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James Melvin Buffington
Graveside services for Dove Creek resident James Melvin Buffington will be held Monday, March 19, at the Peel Cemetery
beginning at 11 a.m.
Visitation will be Monday morning at the Dove Creek First Baptist Church from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.
Jim was born in Eminence, Mo., on June 3, 1923 to Fred George and Ida Mae (Knuckles) Buffington. He passed away at his home in Dove Creek on March 15, 2001. Jim was 77.
On Dec. 23, 1949, Jim wed Erma Beaver in Aztec, N.M. He enjoyed the outdoors and hunting and was a member of the Dove Creek Roping Club and the VFW Post #5181.
Surviving Jim is his wife of 51 years, Erma Buffington of Dove Creek; his children, Jimmy (Kay Lynn) Buffington, Marie Martinez, Steve Buffington, Sherry (Emil) Shutt, and Duley (Terri) Buffington, all of Dove Creek; 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and one brother and two sisters. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister, and a granddaughter, Debra Dawn Martinez.
Memorial contributions can be made in Jim Buffington's name with either the Dove Creek Ambulance Fund or Hospice of Montezuma. Services will be under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Lucille F. Graham
Lucille F. Graham, a resident of the Valley Inn Nursing Home, passed away on March 14, 2001, at the age of 90. Lucille, the daughter of Joseph Curtis Justice and Laura Victoria (Roberts) Justice, was born in Chetopa, Kan., on Nov. 19, 1910.
Lucille was a very private woman. She loved spending her time with wild animals and caring for them. She maintained birdfeeders for her feathered friends and was deeply fond of the fourth-generation deer that came to her place to be fed. Lucille had a great love for travel. Lucille came to the Mancos Valley to reside at the Valley Inn Nursing Home nearly three years ago and to be nearer to her daughter.
Surviving Lucille are her daughter, Karen Black of Mancos; grandson, Barry Steadman of Craig, Colo.; granddaughter, Darla Hayner of Jackson, Mich.; and great-grandson, Barry also of Craig. One brother, Huston Justice of Kansas; and one sister, Helen Moore of Virginia, also survive Lucille.
Arrangements are being made through the Ertel Funeral Home. For further details, contact 565-3468.
Maude Evans
Services for Maude Evans of Dove Creek, are set for Friday, March 16, at 1 p.m. and the Peel Cemetery. Viewing will be held at the Four Corners Funeral Chapel in Cortez from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 15, and at Dove Creek First Baptist Church from 10 to noon on March 16.
Mrs. Evans was born to Jefferson Davis Knuckles and Clara (Buffington) Knuckles on March 28, 1914. She passed away at Southwest Memorial Hospital on March 13, 2001. She is survived by four daughters and their spouses; 15 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and four sisters.
Minnie Ola Gidcumb
Funeral services for Minnie Ola Gidcumb, a 45-year resident of Dove Creek, are set for Saturday, March 17, at the First Baptist Church of Dove Creek at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at the Dove Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Ertel Memorial Chapel on Friday, March 16, between 5 and 7 p.m. Pastor Don Daniels will officiate
Minnie was born Jan. 6, 1916 in Floydada, Tex. to Arthur Thomas and Clemmie Catherine (Garrison) Edward. She passed away at the age of 85 at the Phoenix Baptist Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz. on Monday, March 12, 2001.
Minnie was a homemaker and dearly loved by her children and grandchildren. She was one who loved to be out and busy. She was known to just take a long drive and looked forward to any kind of sightseeing and traveling. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Dove Creek.
Minnie is survived by her children, Chester Ray (Jennie) Gidcumb of Westminster, Texas, Wanda Gidcumb and Betty Gidcumb both of Phoenix; her seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and one sister, Alma Rape of Lockney, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 55 years, Kline Lee "Jack" Gidcumb of Dove Creek; four children including her son, Dwayne Gidcumb in 1997; two brothers; and three sisters.
Mary Ellen Stork
Graveside services for Mary Ellen Stork of Star Valley, Ariz., will be held at the Lebanon Cemetery
on Saturday, March 17, beginning at 3 p.m.
Mrs. Stork, a former Cortez resident, passed away March 10, 2001, at the age of 78. She was born Nov. 6, 1922, to Ernest and Hazel Maynes in Ignacio, Colo. She graduated high school in Cortez.
She married Carl Newlin, and to this union two children, Sharon and Carla, were born. She later married Gerald Stork, in 1966. The couple moved to Payson, Ariz., in March 1992. Mrs. Stork was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mary Ellen Stork is survived by her husband; daughters, Sharon King of Chandler, Ariz. and Carla "Penny" Cook of Overgaard, Ariz.; brother, Robert Maynes of Cortez; sisters, Luella Wesolowski of Montrose, Colo., Ruth Metzelaar of Cortez and Ruby Spear of Heber, Ariz.; grandchildren, Sherrie Clubb, Chris and Troy Teagardin, and Todd and Scott King; seven great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Karen Rossen; brothers, Howard E. Maynes and David E. Maynes; and grandson, Michael G. Smith.
