Teresa Brazie

Teresa Brazie, 95, departed this world from her home in Nogal, NM, on Sunday, September 13, 2020. Born in Defiance, Iowa, in 1924, Terry was the last survivor of nine children born to Mike and Magdalena Finken of Harlan, Iowa.

In high school, she was a baton majorette in the band and a scholarly student, graduating early at the age of 16. Terry served as a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Girl Scout Troop Leader in the 1960s, and established a successful career as a legal secretary and personal assistant to several attorneys and law offices in the Des Moines, Iowa, area.

Upon retiring and relocating to New Mexico, Terry worked inside the Lincoln County Clerk’s office, doing research and recording property titles for a local abstract company. Through her employment there, and her membership in a Carrizozo ladies’ bridge club, she formed friendships that lasted to her dying day. She is remembered as a sweet and gentle soul, with a kind heart and a caring spirit, who rarely asked for anything more than kindness from others.

She was an avid bird watcher, especially fond of hummingbirds. She enjoyed being outdoors, growing flowers, and, Teresa Brazie loved to dance. For many years, she was a regular attendee at Music in the Parks events, local art festivals, galleries and studio tours, and enjoyed concerts at the Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts. She was a parishioner and a former choir member of St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Carrizozo, and made the best chocolate fudge on the planet.

Terry was preceded in death by her parents and eight siblings, her husband Ted Brazie, and son-in-law Kurt Paulsen. She will be forever missed by her surviving family; son Mike Brazie, daughter Patrice Brazie-Paulsen, son Tim Brazie, three grandchildren; Krystal Brazie, Tracie Brazie and Jonathan Brazie and many nieces and nephews across the country, including Pamela Machholz, Diane Fell, Beth Young and Stan Finken.

Plans for a memorial service are on hold due to complications resulting from the ongoing  Corona virus pandemic. An announcement will follow when it is again safe to gather.