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Helen Ballard Schissler
A private memorial service was held for Helen Ballard Schissler, a Durango High School graduate who died Saturday, March 31, 2001, at home in Estes Park, Colo.
She was 56. The cause of death was undisclosed.
Mrs. Schissler was born May 3, 1944, in Durango. She married Everett Schissler on March 25, 1989, in Lakewood, Colo.
Mrs. Schissler lived in Arvada, Colo., and traveled with her husband in their motor home between 1994 and 1996. They moved to Estes Park in 1996, where she worked for the Estes Park Aerial Tramway. She enjoyed painting, crocheting, knitting and cooking.
She is survived by her husband, Everett Schissler of Estes Park; father, Charles Ballard of Montrose, Colo.; son, Roger D. Talbert of Thornton, Colo.; three daughters, Jennifer Carlson of Wheat Ridge, Colo., Tonja Gibson of Monument, Colo., and Kara Rosenstrauch of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a brother, Charles L. Ballard of Belgrade, Mont.; and a sister, Diane Bunten of Montrose.
John J. Hersch
A cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary Crematory for John J. Hersch who died Friday, March 30, 2001, at his home in Durango. The cause of death was not disclosed. He was 72.
A Celebration of Life will be observed at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Bayfield.
Mr. Hersch was born March 9, 1929 in Del Norte, Colo. He attended schools in Pagosa Springs and Del Norte.
He graduated from Del Norte High School, attended Adams State College and served with the Air Force.
He was a member of the Cortez B.P.O. Elks, the Cortez Masonic Lodge #133 and a Shriner in Durango. Mr. Hersch had several businesses in Cortez, Pagosa Springs and Durango. He was a respected commercial pilot.
He is survived by two sons, Troy Jon Hersch, of Waukomis, Okla., and Trenton Jay Hersch, of Stavanger, Norway; two brothers, David W. Hersch, of Port Orchard, Wash. and Richard E. Hersch, of Marysville, Wash.; three grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 375 East Park Ave, Durango, CO 81301.
Jesse A. Shaver
Jesse A. Shaver, former pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Durango, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2001, in Clovis, N.M., at Plains Regional Medical Center. The cause of death was not disclosed. He was 80.
Services were held at Steed-Todd Chapel in Clovis. Burial was at Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens, also in Clovis.
Mr. Shaver was born Nov. 2, 1920, in Grady, N.M. He married Evelyn Mayfield on Sept. 30, 1938.
While in Durango, he was involved in hospital visitation programs.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Mayfield Shaver of Clovis; two sons, Larry Shaver of Dallas and Wayne Shaver of Lubbock, Texas; one daughter, Gail Leonard of Richardson, Texas; two sisters; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Cards may be sent to his widow, Evelyn Shaver, 1912 Weeden, Clovis, N.M. 88101.
Ileta Galloway
Mrs. Ileta Galloway, Durango resident from 1990 to 1996, died Sunday, March 25, in Aurora, Mo. She was 91.
Mrs. Galloway was born June 15, 1909 in Mo. She attended the Durango Christian Church, where she taught children’s worship and was a member of the Women’s Fellowship Group. She loved working in her garden, reading, quilting and all kinds of needle crafts. She was the shopkeeper in Grandma’s Corner at Lightner Creek Campground.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Ernest V. Galloway.
She is survived by one daughter, Litonia McBurney, of Farmington, N.M.; two grandchildren, Cheryl Amorelli, of Durango, and Shirley French, of California; and two great-grandchildren.
Luisita "Lu" Helling
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Hood Mortuary Chapel for Luisita "Lu" Helling, who died Sunday, March 25 at Mercy Medical Center after an extended illness. She was 80.
The Rev. Mike McCleary will officiate.
Mrs. Helling was born October 27, 1920 in Tampico, Mexico. She was living in Germany during World War II when she met her husband, Curt Helling. She was a bookkeeper and retired in 1992.
She moved to Durango in 1993. She enjoyed gardening, bird watching, activities at the Durango-La Plata Senior Center, and swimming at Trimble Hot Springs.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
She is survived by two daughters, Dorothy Helling of Montpelier, Vt. and Marjorie Helling Brinton of Durango; two sons, Curt Helling of Gainesville, Ga., and Robert Helling of Toms River, N.J.; six grandchildren, Eric Craig, Kaitlyn and Robbie Helling; and Sarah, Erin and Kimberly Brinton; and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions my be made to the Durango-La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Ella Marie Uschuk
Ella Marie Uschuk died on Wednesday, March 14, 2001, on Mount Lemmon, outside of Tucson, Ariz., after an extended illness. She was 80.
