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Ralph L. Coulon
Services for Ralph L. Coulon, a longtime Cortez resident, will be March 6 at the Wild Rose Chapel of Fresno, Calif.
He passed away at his home in Kingman, Ariz., on Feb. 28, 2001. He was born Aug. 11, 1927, in California, and served in the Navy. From 1956 to 1970, he lived in Cortez and managed Cortez Diesel.
He is survived by his children, Sharlene (Mike) Upchurch of Orem, Utah; Dennis (Johnnie) Coulon of Anchorage, Alaska; John (Rosa) of Kingman; Carolyn (Steven) Smith of Pleasant View; sister-in law, Dorothy (Jake) Mills of Fresno; brother, Raymond (Sami) Coulon of Dolores; brother-in-law, Don German of Fresno; 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife Darcus in July 1999.
For further details phone 559-486-7777.
Lilly B. Velasquez
Funeral services for Lilly B. Velasquez will take place on Monday, March 5, at the Evangel Assembly of God Church, 209 W. 5th St., at 10 a.m. Pastor Dennis Rivera will officiate. Interment will follow in the Cortez Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled for Sunday, March 4, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the church.
Mrs. Velasquez passed away Feb. 28, 2001, in the Vista Grande Nursing Home. She was born to Antonio and Antonia Chavez Mestas on Feb. 6, 1932, in Gallina, N.M.
She attended school there, and the family moved to Mancos, where Lilly met Kelly Epifanio Velasquez. They were married on Aug. 16, 1950, in Mancos, and were blessed with three children.
Mrs. Velasquez worked for 15 years at the Ohio Match Company in Mancos. She also worked for Louise Hawkins for many years. Lilly became a member of the Evangel Assembly of God Church in 1981. She taught Sunday school there, and was very active in the church, especially with the youth.
She is survived by her husband Kelly, of Cortez; son Randy and daughter Jessie Quintana, both of Cortez; daughter Jolene (Carlos) Cazavez of Covina, Calif.; brothers Joe Mestas of Mancos and Frankie Mestas of Ogden, Utah; sisters Hazel Corrales of Mancos; Annie Martinez of Ogden; Molly (Charlie) Sanchez of Ogden; Virginia (Ray) Pena of Ogden; Sally (Desi) Alcon of Blanco, N.M.; Margaret (Joe) Sanchez of Ogden; Alfey (Pete) Leon of West Valley Utah; and Helen (Milli) Abeyta of Ogden; Zenda Rice, a granddaughter who was adopted by Lilly and Kelly; 12 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Evangel Assembly of God Youth Organization.
Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale and Gerken Funeral Directors, are serving the family.
Fadi Fred Hallak
Fadi Fred Hallak, a recent Cortez resident, formerly of Whittier, Calif., passed away Feb. 27, 2001, at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. He was 35.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Queen of Heaven Mortuary in Rowland Heights, Calif.
Local arrangements are being handed through Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale and Gerken Funeral Directors. For further information, call 564-0667.
Carol Elene Sturdevant
Memorial services for Carol Elene Sturdevant of Cortez are set for Saturday, March 10, at the Ertel Memorial Chapel beginning at 2 p.m. Carol was born on Dec. 30, 1924 in Eagle Grove, Iowa. She passed away at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001, at the age of 76.
Carol was born to Wayne Wheaton and Mabel Bertina (Ponsness) Gates on Dec. 30, 1924, in Eagle Grove, Iowa. She passed away at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico on Feb. 18, 2001, at the age of 76.
Carol was a devout Christian, a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend.
Surviving Carol is her husband, Wendell F. Sturdevant, whom she married in Marshalltown, Iowa on July 14, 1945. Also surviving are her children, Rick Sturdevant, Ph.D. (Katherine) of Colorado Springs, Colo., Trudy (Larry) of Ft. Collins, Colo., Pamela (Frank) DeFranza of Skokie, Ill., Karen (Karl) Vetter of Fresno, Calif., Edward Sturdevant of Cortez, and Michael (Sharon) Sturdevant of St. Louis, Mo.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Two brothers survive her, Wallace (Jackie) Gates of Murrieta, Calif. and Dennis (Barbara) Gates of Mesa, Ariz.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Paul Gates, who passed away just last year.
Memorial contributions can be made with the American Heart Association or to a charity of choice.
Irma June Powell
Funeral services for longtime Cortez resident, Irma June Powell will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at the Cortez Church of Christ. Burial will follow at the Cortez Cemetery. Mr. Hunt Zumwalt will officiate.
Irma, the daughter of Cornelius "Neily" and Vera (Miller) Roe, was born in Brown County, Neb., on June 14, 1931. She passed away at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, N.M. on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2001. She was 69.
A regular at the Elks Lodge on Thursday nights, Irma loved playing bingo as well as all card games. Reading was a favorite pastime for Irma.
