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Ruby D. Wells
July 9, 1917 - February 9, 2006
Ruby D. Wells, 88, passed away Feb. 9, 2006, at Palisade Living Center after a lengthy illness. Memorial services were held Feb. 13 at the First Baptist Church of Palisade. Reverend Mark Johnson and Reverend Steve Koeppen officiated. Burial followed at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Ruby was born July 9, 1917, to Ruben and Helen (Berry) Janes in Dragon, Utah. She spent her childhood in Meeker and attended schools in Meeker and Englewood. In 1939, Ruby married Jack Wells in Meeker, who preceded her in death.
Ruby was a member of the First Baptist Church in Palisade and she liked Broncos football, Ladies Pinochle Club and the Currier Circle of First Baptist. She was the most positive and upbeat person they knew. She will be sorely missed by all of her family and many friends. If she knew you for any length of time, you were certainly her “darlin’.” We love her so much.
Surviving Ruby is her son, Dick Wells of Reno, Nev.; her daughters Sandra Atlan of Palisade and Patricia Congdon of Englewood, Colo.; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, P.O. Box 60307, Grand Junction, Colo., 81506.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Martin Mortuary of Grand Junction.
Nelly D. Williams
June 15, 1921 - February 13, 2006
Nelly D. Williams, 84, of Meeker died Feb. 13, 2006, at Pioneers Hospital.
Nelly Daniels was born June 15, 1921, in Ft. Worth, Texas, the daughter of Cabert Lee “Boone” and Ora Daniels. She was raised in Ft. Worth and for many years worked there as an obstetrics nurse.
On July 29, 1959, she was united in marriage to Carl O. Williams. Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Williams traveled together, enjoying each others company on many trips from Texas to Meeker. Nelly was a member of the Meeker Golf Course and will be remembered by her many friends in Meeker for her kind, loving spirit and her deep Texas accent.
Survivors include her loving husband of 46 years, Carl, of the home, her children of the heart, Gary and Janice McKinney of Meeker, one step son, W.R. Williams of St. Louis, six step-grandchildren and numerous step great-grandchildren as well as one brother, William Daniels of Ft. Worth and one sister, Doris of Lubbock. She was preceded in death by her parents and one step-daughter Lillian.
A funeral service will be held this afternoon, Thursday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. from Cochran Memorial Chapel with Pastor Johnny Arrington of the Meeker United Methodist Church officiating. Friends can call at the chapel from noon until service time.
Cochran Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.
Virginia Lewis
May 27, 1940 - February 9, 2006
Virginia Lewis, 65, of Orland, Calif., formerly of Meeker, passed away Feb. 9, 2006, at Enloe Hospital in Orland, Calif., after a courageous battle with cancer.
Virginia was born May 27, 1940, in Clarendon, Texas, the daughter of Ovil & L.E. Bird. A devoted wife, mother and friend, Virginia worked as a jailer for the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office for several years before retiring with her husband, Harvey, to Meeker. Virginia was an avid bowler, bowling on the Meeker Women’s Bowling League. She enjoyed gardening, music, collecting Indian artifacts and was a fantastic cook. She lived in Meeker until Christmas of 2005 when she and Harvey moved to Orland.
Survivors include her loving husband, Harvey Lewis; four daughters, Belinda Padula of Orland, Sherry Zarate of Orland, Rhonda Bartucco of Meeker, and Rita and her husband Dennis Bruce, also of Orland; stepchildren, Polly Sigulim of Israel, Debbie Arbuckle of Sacramento, John Lewis of Oregon, Jeff and wife Sue of St. Louis, Mo., Dennis Lewis, of West Sacramento; 23 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; brothers, Ed and wife Rita Bird of Meeker and Larry and wife Linda of Willows, Calif., as well as numerous nieces, nephews
A memorial service was held Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Cochran Memorial Chapel in Meeker with Pastor Bill Gibson officiating. A funeral service was also held at the same time at the Oddfellows Cemetery
in Orland. Cochran Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the local arrangements.
Dorene K. Keele
January 24, 1930 - February 8, 2006
Former Meeker resident Dorene K. Keele died Wednesday, Feb. 8 in Arkansas City, Kan. She was 76 years old.
Dorene Kay Keele was born on Jan. 24, 1930, in Meeker, the daughter of Ralph and Katie (Warren) Rector. She grew up and attended schools in Colorado. On Nov. 27, 1948, she was united in marriage to Thomas R. Keele. He preceded her in death on Jan. 11, 1997. Her parents and one sister, Shirley Jones, have also preceded her in death.
