Juanita Becker

Hazel “Juanita” Becker was born in Cordell, Oklahoma to Willie Lowe and Mabel Sanders Lowe on September 4, 1931. Her family escaped the perils of the Dust Bowl of the 30s by migrating West and settling in Denair, California.

Juanita enjoyed engaging in social activities like student government and school dances. She taught Sunday School class in church in which her baby sister, Carol, was under her instruction. After graduating from Denair High School in 1949, Juanita worked at furniture stores in the Turlock area as a repossession coordinator and bookkeeper. She loved to dance, so it was fitting that she met her husband in a local restaurant that had a dance floor called “The Branding Iron.” She married United States Air Force Lt Col. Thomas T. Becker Jr. at Highlands Inn, Carmel, CA in December 1958.

Juanita moved to different states like Georgia, North Dakota, and Nebraska, due to Tom’s military obligations, but stubbornly refused to move again once she returned to California’s Beale AFB. She got her real estate license and was off and running with her real estate career that lasted 34 years. Juanita was successful and won industry awards such as the President’s Club award and the Million Dollar Club award. Juanita always admired the Gold River area and eventually moved there in 2012.

Juanita was not all business and was known to let her hair down during social gatherings with her girlfriends, inbibing a favorite cocktail like a margarita, old fashioned or vodka gimlet with an olive and an onion.

Juanita later became active with Los Amigos, a charitable organization that supports the work of The Sacramento Children’s Home and Crisis Nursery. She found it especially rewarding to work in the Children’s Home thrift shop helping women in need find clothing ensembles appropriate for employer contacts and job interviews.

As a member of the Fair Oaks Historical Society, Juanita enjoyed learning about the illustrious past of the unincorporated town. Her favorite social activity was the group’s potluck and soup night.

Juanita loved to travel by ship or train. She cruised to the caribbean and up to Alaska. She enjoyed riding the train through the mountains to Reno, NV or down the valley to Turlock, CA to see her close relatives. Despite her intense fear of flying, she flew to the Big Island of Hawaii, Oahu and Kauai to explore the islands with friends and family. On one adventure, she climbed to the top of Diamond Head and took in the breathtaking view of Honolulu!

All her life, Juanita wanted to help people in anyway she could. Her naturally magnetic personality drew people to her. Wherever she went, Juanita lit up the room with her endearing smile.

Juanita is preceded in death by husband Thomas T. Becker Jr., son Jon Becker, father Willie Lowe, mother Mabel Sanders Lowe, and brother Nolan Lowe.

Juanita is survived by son Brian Becker and daughter-in-law Pam Becker of Sparks, NV; daughter Kimberly Becker of Gold River, CA; and sister Carol Maggard and brother-in-law Stan Maggard of Turlock, CA.

Visitation and memorial services will be held at Mount Vernon Memorial Park in Fair Oaks, CA. On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, visitation will take place at 4:00-8:00 p.m. in the Family Chapel. On Wednesday December 11, 2019 , the memorial service will be at 10 a.m., Following the memorial, a separate graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. in Hughson, CA at Lakewood Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, all donations may be made to The Sacramento Children’s Home in loving memory of Juanita Becker.