Audrey Claudene Balazs left us on January 1, 2017 peacefully surrounded by her family. Claudene was born on March 27, 1940 in Durant, OK to Vernon and Audrey Jameson. Her early years were spent in Durant before the family moved to Clovis, New Mexico where Claudene attended Ranchvale High School. She played basketball and softball and performed in a band with her brother Gene Jameson, cousin Lillie Mae Jameson Ashby and friends, then transferred to Clovis High School when the Ranchvale Schools closed. After graduating, Claudene worked at JO's Grocery and Clovis National Bank Claudene met her forever sweetheart, Ernie Balazs, an Air Force jet mechanic stationed at Cannon AFB, waiting on the car wash bay at Red's Service Station. They were married in Clovis on September 26, 1959. After Ernie's discharge from the Air Force, Ernie & Claudene moved to Ernie's hometown, Fords, NJ., but returned to Clovis about 2 years later for the birth of their daughter, Cheryl. Shortly thereafter, Ernie was hired by Layne & Bowler and the family moved to Farwell, Tx for the next 6 years before being transferred to Amarillo, TX for Ernie's job. Claudene & Ernie made their home in Panhandle, Texas for the next several years. Claudene worked in the home, volunteered in the Panhandle School System and was a leader of Girl Scout Troop 53 through the Troop's Senior year. Claudene went to work for Pioneer Natural Gas Co and then for Carson County Abstract & Title Co before the family moved to Las Cruces, NM. In Las Cruces, Claudene worked for Las Cruces Abstract & Title Co. before she and Ernie started their own company, Rio Grande Pump & Supply Co. Rio Grande was truly a family business. Cheryl and her husband Frank Fox worked with Claudene and Ernie and welcomed both of their children, Stephen and Coree Fox into the business from day 1. The joy of Claudene's life was her family. Being able to spend time with her husband, daughter and grandchildren was the highlight of her days. These days included trips to Ruidoso for skiing, hiking, horseback riding and campouts Adventures of all sorts, including day trips to many of our area state parks, train rides, amusement parks, and trips to Clovis to play with the rest of the family!Claudene also enjoyed riding ATV's with her family around the Ruidoso and Cloudcroft area. There were many wonderful week-end expeditions to enjoy the great outdoors. As the grandchildren grew up and began families of their own, it was Claudene's delight to come in to see her great-grandchildren daily at the office as well. Claudene retired from Rio Grande to become a fulltime playmate to her great grandchildren, Colton & Jaxon King, These days were more special when they also included her great granddaughters Vaeleigh, Briseis, Serenity and Nalani Fox. It was quite the site to see them all running around the back yard playing in the water, digging in the sand or playing baseball. Walks around the neighborhood and the arroyo behind the house were always a question and answer session covering ants to zinnias and everything in between. The front yard in the summer became a maze of pink & white Hollyhocks perfect for games of peek-a-boo. Ernie & Claudene's driveway, patio & sidewalk were the sites of ever changing sidewalk chalk masterpieces…Claudene is survived by her husband of 57 years, Ernie Balazs, her daughter Cheryl Fox (John Clark), brothers and sisters , Kathy Jameson Las Cruces, NM, Gene (Jan) Jameson, Linda Klingensmith, Gail (Kenneth) Thompson of Clovis, NM, L.J. (Linda) Jameson of Ruidoso NM, Lloyd (Etta) Jameson of Chandler, Tx., Grandchildren Stephen (Sam) Fox , Coree (Jon) King all of Las Cruces and her great grandchildren, Colton, Jaxon and Cara King, Nalani Fox all of Las Cruces and Vaeleigh, Briseis and Serenity Fox of Beaverton, OR and bunches of much loved nieces and nephews.Memorials may be given to the John Paul Taylor Academy Playground Fund.No services will be held at this time, the family will have a Celebration of Claudene's life later this spring.The family would like to thank the staff at Baylor Medical Hamilton Heart Hospital, the ICU staff at Mountainview Regional Medical Center, Dr. Graor, Dr. Poston and the Heart Cath staff for their wonderful care and consideration.Arrangements are with La Paz – Graham's Funeral Home, 555 West Amador, Las Cruces, NM 88005. To sign the online guest book visit www.LaPaz-Grahams.com.