Lora Lexia Anderson Christensen, 99

Our loving mother, Lora Lexia Anderson Christensen died March 22, 2017, just two weeks from her 100th birthday.

She was born April 16, 1917 in Manassa, Colorado. Her parents were Thomas Jackson Anderson and Lola Maybell Bagwell. She was the fourth child. She had two older brothers, Vernal Jackson, Marvin Carl, and a sister Zelda Ovia Wilson. She had one younger sister, Arleen Myrtle Nations. All who are deceased. Lora was the last one to pass away. When she was a year old, she moved to Franklin, Arizona, where her father farmed.  She lived in Arizona until she was in the 5th grade. Then the family moved back to Manassa, Colorado to help take care of her grandmother who was crippled with rheumatism, whose husband had recently died and her mother had to take care of her. Lora really loved her grandmother, with whom she spent many hours. Lora became ill when she was 17 years old and her parents took her back to Arizona to live with her sister Zelda to see if she couldn’t get better.  She moved back to Manassa after her Junior year of school.

She met Edward Martin Christensen before she went to Arizona and had been writing to him. When she came back from Arizona, they were married July 2, 1935.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Arizona temple in 1955. They had five Children. Martin (Barbara) Christensen, Colleen, (John) Binder, Willie (Norma) Christensen, Cleann (Bill) Brost, Tommy (Ardella) Christensen. They lived in Manassa, Colorado, and Arizona wherever they could find work.  Mother said that she had moved 17 times during her married life.  

When her husband Edward was 52 years old, he developed a blood clot after an operation and died in Denver, Colorado. Martin and Colleen had left home and were married, and Willie was on a Mission for the LDS church in Brazil. Cleann and Tommy were the only one’s home at the time. It was a difficult time for all of the family. Willie remained on his mission.  

Lora began working as a cook for the La Jara Elementary school, and later for the Centauri High school. She retired after 25 years. She lived in her home until she was 93, but because of health reasons she couldn’t stay home any longer and lived in the Rio Grande Nursing home until her death.
She was an active member of the LDS church and held many positions, such as Relief Society President, and a leader of the single Adult organization, and many others.  

She is survived by all five of her children, 22 grandchildren, and many great grandchildren and great, great, grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her brothers and sisters.  She was the last surviving member of her and her husband’s family. She will be remembered as a very kind, loving and humorous person, always coming up with the funniest things to say. She will be missed by so many.  

Funeral services will be March 31st, at ll:00 am in the La Jara LDS church. Family and friends are invited to attend a viewing from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the services. Burial will be in the Manassa Cemetery.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Rio Grande Nursing home for providing such wonderful care for our mother.