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Chris R. ‘Chum’ Martinez
Chris R. "Chum" Martinez, 62, a native of Durango, died Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, at the Valley Inn in Mancos. He died of natural causes, his family said.
Mr. Martinez was born July 11, 1941, the son of Patricio and Maria Martinez. He went to school in Durango, then served in the U.S. Army. After the Army, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Durango as a firefighter, crew boss and log scaler.
In 1978, he suffered a head injury and was disabled. In 1984, Mr. Martinez moved to Bayfield to live at the Beavers at the Valley View Nursing Home, and in July of this year he moved to the Valley Inn in Mancos. Mr. Martinez was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and he enjoyed fishing and reading.
"I will miss our coffee breaks, the stories Chris would tell me from all those books he read and the times he made me laugh," said his sister, Josie Romero.
He is survived by his brother, Herman Martinez of Aztec, N.M.; and his sisters, Clorinda Archuleta of Hesperus, Josie Romero of Ignacio and Veronica Alsenz of Henderson, Nev.
A rosary will be said at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a memorial Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Wednesday, also at Sacred Heart. Cremation will take place at Hood Mortuary Crematory.
Ernest ‘Ernie’ Allen Godfrey
Durango native Ernest "Ernie" Allen Godfrey, 56, died Tuesday evening, Aug. 19, 2003, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque, N.M. He died from cancer, his family said.
Mr. Godfrey was born in Durango on July 19, 1947, the son of Charles Allen and Lena Godfrey. The family moved to Pagosa Springs, where Mr. Godfrey graduated from high school in 1965.
On Feb. 13, 1967, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Vietnam War. After returning, Mr. Godfrey joined the Army National Guard. He served with the Bravo Battery Third Battalion 200 ADA in Farmington throughout his life.
When he returned to civilian life, Mr. Godfrey joined the Pagosa Springs Police Department and served as an officer for several years, then as an officer with Farmington Police Department.
In 1988, he started his own business, "The Handy Man." At the time of his death, Mr. Godfrey was the hardware manager at the Alco Discount Store in Kirtland, N.M.
On June 10, 1978, he married his high school sweetheart, Eva Emerson. They settled in the Farmington area, where Mrs. Godfrey still lives.
"His biggest enjoyment was his two grandchildren, six grandcats and one granddog," said his daughter, Eve Boellstorff.
Mr. Godfrey is survived by his wife; his daughter, Eve Boellstorff of Cortez; his sons, Robert E. Sims of Montrose and Carl E. Godfrey of Cortez; his grandchildren, Dallas Sims and Samantha Sims of Montrose; several nieces and nephews and many greatnieces and greatnephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Ernestine Godfrey.
A military graveside service will be held at Greenmount Cemetery at 2 p.m. Friday. A pot-luck dinner will be held after the service for the family at the American Legion, 878 East Second Ave.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Ernest "Ernie" Godfrey, P.O. Box 6685, Farmington NM 87499.
Arthur Allen Forsythe
Arthur Allen Forsythe, 91, died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, at his home in Bayfield. He died of natural causes, his family said.
Mr. Forsythe was born on Sept. 20, 1911, in Edna, Kan., the son of Winnie and Jacob Forsythe. He grew up in Edna and began working pipeline in the oil fields in 1938. His career took him as far away as South America.
He married Marjorie G. Forsythe on April 23, 1940, in Ottawa, Kan. In 1945, he moved to drilling work in oil exploration, then in 1952, he and his family were transferred to the Four Corners area.
Mr. Forsythe loved to hunt and fish, and often gave his catch to friends and neighbors. He kept a huge garden that he also enjoyed sharing, and he especially enjoyed his family, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
"He was most always happy, and he loved to razz, tease and kid people," said his son, Rodney Forsythe.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, of Bayfield; three sons, Larry Forsythe of Payson, Ariz., James Forsythe of Bayfield and Rodney Forsythe of Grand Junction; seven grandchildren, Jake J. Forsythe, Jason M. Forsythe and Jennifer M. Larkin, all of Bayfield, Skye Forsythe of Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, N.M., Chelsi Renz and Colby Renz of Grand Junction and Rebecca Aguilar of Aztec; and six great-grandchildren.
A son, Gary, preceded Mr. Forsythe in death.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Bayfield High School gymnasium. The Rev. James Newman of First Baptist Church of Bayfield will officiate. Burial will take place at Pine River Cemetery, 311 County Road 501, Bayfield.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720.
