Juneal Lou Grainey

Juneal Lou Grainey left this life on Wednesday, February 26, 2020. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, and friend, an advocate for others, and a lifelong learner. Everyone who knew her was struck by her kindness, selflessness, and generosity. No matter how difficult her circumstances, she was only concerned with the happiness and welfare of those around her.

Juneal was born on June 30, 1953 in Prosser, WA. She grew up in Benton City, WA and attended Kiana-Benton High School. She earned a business degree from Eastern Washington University and moved to Portland where she met her husband, Joe. After marrying, the couple moved to Spokane, WA and then relocated to Bandelier, NM shortly before their daughter was born.

The family spent a few years in Pennsylvania and California before relocating to Rio Rancho, NM. Juneal loved New Mexico (the warmth, the desert scenes, the green chili, the balloon fiesta) and always said it is the place that felt most like home.
Juneal spent most of her working years serving as a teacher's aide in elementary school special education classrooms. She was passionate about education for both herself and others, and she never stopped taking classes on any topic she could find.

She loved volunteering with Friends of the Library, meeting her friends at Wendy's or Einstein's Bagels, watching old movies and documentaries, going to musicals, talking on the phone for hours with her daughter, attending Lobos women's basketball games and quirky events with her husband (they were regular attendees of the SPAM festival), and buying dancing stuffed animals that sang Christmas songs.

Juneal was preceded in death by her mother, Betty Fleming; and father, Don Fleming. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Grainey; her daughter, Carina (Guebum) Grainey; her brothers, Jerry (Donna) Fleming and Rod (Donna) Fleming; sister, Jerriene Vickerman; and grandson, Noah Han.

The family would like to extend their thanks to all of the wonderful support they have received since Juneal has passed.

A Memorial Service  will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., St. Francis Episcopal Church, 2903 Cabezon Road in Rio Rancho, NM 87124.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Friends of the Library are welcome. To donate, use this form Tribute­ memorial-form-lup.pdf http://www.friendsoflibrariesandliteracy.org
and send checks to P.O. Box 15143, Rio Rancho, NM 87174.