Jimmie Gayle Autry's Obituary
From her name to her personality – nothing about Jimmie G Autry was ordinary! Jimmie Autry lived and loved life! There was no song she wouldn’t sing, no rain shower she wouldn’t run outside to play in, and try to drag others along. Her love for her family and her passion for life were something that everyone should strive to achieve. If you had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy Autry you know what the world has lost. To know her was to love and admire her, as the years past she only got more daring and stunningly beautiful. After a week of sunning, kayaking, hiking…I’m sure some tequila, and enjoying life to the fullest she left this world, with dreams of a microphone in her hand and her dancing shoes on. She died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday Morning October 17th in Puerto Vallarta. She was 81years young. Jimmie was born in Warren, Arkansas February 4, 1936 to Floyd and Verna Reep Johnson. She was the oldest of 3 girls, including Martha Ann Battles and Mary Elizabeth Craddock. The family moved to San Diego in 1946 where she attended, Hoover High School. She worked at Ratner’s Clothing after high school and attended University Baptist Church. It was a church camping trip in 1953 where she met her future husband, Ben R. Autry. They married on March 13, 1955. They welcomed a son, Marshall Autry in 1958 and daughter, Laura Autry Sawyer two years later. They moved to La Mesa, CA in 1963 and remained in the same house till this day. She went back to school in 1966 and became a nurse, specializing in Orthopedics and an x-ray technician, working in private practice in La Mesa for 38 years. She was also a member of the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses, before joining Ben in retirement. Jimmie & Ben were very active in and enjoyed their children and grandchildren’s activities, and lives thru the years. They all participated in, Pop Warner Football and Girls Softball, from being a manager, to a coach, to screaming in the stands, and Jimmie was even a kicker in the Powder Puff football game. In later life to being coached on the basketball court by her grandson. That love of athletic competition continued into her adulthood playing softball and basketball until she was 72 and a knee injury required her to hang up her cleats. They enjoyed an amazing 55 years together as a couple, parents, grandparents, traveling the globe and experiencing all life had to offer. Her beloved Ben was suddenly taken by a stroke in 2009. Along with her physical activities, Jimmie enjoyed being very social and active in numerous clubs and associations. These included Hoover Alumni Association, WOW San Diego, The El Cajon Elks Club, San Diego Madres, West Coast Swing San Diego and San Diego Kroc Center. After a few years of bootcamps and hard work with her personal trainer, she was fit and able to rediscovered her love of dancing. Travel was a huge part of Jimmie’s life… around our country, Europe and South America, by plane, train, boat or zip line ( a special love). She was lucky enough to find a new special someone. She and Loyd shared many interests and he joined in on many of these activities, including numerous karaoke nights and lots of dance lessons. Because of this and the love of her family and numerous friends, her 81 years were full of happiness and joy. She is survived by her son Marshall Autry, her daughter Laura Autry-Sawyer, her granddaughter, Amanda Sawyer-Prejean and her husband Bryan and her grandson Kenneth Leroy Sawyer IV, and her sister Martha Ann Battles. Services will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park on Friday, November 3rd at 12:00pm, with viewing from 10am – 12pm. Thank you for everyone’s love and support. Jimmie was one of a kind and will be forever missed.
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