Arlene ‘Arla’ C. Baker
Arlene C. Baker, 40, a Durango native, died Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, at Mercy Medical Center. She died of cancer, her family said.
Miss Baker was born the daughter of Randolph and Lula S. Baker on March 25, 1963, in Durango. She was an enrolled member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church. At the time of her death, Miss Baker was employed as an administrative assistant with the Tribe’s education department. She had also worked for the Head Start Program, Sky Ute Bingo and the tribe’s natural resources department.
"Arla was a very caring person, and above all else she enjoyed being with family and friends. Arla will always be remembered for her love of family and friends and her great sense of humor," said her sister, Glenda Richards.
She is survived by her mother, Lula, of Ignacio; two sisters, Glenda Richards and Virginia Sage, both of Ignacio; five brothers, Dewitte J. Baker, Randy J. Baker Sr., and Howard D. Richards Sr., all of Ignacio, and Ron Baker and Randall Baker, both of Denver; and many aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.
A rosary will be said at St. Ignatius Catholic Church at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Ignatius. The Rev. Eddy Andary of St. Ignatius will officiate. Burial will occur at Ignacio Cemetery (West) in Ignacio. To reach the cemetery, take Colorado Highway 172 west, a mile outside Ignacio. The church is on the right.
Cordelia ‘Corky’ Meador
Cordelia "Corky" Meador died on Wednesday Aug. 20, 2003, in Walnut Creek, Calif. She died of a stroke at the age of 87, her family said. Mrs. Meador was born in La Junta on March 27, 1916, the daughter of Anthony and Beulah Stokesberry.
She moved to Durango in 1957 and married Ted Meador here in April 1963. She lived in Durango until 1996 when Mr. Meador died. She worked as a server in restaurants for most of her life
Mrs. Meador was a past president and life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary 4031 in Durango.
"She will always be remembered by her family and friends," said her daughter-in-law, Sandra Ewing.
Mrs. Meador is survived by her son, Tom Ewing of Concord, Calif.; her brother, Bill Stokesberry of Orangevale, Calif.; her grandchildren, Hope Potter, William Ewing and Robert Ewing of Bloomfield, N.M., Ray Ewing of Oklahoma, Rod Ewing, David Ewing and Keri Eagle of Concord, Calif., and Calvin Barker of Grand Junction. She is also survived by many great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted; her daughter, Ellen; her son, Dick; and her grandchildren Rhonda and Richard. A memorial service will take place in Durango at a later date.
James Wilson ‘Jack’ Largent
Longtime Cahone resident, James Wilson "Jack" Largent died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003, in rural Cahone at 79. He died in a tractor accident, perhaps caused by a heart attack, said his wife, Bobbie Largent.
Mr. Largent was born on June 24, 1924, in Shattuck, Okla., to Laura Blanche (Neely) Largent and Noah Chester.
He grew up and went to school in the Cahone area. He joined the U. S. Navy.
He married Roberta "Bobbie" Louise Wommack on Nov. 12, 1944, in San Francisco.
In 1975, the Largent family returned to the Cahone area. Mr. Largent worked as a sales manager for Rocky Mountain Geophysical, an oil-exploration company.
When he retired, Mr. Largent began farming. He was a regular member of the Cahone Recreational Hall and enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling, golfing and playing horseshoes.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years; his daughters, Susan Eileen Sims of Anaheim, Calif., Donna Carol Copeland of Dove Creek and Jaclynn Marie Thoes of Cahone; his sons, Jim Robert Largent of Bayfield, Larry Ray Largent of Durango and Randy Wilson Largent of Elko, Nev.; his sisters, Zelma Nielson of Pueblo and Billie Huff of Ceres, Calif.; his brothers, Gaylord Largent of Abilene, Texas, Jim Largent of Paonia and Ken Largent of Crane, Texas. He also left 20 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Cahone Cemetery. To reach the cemetery: when going north on U.S. Highway 491 (formerly U.S. 666), turn right at the Cahone Post Office. Continue more than a mile until the road forks. Stay left for more than a mile, and the cemetery will be on the left by the church.
Chantal E. Anderson
Durango native Chantal E. Anderson, 25, died Monday, Aug. 18, 2003, in a traffic accident in Douglas County, Kansas.
Miss Anderson was born June 28, 1978, in Durango, the daughter of Brian D. "Chip" and Vickie (Young) Anderson.
