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Gilbert H. El TigreTucson
Gilbert H. "El Tigre" Tucson, who was also known as "Cadillac," an elder in the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, died Sunday, July 20, 2003, at the age of 68, at Mercy Medical Center in Durango. His death was from natural causes, according to Hood Mortuary.
Mr. Tucson was born Sept. 7, 1934, in La Posta to Polita and Carlos Tucson. He was raised in Southwest Colorado.
He worked in the coal mines in Utah and Colorado, then retired after a career with the Southern Ute tribe, for whom he carried out landscaping, construction, road building and fencing. He was a part-time firefighter around Durango, Cortez and Farmington.
Hunting was Mr. Tucsons great passion; he also enjoyed fishing and traveling to visit friends and family. Playing pool, music and Mexican dance were among his other favorite activities.
"Hes not playing possum anymore. Hes cuttin acres, as he always used to tell us when he was leaving," said Gilbert Tucson Jr. "Thats what were going to put on his tombstone: Hes cuttin acres."
He was preceded in death by his son, Abel P. Tucson.
Mr. Tucson is survived by three sons, Gilbert Tucson Jr., Michael L. Tucson and Wilfred G. Tucson, all of Denver; a daughter, Edna S. Tucson of Denver; three sisters, Virgie Roybal, Susan Manzanares and Ester Natatobi; two brothers, Carlos Tucson Jr. and Art Tucson; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A rosary will be said at 9 a.m. Friday in St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 15449 Colorado Highway 172 in Ignacio. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Ignatius.
The Rev. Joseph L. Gallegos will officiate. Cremation will take place at Hood Mortuary Crematory.Top of Page
Marjorie Marge Ruth Klema
Marjorie "Marge" Ruth Klema, 83 died of a heart attack on Tuesday, July 8, 2003, in her home at Sunshine Gardens West in Durango.
Mrs. Klema was born Sept. 24,1919, in LaCrosse, Wis. She attended college in LaCrosse, where she studied journalism.
She married Roy Klema, a civil engineer, and spent most of her life as a homemaker in Southern California, primarily in Escondido. In 2000, she moved to Durango to be closer to her family.
"My mother enjoyed spending time with her family, family trips and playing bridge," said daughter Mary Sison.
Mrs. Klema is survived by her sisters, Patricia Williamson and Rose Marie Flynn of Milwaukee, Wis.; her daughter, Mary Sison of Durango; her son, Thomas Klema, of Durango; and her grandchildren, Jeremy Sison of Vista, Calif., Stephanie Long of Denver, Matthew Klema, Julia Klema and Nathan Klema, all of Durango.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Klema, who died 17 years ago.
A memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Hood Mortuary.Top of Page
Denis De Luche
Denis De Luche, 57, a native of Durango and a chief investigator for the District Attorney's Office, died at home in Moriarty, N.M., on Saturday, July 19, 2003, after a battle with cancer.
Mr. De Luche was born on May 1, 1946, in Durango to Erwin and Ruby De Luche. After serving in the U.S. Army, he graduated from Fort Lewis College, receiving his bachelor of arts degree in criminology and psychology in 1972.
Besides his post as chief investigator for the District Attorney's Office in Durango, he fulfilled the same role in Carlsbad, N.M.
He was coach and vice president of Carlsbad Little League and taught at New Mexico State University in Carlsbad.
In 1991, Mr. De Luche was appointed Director of Investigations for the Attorney General's Office in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. He retired in December 1998 and worked part time for the Torrance County Sheriff's Office.
"He was someone people would ask for advice," said his wife, Barbara De Luche. "He was a man of integrity who loved life, hunting, his children and his grandchildren. People who knew him had such admiration for him."
He is survived by his wife, Barbara De Luche of Moriarty, N.M.; his mother, Ruby De Luche of Moriarty; a sister, Donna Cooksey of Wickenburg, Ariz.; a daughter, Cristin Mann of Albuquerque; two sons, Dan De Luche of Point, Texas, and Ryan De Luche of Albuquerque; and five grandchildren.
Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday at John XXIII Catholic Community Church, 4831 Tramway Ridge NE, Moriarty. The Rev. Arkad Biczak will celebrate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PANCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network), 2221 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 131, El Segundo, CA 90245.
Carol Francis Mykytiuk
Carol Francis Mykytiuk died at home in Mancos on Thursday, July 17, 2003, at the age of 73. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Mrs. Mykytiuk was born Dec. 20, 1929, in Gunnison. On April 25, 1953, still in Gunnison, she married Walter Alexander Mykytiuk to whom she was married for 50 years.
