Juanita Mae McCoach

Juanita Mae McCoach of Rio Rancho, N.M., passed away at home Sunday, March 1, 2020, at the age of 83.

She and her husband, Gerald, had been enjoying their 65th year of marriage. He was with her, holding her hand, when she passed.

She had been suffering from a variety of health issues, but her death was sudden and unexpected.

Born June 19, 1936, in Osawatomie, Kan., she was the youngest of five children born to Frank Anderson Johnson and the former Marie Evelyn Womble. Raised in the farm country of southeastern Kansas, she graduated from Fontana High School and then married her sweetheart Gerald LaVerne McCoach on Dec. 26, 1954 in Osawatomie.

They lived in Norfolk, Va., for two years while Gerald completed his service with the U.S. Navy, then lived in Kansas City, Kan.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Altus, Okla.; before settling in Albuquerque, N.M., in 1963 when Gerald began his long career at Sandia National Laboratories.

An avid reader, Juanita was the original owner/operator of the Menaul Book Exchange in Albuquerque, which began life in 1975 as the Eubank Paperback Book Exchange before moving to its current location and changing names. Juanita and Gerald sold the business after 12 years and a couple of years later embarked upon the retirement of their dreams, circling the country as full-time RVers in a 40-foot fifth-wheel trailer.

In their 13 years of travel, they visited each of the 50 states and parts of Canada and Mexico.

Once off the road, they lived in Mesa, Ariz., for a number of years before returning to New Mexico two years ago.

Juanita will be remembered for her wonderful sense of humor and frequent laughter. While working at the bookstore, she treated her customers like friends, and many of them kept in regular contact years after Juanita had retired. She had a quick wit, and her ability to chat - either in person or on the phone - was unmatched.

Her favorite subject for chatting was the exploits and accomplishments of her dear granddaughters. She was enormously proud of Emily's expertise at guitar playing, and she had a private book club with Isabella, reading Alan Bradley books.

She also had a keen interest in politics and was not shy about expressing her opinions.

She finally married off her son in 2018 and eagerly accepted her new daughter-in-law into the family, jokingly saying, "If you ever get divorced, I'm keeping her, not you."

She is survived by her husband, Gerald; son Randall McCoach and his wife Kelley Yaccino of Albuquerque, N.M.; daughter Kelly Colucci and her husband Daniel Colucci of Gray, Maine; and two absolutely cherished granddaughters, Emily Colucci of Lewiston, Maine, and Isabella Colucci of Gray, Maine.

Remarkably, she is also survived by three of her four older siblings: sister Frances Fields of Sterling, Ill.; sister Esther Ringey of Springfield, Mo.; and brother Frank Johnson Jr. of Olathe, Colo.

She was preceded in death by her brother Elmer Johnson.

At her request, there will be no funeral or memorial service, but friends and family members are encouraged to leave notes of remembrance here on the French site.