Mary Constance Townley
Mary Constance Townley, a resident of the Vista Grande Nursing Home, passed away on Wednesday, March 14 just days after 81st birthday.
She was born to Charles and Beulah (Huston) Dowell in Robinson, Kans. on March 9, 1920.
Mary became the bride of Thomas Edwin Townley on April 14, 1940 in Jefferson City, Mo. Together they shared nearly 60 years of marriage.
Surviving Mary are her husband, Thomas E. Townley of Cortez; her children and spouses, Connie Jean (Chuck) Beisang of Pelham, N.H., Thomas Charles (Diane) Townley of Mancos, Linda Joyce Israel of Homestead, Fla., and Paul Burke Townley of Granby, Colo.; as well as eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
For further service information, please contact the Ertel Funeral Home at 565-3468.
Janet Rose Harris
Janet Rose Harris, a former Cortez resident and 1970 graduate of MCHS, passed away March 11, 2001, following a long battle with lymphoma cancer. She was 49.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at the Farnum-Holt Mortuary Chapel in Glenwood Springs, Colo., on Wednesday, March 14, at 10 a.m.
Interment will take place at the Highland Cemetery
in Meeker, Colo., following the service. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m.
She was born on Jan. 10, 1952, to Elinor (Wear) Anderson and John L. Anderson.
She is survived by her husband, her mother, one sister, two nephews, two uncles and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, several aunts and uncles, and one cousin.
Memorial contributions may be made to Roaring Fork Hospice, 410 20th St., Ste. 203, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.
Truman Van Auken
Memorial graveside services for Truman Van Auken will be held Saturday, March 17 at 1 p.m. in the Cortez Cemetery. Pastor Loel Gray will officiate.
Mr. Van Auken was born to James Truman and Mildred Beck Van Auken on Aug. 21, 1939 in Scranton, Penn. He passed away March 11, 2001, at his residence at the age of 61.
He attended school in Scranton and enlisted in the Navy in Albuquerque, in 1956. He served as a Bowsman Mate until being discharged in San Diego in 1959. Truman Van Auken was a self-employed carpenter for most of his life.
He married Emily "Bonnie" Tozer on Nov. 17, 1973 in Bernalillo, N.M. Truman and Bonnie were blessed with 11 children.
In April 1994, they moved to Cortez. Mr. Van Auken enjoyed his life here in the Four corners. He was known as "Mr. T, the CB Radio Doctor" by his friends. Truman was always willing to repair broken CBs. He also enjoyed talking on his CB, hunting, and especially fishing on Lake Shasta in California. He appreciated and enjoyed the company of his many Native American friends.
Truman Van Auken is survived by his wife Bonnie of Cortez; seven sons David, Rodney, Dennis, Richard, Robert, Ronald and Truman II; four daughters Lea Ann, Darby, Becky and Brenna Jean; 34 grandchildren; brother Jim Van Auken; sister Dianna (Loel) Gray; aunt Lila Wesfal and seven nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Montezuma.
Brenda Lynn Wells
Memorial services for Brenda Lynn Wells of Blanding, Utah, will be held at First Baptist Church of Blanding, 300 W. 157 South, on Friday, March 16, at 11:30 a.m.
Interment will follow at the Blanding Cemetery. Alton House will be officiating the service.
A viewing will be held at the Ertel Funeral Home in Cortez on Thursday, March 15, from 1 to 5 p.m.
Brenda was born March 27, 1964, to Mark Anthony Wells and Rose Mary Lang in Monticello, Utah. She passed away on March 10, 2001, in Cortez, at the age of 36.
Brenda worked as a beverage server at the Ute Mountain Casino.
She is survived by her brothers, Troy Wells and Todd Wells, both of White Mesa, Utah; Eric Wells of Blanding; Orelan Wells of Towaoc; Chad Wells of Cortez; sister, Rowena House of White Mesa; grandfather Calvin Wells, also of White Mesa; grandmothers Alice Lang, Helen Lang and Marie Lang, all of Towaoc, and many nieces, nephews, friends and relatives.
Brenda was preceded in death by her parents; paternal grandmother, Ida A. Posey; maternal grandparents, Harry Lang and Rachel Eyetoo; sister Primrose Wells; aunt Sandra Lang; and uncles DeWayne Lang and Wilford Lang.
Edith Freeman
Funeral services for Edith Christena Freeman are scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, at the Friendship Assembly of God Church in Dolores at 2 p.m.
Interment will follow at the Summit Ridge Cemetery. The Rev. Robert Cogburn will officiate.
Edith was born on Nov. 28, 1927, in Scottsbluff, Neb., to Ernest L. and Edna E. (Harsin) Pratt. She passed away on March 10, 2001, at the Vista Grande Nursing Home in Cortez at the age of 73.
Edith owned and operated the Ponderosa in Dolores for many years. She loved to garden, bake, and cook at home.
