Marilyn "Jeannie" Archuleta

No poinsettias please. You could almost see her waving her hand in the air and shaking her head in disgust at the mere thought of the poisonous plant. She probably said it in her country twang.

Our Marilyn “Jeannie” Archuleta passed away Tuesday, February 20, 2024. She was 78.

And in her pre-planned funeral arrangements, she specifically says: No poinsettias. They just weren’t her style. Instead, she preferred purple mountain star-lilies or yellow roses, or any other bright, beautiful flower, for that matter. She was a woman who knew what she wanted.

Grandma Jeannie wasn’t only a doting grandma. She was a proud mom, a loving sister and a loyal friend to many. She loved classic country, church, a good card game, sewing, dancing to Johnny Bush and penny-machines at the casino. 

However, gardening was at the top of the list of her favorite things. She created and maintained thriving flower beds at every home she ever owned. She aimed to nurture everything and everyone around her. Almost all of us have our own custom blankets with Jeannie’s precious love sewn in.

But Jeannie wasn’t some frilly country princess. She was a wise financial planner with goals, ambitions and dreams. She was born in Eureka, California and eventually moved to Rogers, Arkansas, where she attended high school. At 18, she moved to Albuquerque, where she got married and had two loving sons, Johnny Atencio (Sonya) and Joe Atencio (Aubrey). She raised Johnny and Joe on her own for most of their lives. As a single mom, she worked full time, saved money and eventually owned several properties. She spent most of her career at Honeywell, where she was a supervisor, but was also a master seamstress at Pioneer Wear. 

On top of all this, Jeannie is a cancer survivor. She courageously battled and beat cell cancer in the early 2000s. 

She loved being at home. It was a bustling place and she was boss. She kept Johnny and Joe busy with household projects every day of the week. Later, she became grandma to Tiffany Atencio, Brittany Atencio, Johnny Atencio, Jr., Harlow Hovey and great-grandma to Luna Atencio. She is survived by her brother, Vol Stover, and is preceded in death by her sisters, Roberta James and Barbara Short. 

Jeannie’s laugh was contagious and unforgettable. She was the brightest presence – much like the flowers and gardens she adored. 

When all was said and done, Johnny and Joe dimmed the lights in her room, sat on either side of her and each held one of her hands. That was her final moment with us.

A visitation will be held Friday, March 1, 2024 at 1 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. – both at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE in Albuquerque. A graveside service will be held Monday, March 4, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Sunset Memorial Park.