Extracted from The Chaffee County Times (Buena Vista, CO)
Sally Jo Kaiser
Sally Jo Kaiser went to be with her Lord on Feb. 4, 2015, in her home at Sagewood Ranch. She had been ill for quite some time but had been able to be in the presence of her entire family and many friends for quite a few months. They had blessed her with a lot of music, fellowship and prayers.
Sally Jo was born in Midland, Texas on Nov. 25, 1925, to Herbert David and Anna Mae Carlock. Her family (with sister Harriet) cattle-ranched from Texas, Arizona and then settled on the Flag Ranch, 60 miles outside of Tucumcari, N.M.
Sally boarded in town during the week while she went to high school, excelled as a student and was a cheerleader, and went back to the ranch on weekends.
After she graduated high school, she attended Texas Woman's College in Denton, Texas for 2 years and then transferred to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where she majored in art.
Sally met Louis Dale Kaiser in the fall of 1946 at the university and they were married Feb. 14, 1947. They would have been celebrating 68 years this year.
Dale taught and with Sally lived in Lubbock, Texas at Texas Tech 1950-1951 and spent summers at the ranch in New Mexico.
They lived at Flag ranch in 1951-1952 before moving to Colorado Springs, where they lived for 4 years. They moved to Buena Vista in 1956, started working for Young Life in 1957 and moved to Sagewood Ranch in 1962.
Sally Jo started her family of five in New Mexico and had her last child in the first winter at Sagewood Ranch.
She spent 53 years helping Dale achieve their dream of building cabins, renting to and making lifelong friends from everywhere, having their home always open to anyone to share the Lord and minister to and make their ranch a sanctuary.
Sally was the best wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, best friend anyone could ever hope for. She taught Sunday school and Bible studies for Oak Street Chapel and in her home.
She loved gardening, planting flowers, crafts, painting birdhouses, feeding birds, sewing, embroidery and reading.
She was able to take two trips of a lifetime: one to Israel to walk where Jesus walked and the other to Ireland and England.
Sally loved the Lord with all her heart and her family. She will be very missed.
Sally Jo Kaiser was preceded in death by her sister Harriet Briscoe, parents Herbert and Anna Mae Carlock, and grandson Paul Ahlstedt.
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, L. Dale Kaiser, Buena Vista; children Mark Kaiser, Buena Vista, Jay (Julie) Kaiser, Port Lions, Alaska, Kristen Ahlstedt-Kaiser, Buena Vista, Eric (Kelly) Kaiser, Buena Vista, Jeff (Sandy) Kaiser, Buena Vista; grandkids Anna (Matt) Harrington, Idaho, Sarah (Chris) Hindeman, California, Casey Rowland, Alaska, David Ahlstedt, Buena Vista, Rosi Kaiser, Amber (Ben) Adair, Krissy (Johnny) LaBounta, Buena Vista and Adam Kaiser, Oklahoma. She also has 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Sally has numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives. She is and was very loved.
Please come celebrate Sally's life with us. A memorial service will be Feb. 15 at 2:30 p.m. At Oak Street Chapel/Anglican Church of The Savior. For more information call 395-2688 or 395-2582.
Donations can be made to Heart of the Rockies Hospice, 301 Oak Street, Suite E, Salida, CO 81201.
Thursday, February 12, 2015