The family moved to Durango where Mrs. Mykytiuk joined the Durango First Baptist Church. She worked for the church in whatever capacity was needed. Mrs. Mykytiuk was a Christian who placed God first in her life. She spent many years working with the Children's Evangelism Fellowship.
In 1993, the Mykytiuks moved to Mancos and Mrs. Mykytiuk joined the New Life Assembly of God Church.
She loved gardening, the mountains and craftwork. Her grandchildren, ranging in age from 28 years to 4 months, as well as her great-grandchildren, were especially dear to her.
Surviving Carol are her husband, Walter Mykytiuk of Mancos; her children Gary Mykytiuk of Mancos, Marty Pritchett of Grand Junction, Mary Sue Grein and Dan Mykytiuk, both of Broomfield, and Glen Mykytiuk of Colorado Springs; her 18 grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
Carol also leaves behind five sisters: Helen Hassel of Salida, Evelyn Duncan of Denver, Ola Bartlett of Imperial, Neb., Anna Mae Wall of Socorro, N.M., and Noella Edwards of Brighton; and two brothers, Bob Roper of Gunnison and John Charles Roper of Grand Junction.
Visitation has been set for 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Ertel Memorial Chapel, 42 N. Market St., Cortez.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the New Life Assembly of God Church in Mancos. The Rev. Jeff Morea will officiate.
Memorial contributions can be made at the Mancos Valley Bank and First National Bank, Mancos branch.
Michelle Chris' Castleman Aragon
Michelle "Chris" Castleman Aragon, 36, a former Durango resident, died Tuesday, July 15, 2003, in Denver. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Mrs. Aragon was born on April 29, 1967, in Texas City, Texas. Her family moved to Durango where she lived for approximately 10 years. She graduated from Caney Valley High School in Ramona, Okla. She married Roy Aragon, and she was a mother and homemaker.
She is survived by her husband, Roy Aragon; two daughters, Amanda Christine Sweazea and Megan Daniel Aragon; her mother, Donna Castleman of Durango; her father, Charles P. Castleman of Arizona; her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Castleman of Oklahoma; her sister, Gina Wren of Washington; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Saturday in the Church of Christ, 2100 West Third Ave. Donations are being accepted for a benefit fund for her daughters.Top of Page
Rebecca Ann Devine
Rebecca Brenneman Devine drowned in an accident July 14, 2003, while trying to rescue Buster, the family golden retriever. She was 53.
Mrs. Devine, who lived in La Plata County, was born July 5, 1950, in Jackson, Mich. She moved to Colorado in 1968. She worked for more than 20 years as a registered nurse in the Mercy Medical Center Neo-Natal Intensive Care Nursery.
A tireless volunteer, Mrs. Devine worked to help others and to preserve the environment. She loved young people and worked for many years with new mothers and infants in the Family Visitor/Bright Beginnings Program. Most recently, she was a member of the Child Protection Team.
"Her smile brightened the lives of all who knew her," said her husband, Kevin.
Mrs. Devine also worked to make Mercy Medical Center more environmentally responsible.
Mrs. Devine is survived by her husband, Kevin; sons Conor and Christopher; parents William and Jane Brenneman of Jelm, Wyo.; sister, Laura Lewis of Boulder; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is scheduled at 6 p.m. Monday at Rotary Park. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Mrs. Devines name to the La Plata County Humane Society.
Janet Lynn Windle
Janet Windle, 54, a longtime teacher in Durango, died Monday, July 14, 2003, at home in Middleburg, Fla.
She was born on April 3, 1949, in Abilene, Texas.
Mrs. Windle spent 18 years as a teacher, 15 years of that time in Durango, where she was with her first husband, Steve Ashburn, of Durango.
Later in her career, Mrs. Windle worked as a legal assistant and lived for the last 11 years in Clay County, Fla.
She enjoyed reading, gardening, canning vegetables and fishing, but most of all, she relished spending time with family and friends.
She is survived by her husband, William Windle, of Middleburg, Fla.; her sons, Russell Ashburn and Mack Windle, of Jacksonville, Fla.; her daughters, Amanda McKown of Tampa, Fla., Sandra Naselroad of Jacksonville, N.C., and Barbara Davenport of Jacksonville, Fla.; and her three grandchildren.
Her funeral was Thursday in the chapel of Pons Family Funeral Home in Green Cove Springs, Fla.