In 1961 they moved to Alaska, making their home there until 1982 when they returned to Meeker. An active member of the Meeker Christian Church, the Keele’s lived for many years on the family homestead ranch up Miller Creek. Dorene enjoyed spending time panning for gold, fly fishing, quilting and attending various social engagements.
In January of 2003 she moved to Newkirk, Okla., and later to Blackwell, Okla., where she became a resident of the Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home. In January of 2006 she moved to Arkansas City, Kan., where she was living with Carol Cook at the time of her death.
Survivors include her sons, William Keele and his wife Paula of Pukalani, Hawaii; Wesley Keele of Fairbanks, Alaska; Arley Keele of Seattle, Wash., one grandson, Ryan Keele of Fairbanks, her sister-in-law, Dorothy Brown of Grand Junction, three nieces, Trudy (Wayne) Jones-Burri of Longmont, Kathy (Ron) Smith of Oklahoma City, Okla., Robin (Tim) McCormick of Phoenix, Ariz., two nephews, Mike (Donna) Jones of Maui, Hawaii, and Danny Jones as well as their families and a host of cousins and friends.
Funeral services were held Monday, Feb. 13 at the Meeker Christian Church with Merv Johnson officiating. Interment was made in the Highland Cemetery. Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to either Meeker Home Health or the Meeker Meals on Wheels Program through the funeral home office. Cochran Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.
Robert D. “Shep” Sheppard
November 22, 1946 - January 30, 2006
Robert D. “Shep” Sheppard, 59, of Rangely died Jan. 30, 2006, at University Hospital in Denver.
Robert David Sheppard was born Nov. 22, 1946, in Phoenix, Ariz., the son of Wayne and Frances (Kenney) Sheppard. A resident of Rangely for the past 20 years, Shep worked as a farmer, roughneck and in 1985 began working as a truckdriver.
He was a true man’s man, enjoying time spent outdoors hunting, fishing four-wheeling and being with his family. He enjoyed playing the slot machines, people-watching and time spent at the coffee shop.
On June 16, 1988, he was united in marriage to Lisa J. Vaughan. Lisa survives in the family home. He is also survived by three children, Channel Sheppard and Chad Sheppard, both of Globe, Ariz., Chris Sheppard and his wife Julie of Rangely and his pride and joy, his six grandchildren, Zoe Christine, Abigail Lynn, Chance Ray, Michael Lane, Brandon and Cydney.
A memorial service was held Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Rangely Mortuary Chapel. Cochran Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.
Rosemary I. Dickey
October 20, 1924 - February 2, 2006
Rosemary I. Dickey, 81, of Meeker, died Feb. 2, 2006, at Pioneers Hospital following a battle with cancer.
Rosemary Iantha Brown was born Oct. 20, 1924, in Meeker, the daughter of Walter Marion and Mary Ruth (Davis) Brown. Rosemary attended school in and around Meeker and also for a short time in Ventura, Calif.
She was graduated with the Rio Blanco County High School class of 1942. Following her graduation she returned to California and at a dance met a young Merchant Marine, John Dickey. On Aug. 26, 1946, she and John were married in San Francisco, Calif. Mr. Dickey survives in the family home.
While raising their two daughters, Mrs. Dickey returned to school and received her degree in nursing. She worked tirelessly for the Livingston Memorial Visiting Nursing Association in Ventura, Calif. At the time she began working for the association, it was on the verge of bankruptcy and at the time of her retirement as its executive director, it was a vibrant and busy hospice and nursing center. Following her retirement, Rosemary returned to Colorado where she and Jack ranched above Meeker and Rosemary worked at both Pioneers Hospital and the Colorado State Veteran’s Center in Rifle.
Survivors include her husband, John “Jack” Dickey of Meeker, two daughters, Iantha (Larry) Thompson of Merced, Calif., and Leila (Gary) Ray of Squamish, British Columbia; six grandchildren, Matthew (Rachelle) Crawford of Modesto, Calif.; Scott (Carol) Crawford of Merced, Calif.; Jenna Thompson of Merced; Erin Ray of Denver; Ian Ray of Burnaby, British Columbia; Heather Ray of Squamish; seven great-grandchildren, one sister, Marion Culbertson of Meeker and one brother Charlie Brown of Hamilton.
Her parents; one sister, Jane and two brothers, Bill and Jim have preceded her in death.
A celebration of life will be held today, Thursday, Feb. 9 from 1-4 p.m. at the Fairfield Community Center in Meeker.
