- Date Of Birth: February 15, 1915
- Date Of Death: January 2, 2011
- State: New Mexico
JONNY OPHELIA SALYER, February 12, 1915 – January 2, 2011 has passed away at the age of 95.
Born in Woodson, Texas to John Martin and Nora Ellen Ellis Gardner and big brother Gilbert (Gib). Following the death of their mother she and Gib lived with grandparents until their father remarried. This event brought her a beloved new mother, Lela Belle, and three brothers, Otho Whitmire, Noble Whitmire and Melvin Whitmire. Being the only girl she was busy helping Lela take care of the family as it grew by four more boys, Jack Gardner, Bill Gardner, Gene Gardner and Rod Gardner and joy of joy, some girls, Floretha Gardner(Graham), Thelma Gardner (Pelayo), Gladys Gardner (Stevens), and Shirley Gardner (Spiceland).
Ophelia moved as a young girl to New Mexico where she met and married George (Buster) Williams. They had one daughter, Vivian Williams Santry. She later married Ernest (Slim) Salyer and traveled around Arizona and Nevada before returning to Deming. Following the death of Slim she remained in Deming until moving to Alpine, Texas to be with her daughter and family.
She is survived by siblings Rod, Thelma and Gladys, daughter Vivian Santry(Tom), granddaughters Terry Mendez, Karen Gallego, (J.J.) and Lori Hubbell (Jef), great grandchildren Megan Mendez, Erin Gallego, Kathryn Gallego and Justin Hubbell, beloved sister in law Ruth Russell and many nieces and nephews
