“BJ” Burton Juanell Eisen

“BJ” Burton Juanell Eisen of Arlington, Texas passed away peacefully March 16, 2023, with her family by her side. She was born in Bridgeport, Texas on March 6, 1941 to Raymond Reeves and Reba Faye Reeves Bockman. Her father passed away when she was four years old and a couple of years later her mother married Earl Bockman, whom she proudly called Daddy. She graduated from Lake Worth High School in 1959 and was voted Senior Favorite.
She met Eldor E. Eisen in 1958 and they married shortly after graduating. He was in the Air Force and they moved to Tacoma, Washington. They had their first child, Sandra Faye, in October 1961. After his four year tour, he was honorably discharged and they moved back to Texas. In December 1964 they had their second child, Suzanne Kaye.
After their divorce, BJ worked for several companies as a secretary. She took a huge step and relocated the family to Aurora, Colorado in 1971 to take a higher paying secretarial position with HUD. In 1973, she began training in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as an Air Traffic Controller in Flight Service. She was the first woman Air Traffic Controller in Casper, Wyoming. She worked at several airports in Flight Service during her twenty-five year career including: Lubbock, Texas x2;New Orleans, Louisiana; Childress, Texas (as Chief); and Lovefield – Dallas, Texas. She retired in 1990.
BJ was a talented seamstress, dabbled in acting, modeled, a Ms. Pac-Man enthusiast, and loved playing a good game of Scrabble. She and her sister, Mona, were known to have Scrabble marathon’s. She began square dancing in Lubbock in 1981. She loved the square dance community, and was a member of the Trailblazer’s. She enjoyed watching people dance – even though she was unable to participate due to failing health.
BJ will be remembered as a loving mother, grannie, sister, aunt, and friend. She always had a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eye.
BJ is survived by her daughter’s Sandra Palmer, Haslet, Texas; Suzie Salazar, Arlington, Texas; grandson’s, Prentis Palmer, Haltom City, Texas; Joey Salazar & Kristopher Salazar, Arlington, Texas; one brother, William “Ruddy” Reeves, Aledo, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her grandson, Burton Wayne Palmer; father, Raymond Reeves; step-father and mother, Earl & Reba Faye Bockman; brother, Ralph Reeves; and sister, Mona Scott.
A memorial service/free dance will be held from 5 – 7 p.m., Sunday, April 2, 2023, at Swingtime Dance Center, 5100 SE Loop 820, Fort Worth, Texas 76140, all friends and family are welcome.