Irma leaves behind a loving and devoted family. She is survived by her husband, Sidney Powell of Cortez; son Brent (Elaine) Powell of Cortez; daughter Roxanne (Grant) Armstrong of Cortez; and her beloved grandchildren, Melissa, Janelle, Brandon, Erin, Elizabeth, and Candace, all of Cortez. A brother Darwin Roe of Fort Collins, Colo.; and two sisters, Lois (Bill) Rutledge and Vada Small, both of Cortez; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends also survive Irma.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Darrel Roe; sister, Lillie Mae James; and twin sisters, LaVonna and LaVerna Roe.
Memorial contributions can be made at the First National Bank of Cortez to benefit the American Heart Association. Services will be under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Edna Sylvia Seitz
Funeral services for Edna Sylvia Seitz, a lifetime resident of Cortez, are scheduled for Thursday, March 1, at the Cortez Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at the Goodman Point Cemetery. Bishop Mortensen will be conducting the services.
Edna was born on Feb. 15, 1912 in Mancos, to William McEwen and Laura Jane (Bell) Willden. She passed away on Friday, Feb. 23, 2001 at the Valley Inn Nursing Home at the age of 89.
Edna was known and loved for her domestic skills. She was part of the Dolores River Garden Club and helped to create a recipe book. She kept a beautiful flower garden. She was a help to her husband, McBirney Seitz, as a farmer's wife and also helping in the years that they ran the Trailways Bus Station in Cortez. A highlight in her life came while in her 60's when she and her sister, Harriet, climbed Helmet Peak.
She is survived by her grandchildren; Brad (Keri) Mustoe of Cortez, Clay Mustoe of Cortez, Craig Mustoe, Susan Holt, Brett Mustoe all three of Utah, Aaron Mustoe, Nancy Patt, Cyndi Seitz, Erica Cunningham all four of Calif, Warren Seitz of Mass., David Seitz of Ariz., Scott Seitz of Ill.; and numerous great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by both of her parents; her husband in 1995; daughter, Charlotte Mustoe; sons, Charles and George Seitz; grandson, Grant Mustoe; and 12 brothers and sisters.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association in care of the Valley Inn Nursing Home, 211 3rd Ave. Mancos, CO 81328. Services are under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Evelyn Avis Vaughn
Graveside services for Evelyn Avis Vaughn are scheduled for Monday, July 2, at the Summit Ridge Cemetery
at 10 a.m. Pastor Jimmy Kennedy of the First Southern Baptist Church will officiate
Evelyn, the daughter of Newell J. and Mary Ella (Allan) King, was born on May 19, 1910, in El Dorado, Okla. She passed away on June 28, 2001, at the Vista Grande Nursing Home at the age of 91.
She was a homemaker who loved to cook and garden and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Dolores. Evelyn worked for many years as the manager of Pippo's Restaurant.
She is survived by her three daughters, Joyce Ann (Carl) Armstrong of Cortez, Mary June (Wayne) Wolff of Ridgway, Colo., and Colleen (Ted) Holiday of Queen Creek, Ariz.; 18 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren; brothers, Obert King of Amarillo, Texas, Glen King and Nelson King both of Silverton, Texas, Jimmy W. King and Murvin King both of Cortez; and sisters, Ada Del Ennis of Denton, Texas, and Ruth French of Ord, Neb.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ernest Raymond Vaughn, who passed away in 1984; and four brothers.
James J. ‘Ace’ Welch
Funeral services for James J. "Ace" Welch are scheduled for Tuesday, July 3, at the Ertel Memorial Chapel at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at the Summit Ridge Cemetery.
Ace was born to Michele "Mike" and Marie Antoinette (Hennequin) Welch on March 2, 1915, in Crested Butte, Colo. He passed away June 29, 2001, at Southwest Memorial Hospital. He was 86.
Ace was wed to Marjorie Grace Becher in Kansas City, Kan., on March 6, 1944. He served his country in the Navy on submarines in WWII. He located his family in Dolores and started the Superior Auto Supply in Cortez on Dec. 7, 1964.
Surviving Ace is his wife of 57 years, Marjorie, of Dolores; children, James R. (Mary Lou) Welch of Dolores, Mike (Karen) Welch of Cortez, Val (Betty) Welch of Cortez; grandchildren, Heather (Don) Nowlin, Trevor Welch, and Kyle Doudy all of Cortez; and brothers, Angelo (Grace) Welch of Helper, Utah, Michael (Jessie Mae) Welch of Cañon City, Colo., and William (Pearl) Welch of Alameda, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Frances Smith, Marie Runge, and Josephine Orchison.
Memorial contributions may be made in Ace Welch’s name to the Dolores Fire Department.
Verda Bernadine Cummings
Memorial services for Verda Bernadine Cummings, a former resident of the Yellow Jacket area, are scheduled for Friday, June 29, at the Ertel Memorial Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at the Cortez Cemetery. Brothers Clinton Smart and Lester Peister will officiate.
Verda Cummings died on June 21, 2001, at the age of 82.