Mrs. Windle died by suicide.
Aurora Marquez
Aurora Marquez, a longtime Durango resident, died Wednesday, June 18, 2003, in Albuquerque. She was 92.
She died of congestive heart failure, according to her friend Dolores Barela.
Mrs. Marquez was born on July 20,1910, in Rosa, N.M. She was an active member of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the Serra Club and Sacred Heart Church in Durango, where she was an organist for 20 years. Mrs. Marquez was a devoted mother, grandparent and great-grandparent.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Marquez, and her daughter, Helen Mercurio, of Durango.
She is survived by her daughter, Anna Marie Marquez, of Albuquerque; her son, Thomas J. Marquez, of Dallas; her grandsons, T.J. Marquez, of Dallas, Michael Mercurio, of Arlington, Texas, Jonathan Marquez, of Dallas, and Jay Speidel, of Charlotte, N.C.; her granddaughters, Marita Cason, of Keller, Texas, Annette Mason, of Solano Beach, Calif., Stephanie Logan, of Dallas, Valerie Speidel, of Albuquerque, Meredith Henley, of Austin, Texas; and eight great-grandchildren.
A rosary was said June 20 at French Mortuary in Albuquerque. Mass was celebrated June 21 at Immaculate Conception Church in Albuquerque with the Rev. Louis Lambert officiating. Burial followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
A Mass will be celebrated in her honor at 9 a.m. Sunday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Evelyn Frances Mary Perino Caranta
Evelyn Frances Mary Perino Caranta, 86, a 43-year resident of Durango, died Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at her Durango home. She died of natural causes, according to Hood Mortuary.
Mrs. Caranta was born June 18, 1917, in Rico, the daughter of Joseph and Domenica (Spandre) Perino. She graduated from Durango High School in 1935, then went to work for Wood & Morgan Transfer & Storage.
In 1940, she married Joseph Thomas Caranta at St. Columba Catholic Church and moved to Monero, N.M., where she worked as the towns postmaster. She lived in Monero until her husbands death in 1960, when she returned to Durango. Upon her return, she went to work at the Bureau of Reclamation. Later she transferred to the San Juan National Forest until she retired in 1981.
Mrs. Caranta was active in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Seniors Health Clinic. She was a member of Delta Eta and for 70 years a member of Sorelle di Colombo Italian Lodge. She enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting, gardening and serving her church.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
She is survived by her daughters, Irene Perry, of San Antonio, Bernadette Box, of Montrose, and Mary Frances Trujillo, of Durango; her son, Joseph Barney, of Durango; her grandchildren, Alan Perry, Cindy Kazala, Evelyn Caranta-Kennell, Evette Wiley, Matthew Box and KimberlyJo Box; her great-grandchildren, Alisha Caranta and Cody Joseph Caranta.
Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. today at Hood Mortuary. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Sunday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart, with the Rev. Joseph L. Gallegos officiating. Burial will take place at Greenmount Cemetery.
Donations may be given to a favorite charity or to Hospice of Mercy, 375 East Park Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Aniceto Rosenaldo Ross Maestas
Durango native Aniceto Rosenaldo "Ross" Maestas died Sunday, July 13, 2003, at the Pine Ridge Extended Care Center in Pagosa Springs. He was 87.
The cause of death has yet to be determined, according to Pagosa Springs Funeral Options.
Mr. Maestas was born in Durango on April 17, 1916, to Gabrielita Sanchez Maestas and Candido Maestas.
He served in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He married Lucy Valdez in Pocatello, Idaho, in 1944.
In 1951, Mr. Maestas moved from Silverton to Pagosa Springs, where he worked for the Archuleta County Road and Bridge as a handyman and served many terms on the Pagosa Springs Town Board.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and horses.
Mr. Maestas daughter, Anna Maez, recalls, "He always greeted everyone with a smile, and the smile he had for his grandkids was extra special. Well all miss his smile."
He is preceded in death by his wife, Lucy Maestas.
He is survived by his daughters, Anna Maez of Pagosa Springs and Patsy Martinez of Henderson, Nev.; his sisters, Louise Garcia and Margaret Rodri of Durango, Francis Maes of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Mary Schrimp of Ypsilante, Mich., and Dora Chavez of Farmington, N.M.; his brother, Nick Maestas of Aurora; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church on Lewis Street (Church Road) in Pagosa Springs. The Rev. John Bowe will officiate. Burial will follow at Hilltop Cemetery on Cemetery Road.
