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Mary DeRuyter
Mary DeRuyter, mother of Jedidah Ann DeRuyter of Durango, died Wednesday, April 9, 2003, at the home of her daughter, Nancy DeRuyter Warren, in Valdosta, Ga. She was 77.
Mrs. DeRuyter died of heart problems, Mrs. Warren said. She had bypass surgery in November and a pacemaker installed in December.
Mrs. DeRuyter was a teacher for 30 years, most of them at Shady Dell Elementary School in Springfield, Mo. She retired 12 years ago, but stayed on as a teacher’s aide and volunteer.
"She loved swing dancing, books and basketball. She was a great fan of the Southwest Missouri State University men’s and women’s basketball teams,’’ Mrs. Warren said.
Jedidah Ann DeRuyter remembers her mother’s strength of character.
"She had amazing strength and joy of life, and she had an amazing capacity for sharing with others," she said.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David DeRuyter, in 1998.
In addition to her two daughters, Jedidah and Nancy, Mrs. DeRuyter is survived by a son, D. Michael DeRuyter of Springfield, Mo.; and four granddaughters, Linsay and Ashlyn Warren of Valdosta, Ga., and Allison and Rylee Michelle DeRuyter of Springfield, Mo.
Mrs. DeRuyter’s life will be celebrated with services on Saturday, April 26, at King’s Way United Methodist Church in Springfield, Mo.
Donations may be made to the Springfield-Greene County Library, Brentwood Branch, Mary DeRuyter Fund, 2214 Brentwood, Springfield MO 65804.
Evan William Hendrix
Evan William Hendrix died of natural causes Wednesday, April 9, 2003, at his home in Durango. He was 64.
Mr. Hendrix was born Nov. 28, 1938, in Raton, N.M., to Paul and Margaret Hendrix.
Mr. Hendrix is survived by three daughters, Amber Hendrix of Syracuse, N.Y., Elizabeth Lifgren of Florida and Pam McClung of Seattle; and a son, Glen R. Hendrix of Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, La Plata County Fund, P.O. Box 1777, Durango CO 81302.
Billy ‘Bill’ Ray Boyet
Billy "Bill’’ Ray Boyet, a longtime former resident of Durango, died Thursday, April 10, 2003, from a heart attack while working in Dulce, N.M. He was 51.
Mr. Boyet died while making a delivery for a Farmington plumbing distributor, according to his daughter, Autumn Boyet.
"My father was very outgoing," Boyet said. Quoting from a memorial service program, she said: "He was a father to many and a friend to all."
Born Nov. 5, 1951, in Salem, Mo., Mr. Boyet lived for 25 years in Durango, working as a mechanic for La Plata County, a hill maintenance manager at Purgatory and as a maintenance manager at Falls Creek Ranch.
He was a lieutenant in the Animas Volunteer Fire Department for seven years. Mr. Boyet also was a terminal manager for Yellow Freight in Durango and for the defunct Merchants Freight in Farmington.
Mr. Boyet is survived by his wife of 32 years, Karla Million Boyet, of Farmington; his daughter, Autumn Boyet of Las Vegas; a son, Gabe Boyet of Farmington; and a sister, Diana Collison of Beardstown, Ill.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Best Western Inn in Farmington. Viewing is scheduled from 3 to 5:30 p.m. before the service at LaQuey Funeral Home in Farmington. Officiating will be Barry Tulk, with the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The family has requested that contributions be made to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 01120-2483.
Carlean B. Huntington
Carlean B. Huntington, a Durango businesswoman, died at her home Wednesday, April 9, 2003. She died of cancer, son-in-law Ben McDonald said. She was 65.
"She was here only four years. But between her church, her business and her friends in quilting circles, she was always engaged in something. She just gave and gave and gave to all of them," McDonald said.
Mrs. Huntington was born Oct. 1, 1937, in Buhl, Idaho, and was raised in that area. She owned a photography business in St. Louis, Mo., before moving to Durango in 1999 to be near her family. She was vice president of Benchmark Learning, a consulting firm in sales and marketing, in Durango.
Mrs. Huntington was a member of the Pine Valley Church of the Foursquare Gospel and the La Plata Quilt Guild. She won first place for a quilt in the "hand applique’’ category at the recent Quilt Durango exhibition. There were about 90 entries in the "hand applique’’ category.
Mrs. Huntington is survived by a daughter, Sidney McDonald of Durango; a son, Tim Huntington of Missoula, Mont.; a sister, Doris Millard of Boise, Idaho; a brother, Ray Conner of Bellefonte, Pa.; three granddaughters Heather Hooper of Boise, Coreena Nelson of Columbus, Ohio, and Ashley Huntington of Missoula; two grandsons, Luke Fauver of Durango, and Austin Huntington of Missoula; and a great-grandson, Ryker Hooper of Boise.
A funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at Pine Valley Church of the Foursquare Gospel. The Rev. Scott Kujath will officiate. Burial will take place at Pine River Cemetery in Bayfield. Visitation will be held at Hood Mortuary from 2 to 4 p.m. today.
Ronda Mann Hemphill
Ronda Mann Hemphill, 81, died March 14, 2003, in Minneapolis, Minn., of heart failure.
Her son, Scott Hemphill, said, "Ronda was a great lover of the outdoors and active in the San Juan Chapter of the Audubon Society, as well as other Four Corners’ outdoors organizations. The San Juan Mountains and the nearby high-desert areas were special places to her."
Mrs. Hemphill was born in 1921 in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and raised in Kankakee, Ill. She was a graduate of the University of Illinois. Ronda Mann married Robert C. Hemphill on Feb. 5, 1944, in Kankakee, Ill. Mrs. Hemphill moved to Durango in 1986 after many years of summer visits to the area. She left Durango in 1997 to be closer to her family in Minneapolis.
Mrs. Hemphill was preceded in death by her husband.
She is survived by her children, Jeannie Hemphill of Boise, Idaho, Stuart Hemphill of Minneapolis, Minn., Scott Hemphill of Park Ridge, Ill., and Jamie Hemphill of New Albany, Ohio; nine grandchildren, Nicholas Derrico, Hayley Hemphill, Noel Hemphill, and Thomas Hemphill, all of Minneapolis, Bobby Hemphill, Andy Hemphill and Kevin Hemphill of Park Ridge, Ill., and Lyndsay Hemphill and Peggy Hemphill of New Albany, Ohio.
The funeral occurred in Minneapolis. Memorial contributions can be made to the San Juan Audubon Society, P.O. Box 2716, Durango, CO 81301, 385-1865, contact Dona Renelli.
Floyd Melvin Ray
Floyd Melvin Ray, former Montezuma county commissioner and lifelong Cortez resident, died Thursday, April 3, 2003, at the Vista Mesa Retirement Home. He was 85.
Mr. Ray was born on Feb. 28, 1918, in Jasper, Mo., to Vernie William and Arlene Pearl (Andrews) Ray. As a teenager, he moved with his family to Colorado in 1933. During World War II, he served in the Army as an aircraft mechanic. Mr. Ray married Helen Eileen Lindsay Wilson on August 15, 1945, in Aztec. He was a lifelong member of the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, and he owned and operated Marsell Motor Company. He also served on the Empire Electric Board of Directors. He was a member of the Elks Lodge, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Mr. Ray is survived by his wife, Helen Ray, of Cortez; two daughters, Sandra Lamb of Littleton, and Rickie Rowe of Arriola; four grandsons, Shannon and Shelby Rowe, and Kory and Kody Simmons; a brother, Bert Ray of Cortez; a sister, Laverna Thornberry of Carthage, Mo.; numerous great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 7, at the Ertel Memorial Chapel, 42 N. Market in Cortez. The Rev. Erika Meyers will officiate. Private interment services will be held at the St. Barnabas Episcopal Columbarium with military services conducted by the Ute Mountain American Legion Post 75.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Floyd M. Ray Memorial Fund at Citizens State Bank.
Leonard William Wood
Leonard William Wood, of Aztec, died Thursday, April 3, 2003. He was 80 years old.
Mr. Wood was born on March 28, 1923, in Farmington to Alfred and Ethel Campbell Wood. Soon after Mr. Wood was born, his family moved to Pleasant View, where he lived until he joined the Army during WWII. After the war, he moved to Hesperus to farm. There, he met Carmen Cordell, and they were married on November 30, 1948. After farming for 44 years, they retired and moved to Aztec in 1991.
The Woods were active as volunteers at the Aztec Museum when they were not traveling. Mr. Wood carved and enjoyed the birds and their singing. He also had restored old tractors. He loved the outdoors, working with the soil, farming and hunting.
Mr. Wood is survived by his wife, of Aztec; a daughter, Donna Stahl of Hesperus; sons, Leonard Wood and Wayne Wood, both of Hesperus, and Douglas Wood of Aztec; a brother, Joyal Wood of Kansas; a sister, Vera Trader of Texas; 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Hesperus Methodist Church. The Rev. Bud Roussett will officiate. Burial will be at the Kline Community Cemetery. Military honors will be given by Durango Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4031.
Donald William Bowser
Donald William Bowser, 44, died Thursday, April 03, 2003, at his home in Durango, after a battle with cancer.
Mr. Bowser was born June 9, 1958, in Joliet, Ill., the son of Robert and Myrtle (Walker) Bowser. He married Darlene McPherson on February 16, 1986, in Geneva, Ill. Mr. Bowser’s career paths included paramedic, courier, piano tuner and rebuilder, auto mechanic and computer work. Most recently, he worked on the maintenance team at Wal-Mart. He loved camping, fishing, playing the piano and relaxing at Lake Powell, Starved Rock, Ill., or Ludington Beach, Mich.
