Miss New Mexico USA has ties to Jackson

Submitted photo

Ellyn Colyer, Miss New Mexico USA, is the granddaughter of Woodrow and Ruth Colyer of Jackson, Mo.

Southeast Missourian

Ellyn Colyer is looking forward to this year's Miss USA Pageant in Gary, Ind.

Colyer was crowned Miss New Mexico USA last month at Las Cruces, N.M., at a pageant to determine that state's representative for the 2002 Miss USA Pageant.

Colyer is the daughter of Brennan and Martha Colyer, of Farmington, N.M. Her grandparents are Woodrow and Ruth Colyer of Jackson, Mo., and J.E. and Kathryn Hagans of Springfield, Mo., formerly of Jackson.

The Colyers have many friends in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson areas.

"I'm really excited to be representing our state at the annual USA pageant," said Ellyn Colyer, a native Missourian who is a nurse working for an orthopedic practice. She also works on call in the emergency room at San Juan Regional Medical Center.

"I've been a nurse 2 1/2 years," said Colyer. "Both of my parents are nurses."

Colyer feels she will be able to use her nursing qualifications as a catalyst to teach people about health care issues, such as breast cancer, osteoporosis and women's and children's health issues.

"I'll be working with the Children's Miracle Network and the Carry Tingle Children's Hospital in Albuquerque," she said.

Colyer is a quilter, but she also considers herself as a hunter and camper.

"I've shot a black bear, a deer and an oryx," she said.

The Miss USA Pageant will air on CBS March 1.