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Jerrie Lynn Dolen
Jerrie Lynn Dolen, a resident of Austin, Texas, (formerly of Durango), died unexpectedly at her home Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003. She was 49.
Ms. Dolen will be cremated. A memorial service is planned for a later date and will be announced.
Ms. Dolen was born June 4, 1954, in Colorado City, Texas, the daughter of Marilyn Mace and Isaac Stuart Dolen Jr. She grew up in Durango, graduating from Durango High School in 1972. She attended Texas Tech University and the University of Houston, graduating with a degree in art history in 1976.
Ms. Dolen was an accomplished goldsmith and jewelry designer, having owned two galleries, one in Sante Fe, and one in Couer ‘d Alene, Idaho. She later earned her certification as a real estate appraiser in West Palm Beach, Fla. Travel to foreign lands was a passion of hers.
Jerrie enjoyed spoiling her niece to the extreme. Theirs was a very close relationship and she will be greatly missed. One of Jerrie’s greatest joys was surprising grandmother with cookies and other tasty treats and their telephone conversations were so long her ears would go to sleep.
Ms. Dolen is survived by her grandmother, Beatrice L. Gilmore of Mancos; three sisters: Karen J. Marcea of Mancos, Anita A. Dolen of Green Mountain Falls and Molly’o Dolen Hoover of Bayfield; a niece, Shannon A. Bagwell of Cypress, Texas; a nephew, Tony Dolen of Green Mountain Falls; nieces: Trish and Michelle Bliss of Green Mountain Falls and her special friend, Renee Dolen.
Jack Eugene Clayton
Jack Eugene Clayton passed away Sept. 28, 2003, in Albuquerque after enduring many health problems and recent heart surgery. He was 67.
Interment services are planned in Saluda, S.C., at a later date.
Jack was born March 29, 1936, to George Lester and Orvetta (West) Clayton in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Jack is survived by his mother, Orvetta Clayton of Cortez; his brother, Joe Clayton and wife, Gaye Lynn, of Dolores; sisters: Katherine "Tina" Larson and husband, John, of Tarzana, Calif., and Elizabeth "Eizzy" Leech of Cortez; his caregiver, Scott Oliver, of Cortez; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1961 and his wife, Willette (Renew) Clayton in 1995.
Pat Osburn
Former Cortez resident Pat Osburn died recently in Indiana following a lengthy illness.
After retiring from nursing, Pat was active with the ladies golf association and worked at the golf pro shop.
Pat is survived by her husband, Ray, and two sons, all of Indiana.
Condolences may be directed to Ray Osburn, P.O. Box 215, Oaktown, IN 47561.
Carol Sue Hightower
Carol Hightower, a resident of Naturita, died Sept. 27, 2003, in the St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction. She was 61.
A funeral service was held yesterday in the Pentecostal Church in Naturita. Pastor Dan Williams will officiated. Interment followed in the Nucla Cemetery.
Mrs. Hightower was born to Harold L. and Lois A. Spalding Langford Sept. 17, 1942, in Oklahoma City, Okla. She and her family moved to Cañon City, Colo., where she started school. They then moved to the Nucla-Naturita area and there she graduated from Nucla High School.
Mrs. Hightower married David Hightower June 15, 1962, in Grand Junction. They were blessed with a daughter. Mr. Hightower preceded Mrs. Hightower in death Dec. 15, 2001, after more than 39 years of marriage.
Mrs. Hightower was a homemaker most of her life. She worked as a relief driver the U.S. Postal Service on the Paradox route. She enjoyed arrowhead hunting, softball, bowling, camping, fishing and being with her family and friends, especially her new granddaughter.
Carol Sue Hightower is survived by her daughter, Shelly Karo and husband, Leif, of Nucla; her mother, Lois Alma Langford of Naturita; a sister, Lois Ann Gribble of Clifton, Colo., and her dearly loved granddaughter, Shelby Noel Karo.
She was preceded in death by her father; her husband, and her brother, Thomas Langford.
Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale & Gerken is serving the family.
Gene Sanders
William Eugene "Gene" Sanders, a resident of Cortez, was born Jan. 27, 1931, in Greenville, S.C. He died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003, in the Vista Grande Nursing Home at the age of 72.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, in the Faith Bible Church, 146 S. Maple, in Cortez. Pastor David Seaford will officiate. Interment will follow in the Cortez Cemetery.
A visitation will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, in the Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel.
As a teenager, Gene accepted Christ as his Savior. He attended Bob Jones University for one year then transferred to Columbia Bible College in 1950. There he met Dorothy Gibbs and in the spring of 1954, they became engaged.
After graduation from CBE in 1954, Gene went to Faith Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Dorothy went into nurses’ training in Birmingham, Ala.
Gene and Dorothy were married Sept. 3, 1957, in Birmingham. They moved to St. Louis where Gene finished his seminary training at Covenant Seminary while Dot worked as a nurse.