She is survived by her children, Jim Morrison of Belen, N.M., and Gwen (Jeffrey D. Bouwer) Johnson of Dolores; brothers, Ernest W. (Orpha) Pratt of Penrose, Colo.; Wayne (Francis) Pratt of El Dorado, Ark., and Dean (Ronda) Pratt of Spokane, Wash.; sisters, Emma (Howard) Van Pelt of Dolores; Virginia (John) Purvis of Lewis; and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Pratt of Penrose.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lewis William Freeman, in 1999; brothers, Dallas Pratt and Clyde Pratt; sisters, Hazel Beasen, Helen King, and June Pratt.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Dolores State Bank for the benefit of the Friendship Assembly of God Church in Dolores.
Funeral services are under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Oleta Amrine
Memorial services for Oleta Amrine, a longtime Cortez resident, will be held at the First Assembly of God Church on Friday, March 9, at 10 a.m. Pastor Don Henderson will officiate.
Oleta was born to Jerry Almarion and Stella (Joslyn) Green on July 1, 1909, in Neosho, Mo. She passed away on March 6, 2001, at the Southwest Memorial Hospital at the age of 91.
Oleta married Herman F. Amrine in April of 1926 in Dalhart, Texas. They later relocated to Cortez, where she was known to this community as the one who helped begin Cortez Laundry. She also taught school for some time in Teec Nos Pos, Ariz.
She was a wonderful homemaker and in her later years loved to go to the Senior Center and be with her friends. She was a faithful member of the First Assembly of God Church in Cortez.
She is survived by her loving children, Fayella Larimore of Mancos; Stella Wright of Phoenix, Ariz., Karl Duane (Eylondia) Amrine of San Jose, Calif., Dena (Marvin) Elliot of Cortez, Zelma Epps of Woodland, Penn., daughter-in-law, Frankie Amrine of Cortez; her 20 grandchildren and 49 great-grandchildren; sisters, May Crick of Wichita, Kan., Velma Weaver of Cleburne, Texas, Dorthy Seago of Denver, Colo.; and brothers, Everett Green of Harlass, Calif., Lester Green of Cortez, and Verl Green of Indian Rocks, Fla.
Preceding Oleta in death were her parents; her husband and son, Herman Eugene Amrine.
Ertel Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Winston Thaxton
Graveside services for Clyde Winston Thaxton, of Cortez, will be held Monday, March 5, at the Cortez Cemetery
beginning at 10 a.m. Pastor Don Henderson of the Assembly of God Church will officiate and military graveside services will be conducted by the Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75.
Visitation has been set for Sunday afternoon at the Ertel Memorial Chapel between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Clyde was born the youngest child of Winston J. Thaxton and Mary I. (Reeder) Thaxton in Giles, Texas on Feb. 7, 1906. He passed away at the Valley Inn Nursing Home on Feb. 28, 2001, having turned 95 years old days earlier.
Raised in Texas, Clyde with his seven brothers and two sisters were orphaned at a young age. During the seventh grade, Clyde quit school to go to work. He also began a love affair with trains that would last throughout his lifetime. He was known to "hop a train," riding with the hobos around the country.
Sometime in the 1930s, Clyde made his move to Colorado where he went to work for various farms as a farmhand. He continued his fascination with the Narrow Gauge Railroad Road, making many trips to Silverton aboard the train.
Clyde met and became a close and constant companion to Martha Jane Bonds over 30 years ago. One year ago Clyde and Jane moved from Cortez to the Valley Inn Nursing Home. Jane passed away earlier in February.
Surviving Clyde is a distant cousin of Amarillo, Texas; and loving friend and daughter of Jane, Doris Tatum of Sapulpa, Okla. Services will be under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Harvey Otis Young
Harvey Otis Young, born Feb. 25, 1914, in Colorado Springs, Colo., died Feb. 27, 2001, in Durango. He was 87.
Harvey graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, with a degree in mechanical engineering and did graduate work in engineering at Lehigh University, Penn., before accepting a commission in the Army Air Corps. In the service he served both in the States and overseas, primarily in India.
A lifelong rancher in Dry Creek Basin, Disappointment Valley and Summit Ridge, he was on the executive boards of the Colorado Wool Grower’s Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the Norwood School District and the Montezuma County Housing Authority. He was a long-time member of the Farm Bureau and was honored with state awards for his service.
He is survived by Beverly Murphy Young, his wife of 48 years; his children, Beverly Baril of Roanoke, Va., Max Witkind of Tucson, Ariz., Jane Morehart of Durango, and Clemence Overholt of Phoenix, Ariz. He has four grandsons: Travis Witkind, Ilan Baril, David Baril and Thomas Overholt; and three granddaughters: Jeffe Morehart, Jamie Morehart and Jeremie Morehart.
A celebration-of-his-life potluck dinner will be held on Saturday, March 3, at noon at the Dolores Community Center.
Memorials may be made to the Fort Lewis Foundation, 1000 Rim Drive Durango, CO 81301.
