Wanda Asire

October 7, 1933—June 11, 2024

Wanda Jack (Jackie) Colquitt was born in Crandell, TX on October 7, 1933. She passed peacefully to the Lord on June 11, 2024, at Harbor Chase Assisted Living in Southlake, TX.

Wanda worked for American Airlines continuously from 1955 to 1995. Her career at American started in 1952 in reservations but she had to resign to give birth to her son in November of 1954 since this was years before parental leave existed. When she rejoined the company, she was the executive secretary for AA’s chief pilot at Meacham Field in Fort Worth, then later for the vice president of Flight Training at Amon Carter Field. Wanda moved to reservations in 1981 to join the new “Customer Service Desk” designed to help elite customers and “handle the tough calls no one else wanted.” She served as treasurer for the AA Three Diamond Society from 1999 to 2011. The Three Diamond Society is an organization for employees with 30 years or more of service.

Of all her accomplishments, Wanda was immensely proud of her only son, Greg Wortman. Although Wanda and Greg’s father, Kenneth Wortman, divorced in 1956, she was dedicated to raising her son and working to ensure his success. A University of Texas at Austin graduate (1977), Greg provided his mother with expert financial and healthcare assistance as her health declined. She could not have had a better son.

Wanda was devoted to her faith community, Emmanual Presbyterian Church, located in Bedford, TX. She designed and sewed many of the altar and lectern hangings used at the church. She served as a deacon and supported the church-based school as its liaison.

A proud, fourth-generation Texan, who graduated from Fort Worth North Side High School, Wanda loved all things in and from Texas, especially her beloved Dallas Cowboys. “Game Day” was a “bigger than Texas” boisterous activity at Wanda’s home.

Wanda, who was a major league fashionista, was fondly known as the pie lady, the cake lady, and the jam lady to all her friends, coworkers, neighbors, and doctors. She even made fifty-five “Christmas cakes” for her son’s staff when he worked at Fujitsu in Richardson, TX. Her Kahlua cakes and strawberry jams were prized by all who received them!

While some people are lucky in love, Wanda Jack was particularly adept at it. After her marriage to Kenneth Wortman, Wanda married custom shirtmaker, Luther Rogers in 1961. And, from 1975-1998, she was married to Howard Tissot. In 2000, she married Ralph (Don) Asire, whom she had known for many years from her American Airlines experience. Don passed away from Covid in August 2020.

Wanda began her journey with dementia in 2015, but it became life changing in July 2021 when she had a “mini stroke” while driving. She spent the next few years living independently at the Harbor Chase Assisted Living Community in Southlake. She suffered two bad falls in April and May of 2024 that took a toll on her. Her last fall was on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2024, and that fall lead to her death.

Wanda was predeceased by her mother, Maureen Grimes, her stepfather Frank Grimes, and sister, Gayle Blackburn as well as her former husbands: Kenneth, Luther, Howard, and Don. She is survived by her only child, Greg Wortman, and his wife Mary Dudley; her only niece Valerie Brunson (Bobby); her nephews Michael (Lisa) and Rusty Blackburn; her great nephews Pat Blackburn and Jason (Melissa) Brunson; her great nieces Autumne (Michael) Hart and Jenny (Jeff) Rambin; and several great, great nieces and nephews.

Services are scheduled at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, 2701 Harwood Road, Bedford, TX, 76021, at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 28, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association ( https://www.alz.org ) to honor Wanda Asire’s memory. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit BluebonnetHills.com.