Friends may make memorial contributions to either the charity of choice or to the Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association Hospice program through Cochran Memorial Chapel which has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Marshia Emry
December 16, 1933 - January 17, 2006
Marshia Emry, 72, passed away on Jan. 17, 2006, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Marshia was born Dec. 16, 1933, in Meeker, Colo. She was the daughter of Dr. M.A. (Doc) Fredericks and Agnes Shaw Fredericks. Marshia was educated in the Meeker school system and was student body president her senior year. After graduation, she attended Colorado Women’s college in Denver for one year, then transferred to University of Colorado in Boulder. she majored in music. She had the lead parts in several musicals and was also President of The Independent Students at C.U. where she fought for student rights. After graduating from C.U., Marshia taught music in the Lakewood Schools for one year. She then moved to Phoenix to be with her sister Carolyn, where they both taught; Marshia as a music teacher in the elementary schools there for four years. At that time she returned to Boulder to be with family and worked The National Bureau of Standards.
Music was Marshia’s passion. She became active in the Boulder Civic Opera and performed the lead in the well known musical “Oklahoma”. She also had several other lead parts including the Gian Carlo Menotti’s comic play, “The Telephone”, which was a one actor play. She brought the house down! In 1965 Marshia married John Emry in Boulder. After their marriage they moved to Los Alamos, N.M., where Marshia again returned to teaching in the elementary schools and taught kindergarten and first grade for 30 years. She loved teaching, and loved her students.
She composed and published a state song for the elementary schools in New Mexico. She had the honor to teach many prior students children in her 30 years of teaching. While in Los Alamos, Marshia became active in the Unitarian Church and directed the choir. She was also a member of the Los Alamos Choral Society.
Marshia is survived by her devoted husband John, of 40 years; her step daughter Mary Brown and her husband George, children James, Steven, Catherine and Daniel, all of Florida; her sister Carolyn Neher, Carolyn’s children Scott, Patrick and his wife Elizabeth, daughter Susan Osman, her husband Mark, children Tanner and Brianna all of Arizona; her sister Sharon Fredericks and brother David Fredericks both of Florida. She is also survived by her only aunt, Beverly Shaw of Meeker and a host of cousins, and many, many friends.
A memorial service and musical celebration was held on Jan. 27 at the Unitarian Church in Los Alamos.
In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Jennie Elinor Ambler
April 16, 1912 - January 28, 2006
In Meeker, Colo., on Jan. 28, 2006, Jennie Elinor Ambler peacefully joined her Heavenly Father.
She was born on April 16, 1912, 22 miles north of Wray, Colo., on her parents’ homestead. In 1933, Jennie married Everett L. Ambler in Wray. They farmed and raised cattle on the family ranch until they moved to Denver in 1939 where they spent most of their adult lives. In 1999, Jennie and Everett moved to Meeker. Jennie worked for 15 years as a department manager for J.C. Penney, nine years for GEM discount stores and 13 years as credit manager for Sweetbriar Shops in Denver. She retired in 1977.
Jennie and Everett spent many years traveling and especially loved frequenting garage and estate sales. Jennie was a devout member of the Disciples of Christ Church and the Church at Meeker faithfully serving the Lord every day of her life.
Jennie was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was a very special person in the hearts of many.
Her parents, Jennie and Fred Oestman, her husband of 66 years, Everett Ambler, her son Milton Ambler and a great grandson Jacob Ellis preceded Jennie in death.
In addition she was preceded by sisters Fern Kuntz, Gladys Imler, Pearl Edmonson, Velma Ramsey, and brothers Elmer, Fred, Melvin, Richard and Dallas Oestman.
She is survived by her daughters Lee Saucerman and her husband Robert of Woodland, Calif., Elaine Ellis and her husband Fred of Meeker, daughter-in-law, Lois Ambler of Loveland, Colo.; sister Norma Cox of Colorado Springs, nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 31 at the Church at Meeker. Interment was made Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Hampden Memorial Gardens in Denver.
Friends may make memorial contributions to either Pioneers Hospital or Christian Cowboy Ministries through Cochran Memorial Chapel, P.O. Box 1048, Meeker which has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Red Stevens
April 28, 1930 - January 29, 2006
Longtime Rangely resident Red Stevens died Jan. 29, 2006, in the Long Term Care Unit of the Rangely District Hospital.
Lawrence Eugene Stevens, or Red as he was always known, was born April 28, 1930, in Vernal, the son of William and Rhoda Stevens. He moved to Rangely in the late 40s where he worked doing welding and repair work and also a lot of cowboying.
He was a founding member of the old CB club in Rangely where he held the call-name “Cowboy.” He was a past-member of the Rangely Search and Rescue Team and also the Snowmobile Club and was on the Honorary Sheriff’s Posse.
Red’s favorite times were spent with his friends drinking coffee and telling jokes, many of which shouldn’t have been repeated in polite company.