The couple applied to SIM and were accepted and appointed to Eritrea, East Africa. In 1960, they set sail on a Norwegian freighter for the coast of Massawa, Eritrea. They proceeded by train and Volkswagen van to Nacfa, Eritrea, where they served the Lord for eight years.
Because of rebel activity, Gene and Dorothy were transferred to Ethiopia. After a communist takeover of the Ethiopian government in 1975, they were not allowed to continue their ministry there.
In 1976, they applied to American Missionary Fellowship and were appointed to the Four Corners area. Gene and Dot taught vacation Bible school, Bible clubs and bible studies. Gene also visited individuals in the nursing homes and in the jail.
Because of Alzheimer’s disease, Gene has been a resident of the Vista Grande Nursing home for the past four years.
Gene Sanders is survived by his wife; his children: David, Virginia and Samuel; four grandchildren, and his brothers: Frank, Donnie and Eddie Sanders.
Memorial contributions may be made to the George Middleton Missions, in care of Faith Bible Church or to Dorothy Sanders, 11 W. 13th St., Cortez, 81321.
Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale & Gerken is serving the family.
George Edwin Hershberger
Funeral services for longtime Mancos resident George Edwin Hershberger will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Mancos First United Methodist Church. Rev. Bud Rousset will officiate. Interment will follow at the Cedar Grove Cemetery.
George was born in Breckenridge, Mo., on Feb. 27, 1918, the son of Ruben and Vada (Johnson) Hershberger. He passed away at the Valley Inn Nursing Home Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, at the age of 85.
Raised in Breckenridge, George was a member of the Class of 1935. He attended his 65th reunion several years ago. He graduated from Denver University with a Bachelor of Science degree in hotel management and then spent his working career managing hotels.
George was a World War II veteran, serving his country in the Navy.
In 1953, George moved his family to the Mancos Valley where he remained until his death.
Surviving George are Thyra Hershberger of Mancos; his children, Eddie Hershberger and wife, Diana, of Mancos; Jimmy Hershberger and wife, Kallie, of Mancos; Jean Anne Alexander and husband, Brent, of Mancos, and Nancy Olbert and husband, Earl, of Tennessee; grandchildren: Michael Hershberger and wife, Lee Ann, of Cortez; Amy Hershberger of Mancos; Ben Hershberger of Mancos; Brandy Goff and husband, Steven, of Mancos; Keith Alexander of Mancos, and Jennifer Bragdon and husband, Jimmy, of Memphis; three step-grandchildren: Justin, Jenna and Dillon Horrocks; and two great-grandchildren, Kaleb and Ryker Hershberger.
George was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Hazel Olson; and his uncle, Vic Johnson and his wife, Xena.
The family has requested donations at the Mancos Valley Bank to benefit Hospice of Montezuma.
Services will be under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Birdie Katherine Deal
Graveside services for longtime Cortez resident Birdie Katherine Deal will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Cortez Cemetery.
Birdie was born April 26, 1916, in Norwood, Colo., to Roger Lewis and Katherine P. (Merriman) Williams. She passed away Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, at the Vista Grande Nursing Home. Birdie was 87.
Surviving Birdie are her children: Bonnie Jean Deal and Katherine Ann Lard, both of Cortez, and Joseph James Deal of Denver; her 18 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, James Henry Deal; her daughter and son, Mary Ellen Akins and David Deal; and 12 brothers and sisters.
Memorial contributions can be made in Birdie’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association, Southwest Colorado Region of Rocky Mountain Chapter, 701 Camino Del Rio, Durango 81301.
Services are under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Jessie Juanita Fury
Funeral services for longtime Dove Creek resident Jessie Juanita Fury will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at St. Jude Catholic Church. Father Sylvester Schoening will officiate. Interment will follow at the Dove Creek Cemetery.
Rosary services will be held Thursday evening at St. Jude Catholic Church beginning at 7.
Jessie was born the daughter of Mark and Winnie M. (Swallow) Neighbor on Dec. 7, 1913. She passed away at the Vista Grande Nursing Home Monday, Sept. 22, 2003, at the age of 89.
A woman of many skills, Jessie was a talented musician. She had the ability to play many musical instruments and could play by ear. She enjoyed keeping her hands busy embroidering and crocheting. Her family declares her to be an outstanding cook, able to like no one else." When it came to branding time, Jessie was in charge of the branding irons and did all of the branding. She was also a member of the Alter Society of St. Jude Catholic Church.
Surviving Jessie are her beloved children: Isaac Fury and wife, Dianna, of Cortez; Betty Badding and husband, Francis, of Dove Creek; Mary Lou Matz of Centralia, Wash., and John Lincoln Fury of Dove Creek. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Preceding Jessie in death were her husband, Joe Fury; her son, Paul Gene Fury; two sisters: Ora Holmes and Myrne Blurton; and two brothers: Charles Neighbor and Leonard Neighbor.
Services will be under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
