Search Archived Marriage Records
Bessie Bess' May Hill
Bessie "Bess" May Hill died Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003, at the Good Samaritan Retirement Village in Fort Collins. She was 96.
Mrs. Hill was born July 22, 1907, in Fort Towson, Okla., to John Richard and Jette Moore, the only daughter among eight children.
The family moved first to Turkey, Texas, and then to Memphis, Texas, where Mrs. Hill attended high school.
After high school, she married Emmett Powell, with whom she had two sons, James R. Powell and Tom G. Powell. The couple lived in several Texas towns as the result of Mr. Powell's job with a bridge-building agency. They moved to Luthern, N.M., then to Española, N.M. where, in 1949, they divorced.
In 1951, she married William Hill. The couple lived in various places in New Mexico, Alaska and Colorado before moving to Durango in 1955. William Hill worked for McCoy Company Catepillar until he retired in 1972.
Mrs. Hill was a member of the La Plata County Cowbelles and was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. She loved the mountains, hiking, fishing and picking wild berries and making jam, preserves and syrup.
Mrs. Hill and her husband collected bottles from abandoned cabins and mining areas in the San Juan Mountain, amassing what was said to be one of the best collections in Southwest Colorado.
Mrs. Hill lived in Durango until 2000 when she moved to the Fort Collins rest home to be near family members.
Her parents, brothers, husband and son James Powell, all preceded her in death.
Mrs. Hill is survived by son, Tom G. Powell of Windsor; grandchildren William Powell of Flagstaff, Ariz., Teri Blasus of Fort Collins, and Susan Powell of Vienna, Austria. She also leaves three great-grandchildren, Katie Toliver, Justin Toliver and Christian Blasus, all of Fort Collins, and many nephews and nieces in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Nevada.
A service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Christ in Durango, with Guy Orbison and Hunt Zumwalt officiating. Interment is in Greenmount Cemetery. Hood Mortuary handled arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Four Corners Youth Camp, P.O. Box 145, Cortez 81321.
Alice Sylvia Garcia
Alice Sylvia Garcia, a Durango native, died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2003, at Citrus Nursing Center in Fontana, Calif. She died after suffering from Alzheimer's, said her niece, Dolores Lindsay.
Mrs. Garcia was born Aug. 13, 1917, in Durango, the daughter of Delphina and Antonio Martinez.
She lived in Ontario, Calif., for 49 years and worked as an assembler at General Dynamics for 20 years. She was a parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland, Calif.
"She was a very pretty lady with reddish-brown hair," Dolores Lindsay said. "She liked people to laugh with her. She was fun-loving, cared about her family and was a neat, neat lady."
She recalled that every summer for 40 years or more Mrs. Garcia came to Durango to visit her parents and her sisters.
Mrs. Garcia was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, John Garcia.
She is survived by her daughters, Ramona Gutierrez of Ontario and Brenda Davis of Big Bear, Calif.; her brothers-in-law, Willie J. Martinez and Joe Quintana, both of Durango; her cousins, David and Susan Martinez and Joseph Quintana, all of Durango; her grandchildren, Cheryl Sybel of New Jersey; Laura Gutierrez of Ontario; Kellie Burum of Cucamonga, Calif.; Patricia Gutierrez of Ontario; Jason Davis and Jonathan Davis; and her 12 great-grandchildren.
Services were held on Oct. 22 at Bellevue Mausoleum West End Chapel in Ontario.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation.
Christian Dan Russell
Christian Dan Russell, 84, died Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003, at The Valley Inn in Mancos from an infected gallbladder, kidney and liver failure, said his daughter, Grace Mitchell.
Mr. Russell was born Jan. 28, 1919, in Sandusky, Ohio, the son of Ellen and Carl Russell. He was forced to quit school in eighth grade when his mother became ill and he was needed to care for his brothers and sisters. He cooked, laundered and even made coats for his siblings, his daughter said. He also crocheted and made a quilt top from his own stencils.
"He didn't need book learning to raise eight children. He had the sense to do that," said Grace Mitchell.