"He was such a strong person," said his wife, Darlene Bowser. "He really loved his family and his friends."
He is survived by his wife, of Durango; his parents, Robert Leroy Bowser and Myrtle Ivy Bowser, both of Durango; a brother, Robert E. Bowser of Durango; daughters: Stephanie Bowser, Rachael Bowser and Michelle Williams, all of Durango; a son, Michael Williams of Reedsburg, Wis., a step-son, Scott Clapsaddle of Bolingbrook, Ill.; granddaughters: Desiree Vertheen of Durango, Kylie Clapsaddle of Bolingbrook, Ill; grandsons B.J. Eastman and Jacob Williams of Reedsburg, Wisc.; and a nephew and a niece.
Memorial services will be 4 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Bill Postler will officiate. Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary Crematory in Durango.
A memorial fund to help cover funeral costs has been set up under Darlene Bowser’s name at Wells Fargo Bank in Durango.
Walter W. Campbell
Walter W. Campbell died Sunday, March 30, 2003, at his home in Vista, Calif. He was 95.
Mr. Campbell was born Jan. 24, 1908, in Mulberry, Ark. He spent his early years near Rocky Ford. He worked as a county agricultural agent in Durango and Lyndon, Kan. During the 1960s he worked for the United States Agency for International Development as an agricultural advisor in Iran, Afghanistan, Laos and Korea. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater.
"He was much loved by all who knew him," said Lynne Bodle, his daughter.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Clark Campbell, in 1990.
He is survived by a brother, James Campbell of San Diego, Calif.; a sister, Zona Miller of Pueblo; two daughters, Lynne Bodle of Lawrence, Kan., and Nancy Booth of Great Mills, Md.; eight grandchildren, John Bodle of Lawrence, Kan., Cynthia Novelo of Baldwin, Kan., Jane Bodle of New York, Margaret Anne Bodle of Vista, Calif., Lauralyn Bodle of Baldwin, Kan., Dawn Arnold of Houston, Texas, Diana Conatser of Lusby, Md. and Patricia Long of Little Rock, Ark.; and nine great-grandchildren.
Cremation and burial will be at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, Calif. A family memorial celebration will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 20, at Mr. Campbell’s home in Vista, Calif.
Esther M. Shubart
Esther M. Shubart, a Durango resident for 45 years, died Saturday, March 29, 2003, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango from an extended illness. She was 88.
Mrs. Shubart was born June 6, 1914, in Birmingham, Ala., to Harry and Esther Santmayer.
She was the valedictorian of her graduating class at Central High School in Alabama in 1934. She attended the University of Alabama for two years and Colorado State University for two years, graduating with a degree in child psychology.
She married Rudy Shubart in 1943 in Colorado Springs.
"I thought she was a wonderful person. She had a lot of personality," Mr. Shubart said.
Mrs. Shubart was secretary for the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce for many years, before she and her husband moved to Durango in 1958. She was an active member of the Reading Club, Durango Garden Club and the Community Concert Club.
She is survived by her husband, Rudy.
A memorial and interment of cremains service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Roselawn Cemetery in Pueblo. Family and friends will officiate. Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary Crematory in Durango.
Robert Sedgwick ‘Bob’ Beck
Robert Sedgwick "Bob" Beck died Tuesday, March 25, 2003, at his home in Durango of natural causes. He was 82.
Mr. Beck was born in Nowata, Okla., on February 14, 1921, the son of John Guy and Helena Gaertner Beck. He grew up in Nowata and graduated from Nowata High School in 1938. He attended Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., and then transferred to the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 1942.
He enlisted in the Army Air Force and served with the 489th Bomb Group during World War II. Many years later, Mr. Beck and his wife, Mary Jean, revisited Halesworth, England, where he had been based. He was a sergeant at the time of his honorable discharge in 1945. He returned to his home in Nowata to help run the family business, J.G. Beck Motors, the local Ford dealership.
Mr. Beck married Mary Jean Cory in Nowata on Dec. 21, 1946. He and his family moved to Durango in 1962 where he owned and operated A.A. Ball Realty and Insurance until his retirement in 1984.
Mr. Beck was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a Shriner and a member of the Durango Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. #507. He had served as both a deacon and elder at the Durango First Presbyterian Church. He was a meticulous craftsman and an avid reader. He enjoyed fishing and spending time at his cabin at Electra Lake with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, Marc L. Beck.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jean Beck, of Durango; three sons, Cory Beck of Grand Junction, John Beck of Norman, Okla., and David Beck of Inola, Okla.; five grandchildren, Warren Beck of Boone, N.C., Carissa and Lesha Maag of Norman, Okla., Cory and Ryan Beck of Inola, Okla.; and a sister, Sue Beck of Nowata.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Durango, The Rev. Bill Postler will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Southwest Safehouse, P.O. Box 2107, Durango, CO 81302 or Mercy Hospice, 3801 Main, Durango, CO 81301.
