Deanna Meyer

Deanna Gayle Meyer, 75, of Grand Junction, Colorado passed away on January 7th at her home of natural causes. She was born May 22nd 1947 to Nolan Dean Wooters and Margaret LaRue (Walz) Wooters in Grand Junction, Colorado. Her Mother and Father preceded her in death. Gayle will be missed by her children Corri (Bret) Ogburn, Devin (Molly) Reuss, Nathan (Kelly) Reuss, Vincent (Amanda) Reuss.  Her grandchildren Sarah, James, Jacob, Kiera, Harrison, Lliam, and Olivia.  Her siblings Dennis (Sherry) Wooters, Barbara (Carson) Bell, Janet (Paul) Popish, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She enjoyed growing up in the country and always had fond memories of "the old place" on Independent Ave in Grand Junction. This is where she might have been found spreading chicken feed in unusual ways to get the hens to group themselves artistically.

Gayle graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1965. She attended Mesa State Junior College initially and would later graduate from Colorado State University in 1969 with a Bachelor's degree in English.  While attending CSU Gayle gave birth to a baby girl, and selflessly gave her up for adoption.  As an adult, Corri Ogburn, of Reading, Massachusetts contacted Gayle to thank her for choosing adoption.  Gayle felt very blessed to welcome Corri, her husband Bret, and their 2 children, Christine and Jonah, into her family.

Dennis Thane Reuss and Deanna Gayle Wooters were married April 18, 1970.  Dennis was drafted into the United States Army, and the couple spent the next four years at and around bases in Elizabethtown, Kentucky and San Antonio, Texas.  Some of her fondest memories were of those early years as a young adult. Gayle and Dennis returned to Grand Junction, Colorado in 1974 where they started a family.  They would later divorce in 1988.  Galye would later meet, fall in love, and marry Fred Meyer on July 22, 1989. They lived happily with Gayle’s three boys at the farm on J-¼ in Fruita.  They all shared many good times with the Meyer family.  Gayle and Fred would later separate, and divorce.

Gayle loved poetry, folklore, words, and writing.  She highlighted her boys and many family members in her articles, with the names changed to protect their reputations.  Gayle wrote columns for The Fruita Times, The Promised Land and The Source.  Her column titles were: Hangnail Sketches, Eve’s Rib, and Little Read Writing-Folklore Old and New and these were her main literary accomplishments.  She had many stories and poems that were never published.  She finished her professional career as an editor and writer for The Source.

Gayle loved her family fiercely, never missing an opportunity to tell them she loved them. She penned her mark on the world as a writer, and celebrated it with laughter and humility.   She has left behind her  loved ones, and a red clown nose to begin another life with her Lord and Savior.  She is smiling at all of us from Heaven until the time we will see her again