Mr. Russell married Alice Mae Millis on Nov. 5, 1942, at Evanston, Wyo. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps for 1½ years, then began 27 years work as an electrician for I.T.T. Wakefield, which made fluorescent lights in Vermilion, Ohio. Besides his daily work, Mr. Russell worked every night on the family farm.
He then moved to Arkansas for 12 years where he managed a ranch and joined Fairland Holiness Church in Fouke, Ark.
When his health failed, he moved to the Durango area to be near his daughter. Mr. Russell joined the Bible Missionary Church in Durango.
Grace Mitchell remembers how her father's lifelong habit of uncomplaining hard work extended to making posters for the church and teaching Sunday school.
He enjoyed the outdoors, drawing and painting. He loved playing with his grandchildren.
"He was a very quiet man. He loved children, and everyone loved him," Mr. Russell's wife, Alice, said.
The couple celebrated its 61st anniversary on Nov. 5.
He is survived by his wife, Alice Mae Russell of Mancos; his children: James Russell of Union, Ore.; Ann Frankel of Clearwater, Fla.; Dean Russell of Loraine, Ohio; Peggy Eagle of Cleveland; Christy Gordon of Douglassville, Ga.; Grace Mitchell of Durango; Margie York of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; Faythe Russell of Loraine; his 18 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at Hood Mortuary from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hood Mortuary and burial will take place at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Mancos.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Valley Inn Nursing Home, 211 W. Third, Mancos 81328.
Ethel H. Gilchrist
Ethel H. Gilchrist, a former Durango resident, died Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Fairacres Manor in Greeley. She was 94.
Mrs. Gilchrist was born Feb. 2, 1909, in Denver to James Edwin and Ethel (Boltwood) Huchingson.
She attended school in Denver and Fort Collins, and graduated from the Colorado Women's College in Denver and Colorado A&M, now known as Colorado State University, in Fort Collins. Her father was president of Colorado Women's College from 1932 to 1950.
Mrs. Gilchrist married James B. Gilchrist Jr., of Silver City, N.M., on Sept. 11, 1936. She and Mr. Gilchrist operated the Broken Circle Ranch and the 2Cs ranches between Silver City and Deming, N.M. They lived in Apache Tejo, N.M., and Whitewater, N.M.
In 1950, the Gilchrists moved to Durango. Mrs. Gilchrist was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Durango, Chapter CS, PEO, Reading Club, the Historical Society of Colorado and Friends of the Library.
She was an avid gardener and cook. She enjoyed music and being with family and friends.
She is survived by her son, James E. "Ed" Gilchrist, of Ronan, Mont.; her daughter, Louise "Lou" Preston, of Greeley; five grandchildren and three great-grandsons.
Stoddard Funeral Home of Greeley is handling the arrangements. No services will be conducted in Greeley. Vault-side services and entombment will be at 1 p.m. today at Fairmount Mausoleum, 420 S. Quebec St., Denver.
Contributions may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado, 2726 11th St. Road, Greeley, CO 80634, or to the Memorial Fund of the First Presbyterian Church of Durango, 1159 E. Third Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Ina Nadine Bodine
A memorial service has been arranged for Ina Nadine Bodine, 87, who died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2003, at her home in Durango.
The service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hood Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Jerry Brown will officiate. Cremation will be at Hood Mortuary Crematory in Durango.
Ina Nadine Bodine died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2003, of natural causes at her home in Durango. She was 87.
Mrs. Bodine was born Nov. 3, 1916, and was raised in Howard County in Minnesota. She was the daughter of Ezra and Marguerite (Winters) Mitchell. She attended Morehead State Teachers College and was a flight attendant and ticket agent for Trans World Airways.
The family moved to Long Beach, Calif., in 1943. She married Jim Bodine on Nov. 10, 1944, when both worked for Bethlehem Steel Corp. A son, Chuck, was born in 1945 and the family moved to Durango in 1949. The couple's daughter, Rita, was born in 1955.
The Bodines owned and operated JJ Bodine Construction Co. and Boker Lumber and Hardware Store Inc.