She was born March 6 , 1921. She married George Uschuk in 1946. They moved to the Durango area in 1985.
Mrs. Smith enjoyed gardening, music, knitting and reading. In Tucson she was a member of the Tucson Association for the blind, where she sang in the choir.
She is survived by two sons, John Uschuk of Thornton, Colo., and Larry Pippel of Grand Rapids, Mich.; three daughters, Pam and Val Uschuk of Durango and Judi Uschuk-Stahl, of Tucson, Ariz.; two sisters, Marian Mongeau, of Winter Haven, Fla. and Lois Benedict, of Ionia, Mich.; and five grandsons.
Lois Elizabeth Cook
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hood Mortuary Chapel for Lois Elizabeth Cook, a resident of Durango since 1950, who died Wednesday, March 21, at Four Corners Health Care Center. She was 85.
Pastor Joe Sparks and Pastor Jim Powell will officiate at services. Burial will be at Greenmount Cemetery.
Mrs. Cook was born June 5, 1915, in Madison County, Ark. She enjoyed gardening, baking and making quilts. She was a member of Pine River Valley Baptist Church.
Mrs. Cook was preceded in death by two husbands, Bert Hazleton and J.B. Cook; a son, Larry Hazleton; and a stepson, Lee Hazleton.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary McCaw of Ignacio; two stepdaughters, Evelyn Wommer of Bayfield and Inell Harvey of Kremmling, Colo.; a sister, Willie Bohannan of Aurora, Mo.; three granddaughters, Linda Walter of Ignacio, Janet Reinhardt of Ignacio and Tammy Morrissey of Chandler, Ariz.; one grandson, David McCaw of Ignacio; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and numerous step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to Four Corners Health Care Center, Alzheimer’s Unit, 2911 Junction St., Durango, CO 81301.
Emma Lucille Matis
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church for Emma Lucille Matis, a homemaker, who died Sunday, March 18, 2001, at Four Corners Health Care Center after a lengthy illness. She was 86.
The Rev. Andrew Cooley will officiate. Burial will occur at Greenmount Cemetery.
Mrs. Matis was born April 20, 1914, in Colburn, Wash. She grew up in Palisade, Colo., where her parents operated a peach orchard. As a young woman she moved to Durango where she met and married Wilho Matis. They were married Oct. 9, 1938, in Palisade.
She was a homemaker throughout her life and was a member of St. Marks Episcopal Church, the Women’s Auxiliary, the Whirl-way Square Dancers. Mrs. Matis worked at Miller Middle School in the cafeteria from 1958-62. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, skiing and gardening.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilho John Matis, March 28, 2000.
She is survived by two sons, Melvyn Matis of Durango, and Lewis Matis of Mancos; and a sister, Marion Metzler of Fresno, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Stroke Foundation, 240 Hampden, Englewood, CO 80516, or to the St. Marks Memorial Fund, 910 East Second Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Thomas James 'Tom' Frizell
Memorial services will be held this spring for Thomas James "Tom" Frizell, a World War II veteran, who died Friday, March 16, 2001, at Aurora Medical Center in Denver from complications following heart surgery. He was 76.
Mr. Frizell was born May 29, 1924, at Oschner Hospital in Durango. He was raised on the family farm on Florida Mesa. Mr. Frizell served in the Army Air Forces as a bombardier gunner during World War II. He married Eunice Root in 1945. They would have celebrated 56 years of marriage in July.
Mr. Frizell farmed, raised six children, was active in the local Grange, and the La Plata County Fair. He worked for the Bureau of Reclamation for more than 20 years, working on both the Lemon Reservoir Dam and the Navajo Irrigation Project.
One of the family’s fondest memories of Mr. Frizell is of him standing in the middle of a trout stream fly-fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Eunice; six children, Sandra Frizell Wade and Kay Frizell Thrash of Durango, Paul Frizell and Sue Frizell of Denver, Colo., Nancy Frizell of Glenwood Springs, Colo., and David Frizell of Elizabeth, Colo.; seven grandchildren; and two great grand-children.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 3801 N. Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301, or American Cancer Society, by the same address.
