Jerry Brice

When Jerry Brice became the first female Certified Purchasing Manager in New Mexico in 1981, she was already on her fourth or fifth career, not that she was counting such things. Jerry always liked to stay busy, but more than doing an outstanding job, she enjoyed the people that she encountered along the way: Hearing their stories, learning about their lives, leaving them with a smile. She had worked in banking, run a dairy farm in Buna, Texas with her husband, moved to New Mexico with him to buy a motel in Socorro, then ran the Socorro Chamber of Commerce before moving into the male dominated world of technology purchasing for defense contractors, retiring after a combined 30 years with Dynalectron Corporation at White Sands Missile Range and BDM at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. For Jerry, it wasn't about breaking new ground or shattering glass ceilings; it was about people and her love of them. Jerry Grieg Brice, who was a modern woman before the term modern woman was ever coined, quietly passed away following a pulmonary embolism on February 7, 2014 at Lovelace Medical Center, at the age of 85. She had been undergoing tests and had just learned that she had cancer. When she heard the news, Jerry told her sons Corey and Hal and her doctor that very day that she was not interested in heroic efforts to extend her life. "I'm very happy with the way things turned out. I had 59 wonderful years with Dutch (her husband, who passed away in 2010), two great sons, grand kids and even great grand kids. It couldn't have worked out better. Couldn't have asked for more." As always, Jerry knew exactly what she wanted. Jerry also knew exactly what she liked and didn't like. She hated cooking. Dutch did all that. And she hated dessert, because she was always careful about keeping her weight down. She loved her miniature schnauzer, Ollie, an unexpected and initially unwelcome gift from her family-so much that she only would consider an assisted living facility where Ollie could come along. She also liked technology, although she didn't like to turn on her mobile phone-ever. She was a member of the Mac Users Group and was one of the first in line to pick up a new iPad 3 the day they went on sale. She was proud of the fact that every day since she had retired in 1998, she had been up early and out the door before 8:00am-to do the other things she liked: Walking with Dutch and Ollie, Line Dancing, Water Aerobics and early Mass. She made sure to schedule time with all her friends (recently excited to attend her 60th High School Reunion) and when someone shared that they were stressed or sad or confused, she always urged them to pray the prayer that she did every morning: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Jerry was a woman of action and also of deep faith. Even though she always sounded like she never left Texas, Jerry Brice also truly loved New Mexico, her home for over 50 years. She appreciated the mountains and the sunsets and although she looked forward to visiting family and friends, she would never consider moving from Albuquerque. "This is my home," is all she would say. She never tired of taking visitors to the Balloon Fiesta or Old Town, and always enjoyed it as if it was her first visit too. Jerry was born on August 30, 1928 in Port Arthur, Texas. She graduated from Jefferson High School and received a number of certifications in purchasing during her career. She is survived by her two sons, Hal Brice and his wife Joni of Orange County, California, and Corey Brice and his wife Sarah of El Paso, Texas; sisters, Shirley and Patricia and brother, Carl. Jerry loved her four granddaughters Jastyne and Jadian of Orange County, California and Kristin and Trista of El Paso, Texas as well as her two great grandsons, Devin and Deion McEllrath of El Paso. Memorial services include a Rosary at FRENCH - University Chapel, Wednesday, February 12, 2014, 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass and Burial Service will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 7999 Wyoming Ave. NE in Albuquerque on Thursday, February 13, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.