Mrs. Bodine's interests included sewing, reading and cooking. She was a past member of the Emblem Club, Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, Navy Mother's Club and the Durango Club.
Mrs. Bodine is survived by daughter, Rita Walker, and son, Chuck Bodine, both of Durango. She also is survived by grandchildren Michael Walker of Durango, Brian Walker of Bayfield, James Bodine and Scott Bodine, both of Hesperus, and Nikol Hampton of Kellogg, Idaho. Also surviving her are great-grandchildren Colt Walker, Eric Walker, Troy Bodine, Caleigh Walker, Quincy Evans, Audra Bodine and Jarryn Bodine.
Brothers Edward Mitchell of Desert Hot Springs, Calif., and Howard Mitchell of Medford, Ore., and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive her.
Mrs. Bodine was preceded in death by her husband in 1987, one infant son and three sisters.
A memorial service will be scheduled later. Cremation will take place at Hood Mortuary.
Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3801 Main Ave., Durango 81301 or the American Lung Association of Colorado, P.O. Box 3145, Grand Junction 81502.
Randy Jack Pixley
Randy Jack Pixley died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003, at Mercy Medical Center after a heart attack. He was 44.
Mr. Pixley was born April 7, 1959, in Springville, N.Y., the son of Jack and Martha Pixley. He was raised in Franklinville, N.Y., and was a 1977 graduate of Tenbroeck Academy where he was a five-sport athlete.
Mr. Pixley moved to Colorado in 1978 and worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Littleton from 1986 to 1994, when he transferred to Durango. He was president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Local 792.
Mr. Pixley was an avid hunter and outdoorsman and a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
"He was a man with strong moral and spiritual convictions and the best man I've ever known," said his wife, Kate. "I loved him very dearly."
In addition to his wife, Kate, Mr. Pixley is survived by his parents, Jack and Martha Pixley of Franklinville, N.Y., and daughters, Kimberly Renee Colton of Grand Junction and Jolie Lynn Dokken of Durango. He also is survived by granddaughters, Heather Marie Colton and Heidi Rose Colton, both of Grand Junction, and Allison Paige Chelsea Taylor-Dokken and Mandi Ryan Dokken, both of Durango.
Charlene Martha Howard, a sister, and nephew Scott Howard, both of Franklinville, N.Y., also survive Mr. Pixley.
Visitation will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, 2003, at Hood Mortuary.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003, at Hood Mortuary, with Myron Darmour, the Mercy Medical Center chaplain, officiating. Cremation will occur at the mortuary.
George Lewis Sheldon
George Lewis Sheldon, 88, died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003, at Vista Grande Rehabilitation Care Center in Cortez. He died of natural causes, his family said.
Mr. Sheldon was born July 3, 1915, in Gunnison, the son of Clara (Bush) Sheldon and William Sheldon. He married Cecile R. Underwood on Aug. 31, 1942, at Ayres, Mass.
Mr. Sheldon served in the Army during World War II, in Africa and Europe. He was a prisoner of war for three years in Germany.
The family moved to the Durango area in 1954 from Gunnison. While in Gunnison, Mr. Sheldon helped start the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. He was a member of the post in Durango, as well as the American Legion.
He worked for 18 years at the uranium mill maintained by Foote Minerals and Uranium Corp. in Durango. Then he went to work for the city of Durango's water department until he retired.
Mr. Sheldon enjoyed the outdoors: hunting, fishing and camping.
"He'll always be remembered for his quick wit, sharp mind and generosity," said his daughter, Pati Hicks.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Cecile, in 1980.
He is survived by his children: Pati Hicks of Longmont, Bill Sheldon of Cortez and Rita Hoffman of Durango; his grandchildren: Lenny Hoffman of Durango, Billy Sheldon of Loveland, Wendy Pace of Texas, Jared Hicks who's serving in Iraq, Janis Hicks of Greeley, CeCe Gaudet, Ronnie Gaudet, T.J. Hoffman and one great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be held at Hood Mortuary from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Greenmount Cemetery. The Rev. Anthony Maes will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to V.F.W. Post 4031, 1550 Main Avenue, Durango.