He loved to laugh and tease anywhere he went, but was always most at home on the “ranch.”
Red was legendary in Rangely and will be remembered by all.
He was united in marriage to Mildred “Midge” Mobley who preceded him in death as did one son, Gary, one sister, Barbara and one brother Marvin and his daughter-in-law Judy.
Survivors include his children, Geneva (Terry) Stagg of Pahrump, Nev.; Duane Stevens of Rangely, Carl (Helen) Stevens of Palisade; Rodney (Myra) Stevens of Grand Junction; Evan (Teresa) Stevens of Grand Junction; one step-daughter, Patty Jean of Oak Creek. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, one sister, Alice Winn and one brother Orville Stevens, both of Vernal.
It was Red’s wishes that rather than a traditional funeral that his friends get together at the coffee shop and drink a cup or two of coffee, tell a few jokes and “Red Stories” and get on with life.
Cochran Memorial Chapels was entrusted with the arrangements.
Death Notice
Robert D. “Shep” Sheppard
RANGELY — Memorial services for Robert D. “Shep” Sheppard will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the Rangely Morturary Chapel. Shep died Jan. 30, 2006, at University Hospital in Denver. A full obituary will be in next week’s Herald Times.
Frances G. Lynch
September 30, 1911 - January 17, 2006
Frances G. Lynch, 94, of Meeker, died Jan. 17, 2006, at Pioneers Hospital.
Frances Grace Flynn was born Sept. 30, 1911, in Waukesha, Wisc., the daughter of George and Lena (Everson) Flynn. She was raised in Wisconsin and on Sept. 5, 1936, was united in marriage to Arthur Henry Lynch in Madison.
The couple lived in Waukesha in a home they built until 1946 when they moved to Newhall, Calif., where they resided for many years. Mr. Lynch worked for Sun Oil and the couple lived in various oil communities through the years, including Rangely, Sterling and also lived in Oklahoma. In April of 2000 Mrs. Lynch moved to Meeker to be near her family.
She enjoyed bird watching, hand crafts, fishing and loved animals. Survivors include two children, Cynthia Huber and her husband Clyde of Meeker; Michael P. Lynch and his wife Marianne of Sterling; 10 grandchildren, Melissa Fellows of Meeker; Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Chessani of the United States Marine Corps who is currently deployed in Iraq; Christopher Chessani of Grand Junction; Clyde Huber, Jr. of Bakersfield, Calif.; Cynthia Wright of Hayden Lake, Idaho; Brian Lynch and Anna Lynch, both of Sterling; Erin Lynch of Cascade, Idaho, Matthew Lynch of Waco, Texas; Michael Lynch of Bakersfield, Calif.; 14 great-grandchildren, including Hunter and Elizabeth Fellows, whom she enjoyed spending wonderful times with; and her sister-in-law, Elva Flynn of Bremerton, Wash.
Her husband, Arthur, preceded her in death in 1988. She is also preceded in death by one son, Jeffrey Lynch and her siblings. A private family service will be held this summer. Friends may make memorial contributions to either the American Macular Degeneration Foundation or the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank through Cochran Memorial Chapel which has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Mary Beth “Becky” Lyttle
June 14, 1922 - January 22, 2006
Mary Beth “Becky” Lyttle passed away Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006, at the Walbridge Memorial Wing. Becky is the daughter of Francis and Frances Latson, born in Rocky Ford, Colo.
Mrs. Lyttle was a home-economics teacher in Meeker for several years. She started dating Richard G. Lyttle in the late 40s and the married him June 18, 1950. They moved to Alaska in 1963, Minnesota in 1967 and then back to Meeker in 1989.
Mary Beth was active member in the B.A. chapter of the PEO sisterhood, Order of Eastern Star Chapter No. 100, St. James Church and Guild. She had 50-year pins in both Eastern Star and PEO.
Rich and Becky had one child — Bill (Annette) Lyttle who lives in Golden where he and his wife run a bed and breakfast.
She was preceeded in death by her husband Rich, a sister Dorothy Latson, a brother Francis Latson, Jr., and her parents.
Memorial services were held at St. James on Jan. 25, 2006, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the PEO Scholarship Fund, c/o Cochran Memorial Chapel, PO Box 1048, Meeker, Colo.
Wilbur Roy Hervey
March 3, 1915 - January 15, 2006
Roy Hervey, 90, of Meeker, died Jan. 15, 2006, at Pioneers Hospital.