Verda was born in Vici, Okla., to Thomas and Emma Moss. She was one of eight children. She lived in Vici until the age of 17, when the Moss family moved to Pleasant View.
There she met Ben Cummings and after a long courtship they were married on Nov. 2, 1940, in Monticello, Utah.
In 1941, she and Ben began farming near Yellow Jacket, and continued until 1981, when they moved to Mesa, Ariz., where she and Ben managed a mobile-home park for 15 years. During this time they traveled in the summer months, seeing much of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Verda suffered a stroke in 1999 and Ben cared for her at home until her death.
Verda was a wonderful wife, mother and homemaker. She was loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, two sisters, and one granddaughter.
She is survived by her husband; two daughters, Linda Pruitt and Connie Pruitt, both of Farmington, N.M.; two sisters, Dorothy Koehler of Albuquerque and Ruth Crowley of Eastland, Utah; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Naomi Hahs
Naomi Hahs, a resident of Dolores, died June 25, 2001, at her home. She was 83.
She was born to Eugene Ralph and Mary Evelyn (Brown) Heiliger on Feb. 22, 1928, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
She was wed to Thomas Hahs who had preceded her in death. She was a homemaker.
She is survived by cousin, Ann Kennedy of Roswell, N.M.; brother-in-law, Jack Jacobs of Yale, Okla.; great-niece, Theresa Jacobs Lowry of Houston, Texas; dear friend, Pat Redburn; and many other wonderful friends.
There are no services planned at this time. For further information, contact the Ertel Funeral Home at 565-3468.
Euologio Salazar Jr.
Eulogio Salazar Jr., a lifelong resident of Tierra Amarilla, N.M., passed away at his sister’s residence in Cortez on June 22, 2001. He was 52.
A prayer vigil will be held Tuesday, June 26, at 7 p.m. in the Santo Nino Catholic Church. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, June 27, at the church. Father Salvador Aragon will be the Celebrant. Interment will follow in the Santo Nino Cemetery
in Los Ojos, N.M.
Eulogio was born to Eulogio and Casilda Olivas Salazar on Dec. 28, 1948, in Tierra Amarilla. He attended school there. He worked for 18 years with the New Mexico State Highway Department. Prior to that, Eulogio worked on construction projects and also as a truck driver.
Eulogio was a member of the Santo Nino Catholic Church, a member of Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Posse and a member of the Ganados Del Valle.
He loved his horses, and he was deeply involved with the sheriff’s posse. He also enjoyed rodeos, and dancing to country and swing Spanish music. He loved his friends and family.
Eulogio is survived by his son, Frank; daughters Karrie and Melanie; sisters Amelia Montana, Theresa Garcia and Helen Salazar; three grandsons and two nieces, Pebbles and Melisha; nephews Mark, Melvin and Anthony; several cousins, one aunt and many friends.
Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale and Gerken funeral directors, are serving the family.
Kenneth 'Kenny' Waggoner
Funeral services for longtime Mancos resident, Kenneth Kermit "Kenny" Waggoner have been set for Friday, June 29, at the Mancos First Baptist Church beginning at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at the Cedar Grove Cemetery. The Rev. Dan Straw will officiate. Visitation will be held Thursday afternoon at the Ertel Memorial Chapel between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Kenny was born in Swink, Colo. on May 21, 1910 the son of James Adelbert and Lucy (Underwood) Waggoner. He passed away at the Valley Inn Nursing Home on Sat., June 23, 2001. He was 91.
Freda Woods became Kenny's bride on Sept. 30, 1931 in Aztec, N.M. Together they shared 63 years of marriage until Freda's death in May 1995. Kenny was a member of the Mancos First Baptist Church.
Surviving Kenny are his three daughters, Karen (Clyde) Cerniway of Grants, N.M., Rosalie (Donald) Knight of Bayfield, Colo., and Mary Elizabeth (Phil) of Belen, N.M.; 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren; and his sister, Helen Nelson of Aztec, N.M.
In addition to his wife, Freda, Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and three brothers.
Memorial contributions can be made with the Mancos First Baptist Church to benefit the missionary fund.
Bill Johnson
A memorial service will be held for Bill Johnson at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, June 30, at the Beaver Corrals. A potluck lunch will precede the service at 1 p.m.
Mr. Johnson passed away earlier this spring on April 7, 2001. He was born in the Cortez area on Sept. 25, 1922. Bill ran his family’s ranch near Cortez for many years, and was hired on by the state of Colorado in 1960, working as a brand inspector until his retirement at age 66.
Bill was only retired for one year before going back to work, this time for producers, as a cattle solicitor up until his final days. He spent the last part of his life in Greeley, Colo., where most of his family, including his wife, resides today.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mae Johnson, and five children and their families, which include 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. His sisters, Katherine and Josephine, also survive him.
Friends and family are invited to the memorial service. For further service information, contact Camie Buron at 505-856-7611.
