to Harold’s home town of Hettinger, North Dakota. They lived on the ranch with Harold’s brother, “Happy” and had 5 children there. In 1958, because of Harold’s health concerns, the family moved to New Mexico and Harold worked as a rancher at the Alamo in the winters and the Valle Grande in the summers. After 18 wonderful years together with Sally, Harold passed away in 1962. Sally and her 5 kids moved to Jemez Springs where she got a job at the ranger station and worked there until retiring in 1985. She then moved to Albuquerque where she lived alone until age 97 before moving in with Ginger & Johnny in Placitas, NM.

She was an amazingly wonderful, generous, forgiving and honest person. Lots of people say they have never heard her say an unkind word about anyone. She was strong and independent and never wanted to be a burden. She was always more concerned with others than herself. She was a loyal member of Jemez Springs Presbyterian Church. She served as treasurer and elder back in the 60's.

Her favorite pastimes were reading her Bible, crocheting dishcloths, and writing personal notes and greeting cards to the people that she loved. She loved to get out and walk on the back patio where she would sit on the swing and would enjoy the birds, bunnies, squirrels and chipmunks. She loved to bake cinnamon rolls, carrot cakes, cookies and pies. She loved traveling and was blessed to make many trips in her lifetime to England, Alaska, Hawaii and most of the United States.

She saw many changes in her almost 100 years of life. She lived life to the fullest and enjoyed everything and everyone. Thank God that she was healthy with a strong body, mind, and soul. Up until her last days, she was still able to enjoy beautiful drives to Jemez and playing cards. She loved watching the great grandkids play sports, even throwing the ball and batting with Mallory.

Her celebration of life event is tentatively being planned for August 23, 2020, which would have been her 100th birthday. We will be spreading the word once we have all of the details.