2 weeks Ago
April 3, 2025 On Thursday April 3, 2025 Wanda Jayo passed away after a short illness. She had just reached the milestone age of 93 years in November. She lived a long and accomplished life.
Born in 1931, in the heart of Missouri, the “Show Me” State, Wanda embodied its spirit throughout her life. Growing up on a hardworking farm alongside her two brothers and three sisters, she learned the values of resilience and perseverance early on. At the age of sixteen, Wanda’s family relocated to the Elko area, where she embarked on a new chapter.
It was there she met her first husband, Richard Combs. They married young and built a life together, welcoming two sons, Mike and Patrick. Their paths eventually diverged and Wanda found love again with Duane Wright of Elko, and their family grew with the arrival of their daughter, Tracey.
Sadly, Duane’s passing left Wanda to raise her three children alone. As life would have it, Wanda’s circle of friends included Julian Jayo, a fellow bereaved spouse raising his own three children: Juan, Lynda, and Terry. Their shared experiences drew them together, and they married in 1967.
Wanda often remarked with a smile that Julian’s persuasive nature was irresistible, playfully noting his refusal to take “no” for an answer. Little did she know the rich and fulfilling adventure that awaited her. Wanda embraced her role as a devoted mother to all six children, offering unwavering support through life’s joys and sorrows.
Family was a cornerstone of Wanda’s life. She cherished spending time with her siblings: brothers Lonny, Bill, and Townsend; and sisters Wilda and Bonnie. Visits with their children and grandchildren were a constant source of joy, as were gatherings with the extended families of all her children.
Thanksgiving was a particularly vibrant occasion, bringing together multiple generations, cousins, and cherished friends. Wanda’s generous spirit extended beyond her immediate family; she was a deeply kind and devoted friend to her neighbor, Grandpa Joe Echegaray, providing daily care in his final years. Wanda was a truly remarkable and multifaceted woman, a genuine Renaissance figure.
An accomplished horsewoman, she proudly rode her mare, Brandy, alongside her sister Wilda in local fair and stampede parades. She was also a skilled golfer, softball player, enthusiastic square dancer, talented seamstress, avid camper, and a deer hunter renowned for her sharp shooting—often the best in the family. Her passions extended to fishing, mechanics, cooking, baking, gardening, and a fiercely competitive game of bridge.
People were consistently amazed by Wanda’s abilities, whether it was her uncanny accuracy in bringing down a buck from a seemingly impossible distance, followed by her capable handling of the butchering process, or her intuitive understanding of mechanics, diagnosing engine issues with insightful precision. She was, in essence, a modern-day Annie Oakley, capable of outriding, outshooting, and outperforming any man, all while possessing a captivating charm and grace that turned heads wherever she went. As life unfolded, Wanda and Julian, along with cherished friends and family, enjoyed countless adventures driving dune buggies across the Nevada and Idaho landscapes, camping at Wildhorse, taking on new projects and managing their successful pilot car business.
Wanda is survived by her many children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Troy Eden and Dr. Karen Wright for their help for Wanda in her final days.
A memorial for Wanda will be held at the Burns Funeral Home on May 31, 2025 at noon, followed by a celebration of life at the Elko Basque Club located at 1601 Flag View Dr. Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox..
