Shirley Luzier

Shirley Sandstedt Luzier of Alamogordo, NM passed away on Friday, June 25, 2021 at the age of 90.  She was born in Missouri, to Archie J. Sandstedt and Ruth H. Sandstedt. on November 8, 1930.  She had one sister and one brother. 

She married her second husband “Lou” in March 1957 and they first came to the local area and were stationed at Holloman AFB with their family in 1972.  Later they purchased a home in town and chose to stay in Alamogordo when her husband retired in July 1976.  Shortly after his retirement she went back to work for Civil Service at Holloman AFB working for the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO).  

The two of them would spend almost every Sunday evening playing Pinochle with their close friends the late Ted Lewis and his wife, Evelyn until “Lou” passed in 1992. She worked at DRMO until she had completed 20 years of civil service total and she retired in 1991.  Shirley and Lou had planned to do some cross country traveling in their RV visiting states they had not seen before and stopping in on family and friends along the way.  Unfortunately, their plans were cut short when Lou unexpectedly became ill in late 1991.  They made one trip in April 1992 with friends to Las Vegas, NV their favorite vacation spot over their years together.

Shirley is survived by her brother David Sandstedt, and nephew Christopher Sandstedt of St Peters, Missouri.  2 sons, Lawrence (Sawangjit) Ficarra of Wyoming, and Alan (Sandy) Ficarra of Florida, and 2 daughters, Sandra Mead, and Kathryn (Chris) Josefosky of Alamogordo. 4 grandchildren, Amanda (Jon) Benitez of El Paso, Brian (Richelle) Kohls of Alamogordo, Angelia (Brandon) Cox of Washington, and Cody Ficarra of Florida.  8 great grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Samaya, Jayce, Connor, Camryn, Ashton, Kacee, and Scarlett. And her 2 cats Missy Pooh and Pepper Ann who had been with her for the past 11 years.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Juanita “Sissy” Sandstedt, and her husband of 35 years Carroll T. “Lou” Luzier, her parents, her husband’s parents, Cyrus T. and Hazel (Veach) Luzier, her sister-in-law Teri Sandstedt, and her son-in-law Glen Mead.

Shirley was a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who really enjoyed the occasional visits of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  They could always bring a smile to her face as soon as they walked in the door.  After the death of her husband, she mostly kept to herself at home playing solitaire on her computer or cell phone and watching her favorite old television shows repeatedly.  When she felt like getting out of the house her favorite pastime was to go up the mountain to the Inn of the Mountain Gods or Casino Apache and play the penny slots.  She enjoyed the trip even more when she was accompanied by her daughters making it a “girl’s day out!!”.

The Luzier family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Scenic Chapel to direct the funeral services.  Cremation will take place at PCS. 
 

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