Goldie Sauer

Goldie Josephine Sauer passed away peacefully in her sleep early on the morning of March 6, 2022.  Most knew her as Jo or Josie, her husband George lovingly referred to her as Mammie.

Goldie Josephine Sauer was born on September 9th, 1930, in Wiggins, CO to parents Glenn S. Neal and Florence Carter Neal.  She was the fourth of their eight children. She was raised on the family farm south-west of Wiggins in a house with no running water and no indoor bathroom.  They always had plenty to do and there was plenty of love to go around.

Goldie attended school in Wiggins and earned a little money riding the family horse “Trigger” to check power lines for the electric company.  She loved music and taught herself to play the piano and the accordion by ear.  Shortly before her older brother Junior passed away at just 17, he used his own money from working for the neighbors and bought her a piano for $7.  Throughout her youth she participated in square dancing competitions at the Leader Hall in Hoyt.  She won first place in a black and white dress that her younger sister Alice still reminisces about.

In July 1948, shortly before Goldie completed her schooling her father hired George Henry Sauer, a handsome man from Greeley who was just out of the military, as a custom harvester.  After a short courtship, George asked Glenn for Goldie’s hand in marriage. Glenn expressed concern that she had not yet finished school, to which George replied with confidence ‘I promise to teach her everything she needs to know.’  Goldie and George were wed on November 7th, 1948.

They were blessed with three sons, Edward Eugene, Jerry Lee and Robert John.  Jo was the epitome of a home maker and farm wife. Her hearty meals and Sunday dinners were nourishing and made with love. Not only did she take pride in caring for her own family, but she would often welcome extended family and friends to join them at their table.

Although Jo never graduated high school, she had many skills and was no stranger to hard work. She graduated from the Greeley Beauty School on January 14, 1969 and opened her own Beauty Shop at the Hoyt Store serving the local women, mostly fellow farm wives. She also worked at the Greyhound Dog Track, the waste services facility east of Byers and she never knew a stranger while working at the Long Horn Café.

They knew how to enjoy the life they worked so hard for. Jo and George earned a ‘Bachelor of Square Dancing’ certificate on October 10, 1966.  They also bowled on a league together, complete with official team button down shirts and their own personal bowling balls. Her favorite way to enjoy life was surrounded by her family. She faithfully, and with great joy, held the families Christmas Eve gathering for as many years as she could squeeze the ever-expanding family inside their humble home.  The highlight of every August was the Neal family picnic.  Relatives in attendance would look forward to the fried chicken and chocolate pudding dessert she and George brought every single year.

During the summer months her favorite place to go was Williams Fork Reservoir. You could find their motorhome parked in their favorite spot overlooking the lake. If she wasn’t on the fishing boat with George in her tan straw hat she was in the kitchen or over the campfire making meals and memories for the family camping alongside them.  Absolutely no camping trip was complete without her famous biscuits and egg gravy.

Jo had to have several aneurisms repaired after discovering her family had a history of them.  During one of her stays at Swedish Medical Center George ventured to a nearby jewelry store where he handpicked a gold and diamond encrusted ring for his bride of nearly 55 years at the time. She was still wearing it when she passed.

George and Goldie were a true testament to love and devotion.  At the time of George’s passing in 2014 they had been married for 66 years.  Their marriage produced three sons, Ed(Rhonda), Jerry(Donna), Bob(Terry),  12 grandchildren, Brian(Kelly), Lisa (Todd), Jennifer(Mike), Candace (Brad), Jason(Erin), Alex (Frankie), Amanda, Justin (Jessica), Joshua(Ashleigh), Curtis(Apryl), Leslie(Phil), Rachel(Ryan), 38 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.  She leaves behind a legacy in her family.

Goldie was preceded in death by her husband George, her sons Ed and Bob, her parents Glenn and Florence Neal, her brothers Junior, Albert, Don, Gary and Harold and her great-grandsons Tanner Lee Issac Sauer and Michael Borders Jr. and great-great-grandson Bodee Lane.   She is survived by her sisters Sue and Alice, son Jerry (Donna), daughter-in-laws Rhonda and Terry, her 12 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren and numerous extended family.

A viewing will occur on Wednesday, March 16th from 5:00-7:00pm at the Horan & McConaty Funeral Home, 11150 E Dartmouth Ave, Aurora, CO 80014.  On Thursday, March 17th there will be a viewing beginning at 10:30 am followed by a funeral service at 11:00am, Mt Tabor Baptist Church, 278 Sherman Street, Byers, CO 80103.  Burial at the Byers Cemetery and a Reception at the Byers American Legion will follow.  If you wish, donations in Goldie’s memory may be made to the Byers American Legion.