Grayson Trussell

Grayson Lee Trussell passed from this life on April 22, 2024. He was born in Albuquerque, NM on January 15th, 1941, to Travis Laynoit Trussell and Enid Wells Trussell.

Lee is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jotina Elizabeth Huxford Trussell. "She was truly the wind in the sail of our ship." Lee is survived by his daughter Heather R. Elizabeth Fowler, husband Alan Fowler and grandchildren McKenzie and husband Aaron D'Souza and Collin Fowler. Lee's son, Collin Lee Trussell, and brother Larry Trussell, preceded him in death. Lee is also survived by Larry's son Travis and wife Brandy and family and Lee's younger brother Fred, wife Pat Trussell and family. He and Jotina also cherished and loved an extended family; Scott Kidner and Christina Ong, Lori and Mark Hurley, Tom Bailey.

Lee attended Albuquerque Public Schools. He was Senior Class President at Highland High School, attended Boys State, played football and lettered in track and field. He was the NM State pole vaulting champion his senior year and named to the HHS All-Time Athletes Hall of Fame. In 1959 he attended the University of New Mexico where he was a four-year letterman in track and field, named King of Hearts his junior year, and recognized in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities in his senior year. He was President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, earned his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in 1963. Later he earned his Master of Business Administration Degree from the Robert O Anderson School of Management graduating summa cum laude. In 2016 he was inducted into the UNM Anderson School of Management Hall of Fame.

After college Lee served his nation in the United States Navy. His active duty included two tours in Vietnam on the destroyer Arnold J. Isbell. As a junior officer he was surface warfare qualified as navigator, combat information officer, operations officer/combat evaluator, officer of the deck underway-fleet operations, and Command Duty Officer in port. He was later recalled to active duty to implement an extensive training program for the Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region 11 and to Korea during a rise in tensions in 1993. Lee served 5 years active duty and 25 years in the Ready Reserve achieving the rank of Captain USN. Among service ribbons and operations medals he received a United States Seventh Fleet Citation for combat operations against the enemy in Vietnam and was awarded four Navy Meritorious Medals.

Upon return from active-duty Lee joined Denham and Company, CPA firm practicing all areas of public accounting. In 1972 he joined Jaynes Corporation as a shareholder and secretary/treasurer. In 1978 he joined Bohannon Huston Inc as a shareholder and Chief Financial officer. In 1984 he joined with Charles Johnson in founding The Johnson Trussell Company, a management consulting firm to public and private organizations and native American Tribes. In 1996 he joined Howard Energy International,

subsequently The Energy and Technology Company Ltd as a Senior Vice President doing international energy development in Eurasia and Turkey. Upon returning to the United States Business Community in 2002, he joined Technology Ventures Corporation as Director of Entrepreneurial Training. At his death he was Founder/Chairman of the Center for Applied Entrepreneurial Studies where he authored a three hundred page text, "Entering the Entrepreneurial World" He was Founding Director and President of Veteran's Support and Advocacy Group, Board of Directors of the Guadalupe Institute-Western Hemisphere Center, and Board of Directors of Sandia Science and Technology Development Park Corporation.

Lee's years of community service involvement include Chairman of the Albuquerque Business Education Compact, Vice Chairman of the Albuquerque Development Commission, Kirtland Partnership Committee, President of the Breast Cancer Resource Center, Governor's Business Executives for Education, Vice Chairman of the St Joseph Healthcare System, Chairman of Sunrise Assisted living of Albuquerque, Chairman of St Joseph's Gardens, Inc, Board of Directors of Hospital Home Health Care joint venture between Presbyterian Healthcare and St Joseph Healthcare System, Board of Directors of Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation, Vice Chairman and Treasurer for the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, President of the UNM Alumni Letterman's Association, The Executive Association of Greater Albuquerque, and President of the Rio Grande Council the State of New Mexico Navy League.

In addition to his cherished family and many friends, Lee liked to say that he had the very best of three lives: his professional business experience, his community service involvement, and his distinguished military career.

Services will be held at 2pm, Friday, May 10 at Sandia Presbyterian Church. Lee will be interred at the United States National Cemetery in Santa Fe Monday, May 13, at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the non profit of your choice or:

Azmera Haven Retreats (Azmera.net)

Casa Angelica

New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation

University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management

University of New Mexico Athletic Department

Please visit our online guestbook for Grayson at www.FrenchFunerals.com.

FRENCH - Wyoming

7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE

505.823.9400

www.FrenchFunerals.com