Wylla Howey

Wyla Lynn Howey May 11, 1936 - Aug. 4, 2018 Wyla was born in Lansing Michigan to Dorothy (Bannon) Cook and George Cook. When she was five years old, Wyla was adopted by Glen Sensabaugh, who raised her as his own. She graduated from High school in Carlsbad, New Mexico and she also attended College at Eastern New Mexico University. While working for Gulf Oil Company in 1958, she met her husband, Stan Howey, on a blind date at her employer's Company Picnic. They easily fell in love and were married. When Stan passed away, he still had Wyla's name tag in his lunch box that he carried to work every day from their blind date. The two had been married 35 years when Stan passed away at age 59. Wyla was the stay-at-home mom until her children were older, and then she went back to school and got her master's Degree in Education with a Minor in Childhood Development. She graduated from New Mexico State University with honors. While studying for her Master's Degree, Wyla taught second grade at Washington Elementary School. She later began teaching at Hermosa Elementary School and then was able to retire from her teaching career. Wyla was a member of Beta Sigma Phi since March 19, 1983 and achieved lifetime member status even though she had been a member at large the last several years due to health concerns. While she was active she held many offices in her local chapters as well as City Council. Wyla was voted Woman of the Year and Valentine's Sweetheart many times. Wyla was always loved and cherished by all her sorority sisters. Her sisters always loved getting her homemade gifts and crafts which included her homemade baskets and bed warmers. Wyla will always be thought of with a smile as she always made her sisters laugh and smile along with her Wyla loved to do ceramics, weave baskets, weave yarn on a loom, cross stitch, crochet, chain mail, and tole painting. Any sort of art, she wanted to learn to do and she did. She also loved to travel and go on fishing and camping trips with her friends and family. Wyla also loved to play the piano and the Violin, she also loved to sing, she was in the Church Choir as well as in the Choir at School. She sang with the Troubadours. Her music appreciation ranged from classical to rock and roll, and she handed down that love of music to her children and grandchildren. Wyla is preceded in death by her husband, Stan Howey, her father George Cook, who passed away when she was only six months old, her step-father, Glen Sensabaugh and her mother, Dorothy Sensabaugh-Sivells. She is also preceded in death by two grandchildren, Michael James Grannis and Amber Lynn Offerson, and her son-in-law, Shawn Anthony Kelly. Wyla is survived by her half-sister, Sue Ann Sensabaugh-Clayton and her husband Boyd. Her daughters Cari Lynn Howey (Grannis-Kelly), Donna Kay Howey-Offerson and her husband Monte, Deborah Ann Howey-Hughes and her husband Jay, Kathy Morrow and her husband Malcom McDermot. Her grandchildren Amanda Grannis-Smith, Rebecca Offerson-Hanson, Curtis Hughes, Kelsey Hughes-Brown and Desiree Morrow. Great grandchildren are Coriel Grannis-Ezell, Saebra Grannis, Amber Grannis, Wade Smith, Westen Smith, Trent Hanson, Troy Hanson and Layla Hughes. She has numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, August 18, 2018, at Getz Funeral Home. Inurnment will immediately follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are with Getz Funeral Home 1410 E. Bowman Ave., Las Cruces NM 88001. Please visit www.GetzCares.com to sign the local online guest book. Service Information

Getz Funeral Home Chapel

1410 E. Bowman Ave
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001






Interment Location

Hillcrest Memorial Gardens

5140 W. Picacho Ave.
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88007