Wilbur Roy Hervey was born March 3, 1915, in Fort Morgan, the son of Edgar Shepherd and Edna (Slee) Hervey. As a young boy the family moved to Longmont where he was raised and attended school. On May 23, 1937, he was united in marriage to Erma Irene Forsyth who preceded him in death on Oct. 11, 1999. He is also preceded in death by one daughter, Patty, three brothers, Russell, Donald and Walter and one sister, Irene.
For many years Mr. Hervey worked as an accountant and bookkeeper, first in the Army Corps of Engineers and later for the Colorado Department of Health. He was a member of the Washington Park Methodist Church and enjoyed playing golf and cards. He was an avid coin collector. In 1999, following the death of his wife, he moved to Meeker to be near his son, Bob.
Survivors include three children, Mary Jane “Janie” Frincke and her husband Bob of San Diego, Calif.; Linda Bolin-O’Niel and her husband Dave of Gypsum; Bob Hervey and his wife Gale of Meeker; seven grandchildren, Laurie Vaughn, Carol Carrizo, David Frincke, Tammy Baxter, Terry Moss, Michael Hervey, and Jennifer Chaney; 16 great-grandchildren and one sister, Maurine Nesbitt of Cortez.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Jan. 20 at the Tower of Memories Mausoleum on the grounds of the Crown Hill Cemetery
in Wheat Ridge. Cochran Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Frances G. Lynch
September 30, 1911 - January 17, 2006
Frances G. Lynch, 84, of Meeker, died Jan. 17, 2006, at Pioneers Hospital.
Frances Grace Flynn was born Sept. 30, 1911, in Waukesha, Wisc., the daughter of George and Lena (Everson) Flynn. She was raised in Wisconsin and on Sept. 5, 1936, was united in marriage to Arthur Henry Lynch in Madison. The couple lived in Waukesha in a home they built until 1946 when they moved to Newhall, Calif., where they resided for many years. Mr. Lynch worked for Sun Oil and the couple lived in various oil communities through the years, including Rangely, Sterling and also lived in Oklahoma. In April of 2000 Mrs. Lynch moved to Meeker to be near her family.
She enjoyed bird watching, hand crafts, fishing and loved animals. Survivors include two children, Cynthia Huber and her husband Clyde of Meeker; Michael P. Lynch and his wife Marianne of Sterling; 10 grandchildren, Melissa Fellows of Meeker; Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Chessani of the United States Marine Corps who is currently deployed in Iraq; Christopher Chessani of Grand Junction; Clyde Huber, Jr. of Bakersfield, Calif.; Cynthia Wright of Hayden Lake, Idaho; Brian Lynch and Anna Lynch, both of Sterling; Erin Lynch of Cascade, Idaho, Matthew Lynch of Waco, Texas; Michael Lynch of Bakersfield, Calif.; 14 great-grandchildren, including Hunter and Elizabeth Fellows, whom she enjoyed spending wonderful times with; and her sister-in-law, Elva Flynn of Riverton, Wyo.
Her husband, Arthur, preceded her in death in 1988. She is also preceded in death by one son, Jeffrey Lynch and her siblings. A private family service will be held this summer. Friends may make memorial contributions to either the American Macular Degeneration Foundation or the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank through Cochran Memorial Chapel which has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Jesse Lee Harris
May 13, 1934 - January 4, 2006
For Meeker resident Jesse Harris, 71, of Wickenburg, Ariz., passed away Jan. 4, 2006, at home with his wife and three of his children at his side.
Jesse Lee Harris was born May 13, 1934, in Harwood, Texas, to Charlie Lee Olga (Carley) Harris. He was raised there and attended schools there. He later enlisted in the U.S. Army and served six years.
Jesse married Wanda P. McFarland on Oct. 1, 1955, in Las Cruces, N.M. Following his military service, he worked in uranium mining in Meeker and truck driving in Austin, Texas. In 1970, he returned to Meeker where he managed a Chevron Gas Station until he went to work for Colowyo Coal Co. Jesse and Wanda moved to Wickenburg, Ariz., in September, 2002.
Jesse was active in the Gem and Mineral Club and had just ended his second term as president of the club at the end of December. He also attended Faith Baptist Church and enjoyed the outdoors, especially going on rock hunting trips. He also loved taking pictures of sunsets, flowers, cactus and outdoor scenery.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda of Wickenburg; daughter, Diane (Steve) Gulliksen of Meeker; sons, Jimmy Lee (Gloria) Harris of South Fork, Colo.; Jesse H. (AnaFe) Harris of Freemont, Calif.; Vernon (Diana) Harris of Fruita, Colo.; his sister, Shirley Ann DeForest of Toccoa, Ga.; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
A memorial service was held in Wickenburg on Jan. 9, 2006. Another service is planned for Meeker at a later date.