She was a 1997 graduate of Lawrence High School, Lawrence, Kan. where she participated in cross country, track and choir. She graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence with a Bachelor of Science in athletic training.
At the time of her death, Miss Anderson worked as a graduate teaching assistant in the Health, Sport and Exercise Science Department at the University of Kansas. She taught kick boxing and was a certified athletic trainer and a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association. Miss Anderson had her Fourth DAN black belt in tae kwon do and taught tae kwon do at New Horizons in Lawrence.
She is survived by her parents of Lawrence; her grandparents, Dean and Verna Anderson of Grand Junction and Harold Young of Durango; and her best friend, J.P. Merz of Lawrence.
The Anderson family will greet friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Holiday Inn Holidome in Lawrence. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawrence Schools Foundation – Chantal E. Anderson memorial. They may be sent in care of the mortuary. Online condolences may be sent to info@warrenmcel wain.com (in the subject line write Anderson).
Irene G. Fisher
Irene G. Fisher, 71, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003, in Durango, of natural causes, according to the family.
Mrs. Fisher was born Oct. 27, 1931, in Hamlet, Neb., the daughter of Orval and Ruth Daniel. She married Wayne Brent Fisher in Vista, Calif. Mrs. Fisher and her family moved to a ranch in Bayfield in 1966.
She was a farmer, a rancher and a waitress. She also worked on highway construction. Most recently, she served at Community Connections. Mrs. Fisher enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1979.
She is survived by a son, Fred Fisher of Durango; a daughter, Vicki Fisher-Boone of Phoenix; five grandchildren, Tessa Boone, Craig Boone and Trent Boone all of Phoenix, Loren Tippen of Farmington, and Avery Llewellyn of Durango; four brothers and two sisters.
A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Pine River Cemetery. The Rev. Jeff Huber, with the First United Methodist Church in Durango will officiate.
Thomas A. Liatas
Thomas A. Liatas, 88, died Friday, Aug. 15, 2003, at his home in Durango. He died of natural causes, according to the family.
Mr. Liatas was born Oct. 18, 1914, in San Diego, the son of Nicholas and Thelma (Malloy) Liatas. He married Dorothy Kitley, and they were married for 61 years until her death in 1994. Mr. Liatas lived for many years in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he was a restaurant-supply salesman. After retirement, he and Dorothy traveled and then moved to Green Valley, Ariz. He moved to Durango in 2000. He enjoyed golfing, fishing and collecting.
He is survived by a daughter, Nikki Wilband of Durango; a son, Kenneth Liatas of Santa Barbara, Calif.; a grandson, David Wilband of Tucson, Ariz., three granddaughters, Jennifer Liatas of Las Vegas, N.M., Dana Nilsson of Durango, Michelle Womack of Agoura Hills, Calif.; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A private family service was held on Sunday. Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary Crematory in Durango.
Clyde Boggs
Clyde Boggs, 92, of Hesperus, died in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003. He died of natural causes, his family said.
Mr. Boggs was born on April 24, 1911, in Kings Creek, Ky., to Sam and Lucinda (Caudel) Boggs. He graduated from Morehead State University, Morehead, Ky., with a bachelors degree in teaching.
He married Dorsey Baker in October 1936. He worked for 30 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M., and retired in 1973.
He moved to Wildwater Ranch in Hesperus in 1992 after the death of his wife to live with his son and daughter-in-law, Rod and Mandy Boggs. He was a master fly fisherman, hunter and marksman, as well as an enthusiastic reader.
He is survived by his son, Rod Boggs; two sisters, Goldie Dixon of Lexington, Ky., and Gladys Raurk of Cincinnati; and two brothers, Earl Boggs of Lexington and Sam Boggs Jr. of Eugene, Ore. His niece Connie Perkins said, "He was my hero, my uncle, my father, my friend. This flower from my garden will never bloom again, or be replaced. He was truly one of a kind."
Rod and Mandy Boggs added, "He took pride in the scope of the friendships he made over the years, and so did we. We all shall miss him."
Cremation has taken place. Services will be held at the family home in Kings Creek.
Mr. Boggs moved to Wildwater Ranch, Hesperus, in 1992 after the death of his wife to live with his son and daughter-in-law, Rod and Mandy Boggs.
Memorial contributions may be made to Fort Lewis Mesa Fire Department Auxiliary, C/O Joan Campion, 171 Church Hollow Drive, Hesperus 81326.
The Boggs family is indebted to the Fort Lewis Mesa Fire Department for saving their home in the Horn fire.
