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William Duncan Latimer Jr.
William Duncan Latimer Jr., 72, of Camp Verde, Ariz., died Monday, Jan. 12, 2004, at his home after a two-year struggle with aplastic anemia, said his daughter-in-law Karolann Latimer.
He was born in South Kingston, R.I., the son of Doris (Whaley) Latimer and William Latimer, and had lived in Arizona since 1974.
Mr. Latimer served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean conflict.
He spent his career in the grocery business, retiring after 34 years from his last company, Alpha Beta.
He enjoyed traveling, and he did so extensively with his wife of nearly 46 years, Linda Latimer. He also enjoyed his garden, particularly his iris beds, and took great pride in everything he did.
"A memorial has already been held, by remembering and being part of the wonderful times the family and Bill had with his friends coming to visit, the many phone calls and the short trips he was able to take during his lengthy illness," said Mrs. Latimer. you. He will be missed because he was loved by those whose lives he touched."
Mr. Latimer is survived by his wife, of Camp Verde; his children: Larry Latimer of Durango, Brenda McDonald of Camp Verde, Barbara Hurley of the Phoenix area, and Lance Latimer of Phoenix; and his seven grandchildren.
Donations, in the form of blood or money, may be made to the American Red Cross, 6210 East Oak St. Scottsdale, AZ, 85257, care of Bill J. Harrison, (480) 675-5400.
Wesley Jane Sidney' Scales
Wesley Jane "Sidney" Scales, 83, who volunteered for an estimated 15,000 hours of community service, died on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004, at her home in Farmington. The cause of death was not disclosed, said a representative of Cope Memorial Chapel of Farmington
Mrs. Scales was born on Aug. 18, 1920, in Ballinger, Texas, to Allie Mae (Conner) Reese and Wesley Reese.
On July 28, 1940, she married Leonard H. Scales. They lived in the Durango and Grand Junction areas for 38 years, then moved to the Farmington area 6½ years ago. Mrs. Scales enjoyed gardening, cooking and entertaining. She was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary at Mercy Medical Center and Volunteer of the Year in 1989. She was also a member of the FX Chapter of the PEO Sorority.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years of Farmington; her children, Melanie Jane Scales and W. Wesley Scales; her brother, Jack C. Reese; her sister, Martha Jo Parish; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today at the First United Methodist Church, 808 N. Monterey Ave., Farmington. Adrianne Coleman will officiate.
Memorial donations be made to the American Heart Association or the First United Methodist Church.
Private family burial will take place later.
Robert R. DeHerrera
Robert R. DeHerrera, 69, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at his home in Allison. He died of a heart attack, said his wife, Julie Quintana.
Mr. DeHerrera was born May 30, 1934, in Bloomfield, N.M., the son of Eleanor and Marcelino DeHerrera. He attended the Bloomfield schools where he was a wrestler and baseball player.
In the 1970s, Mr. DeHerrera managed Skaggs Drug Stores in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Reno, Nev. Late in that decade, he moved back to Bloomfield and worked for Chief Transport and Dawn Trucking. In 1980, he owned and operated his own truck that hauled coal. In 1988, he met Julie Quintana and they were together for the rest of his life. He retired from Overright Trucking at the age of 65 to fulfill his dream of ranching in Allison.
"When they made you, they broke the mold," Quintana said. "I'll never find a better partner in the whole world. You're irreplaceable."
Mr. DeHerrera is survived by his wife of Allison; his former wife, Silvia Gomez of Albuquerque; his children, Mike DeHerrera of Twila, Utah, Anthony DeHerrera of Roosevelt, Utah, Bernie DeHerrera of Sandy, Utah, Ted DeHerrera of Albuquerque, Jessie Herrera of Mesa, Ariz., Roberta Gabaldon of Albuquerque, Nadine Smith of Albuquerque, Deann Cameron of Mesa, Rebekah Herrera of Allison and Simonah Herrera of Ignacio; his brothers, Milton DeHerrera and Raymond DeHerrera; his sisters, Margaret McAdam and Dee McKnight; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at St. Peter-St. Rosa Catholic Church in Arboles and visitation will follow the rosary.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, again at St. Peter-St. Rosa. Burial will take place at Rosa Cemetery in Arboles. A dinner will follow at the church after the burial.
Juan D. J.D.' Alcon
Juan D. "J.D." Alcon, 93, who was married to his late wife, Frances, for 71 years, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004, at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez.
Mr. Alcon was born May 20, 1910, in Corum, Okla., the son of Porfirio and Marina (Montoya) Alcon. He married Frances (Marquez) Alcon on Dec. 29, 1930, in Lumberton, N.M.
After he retired from the construction industry as a laborer, Mr. Alcon worked for several years as the custodian for the Kiva Theater in Durango.
He enjoyed spending time with his family, helping others in any way possible, playing jokes and being outdoors.
He was preceded in death by his wife; three daughters, Virginia Alcon, Maximiliana Alcon and Juanita Alcon; and two sons, Albert Alcon and Demostenes Alcon Jr.
He is survived by two sons, Eloy Alcon of Grand Junction and Phil Alcon of Durango; four daughters, Candie Gurule of Durango, Bea Black of Ogden, Utah, Carmel Valdez of Casa Grande, Ariz., and Caroline Martinez of Denver; two sisters, Porfiria Rendon of Chama, N.M., and Margaret Sandoval of Albuquerque; his step-sister, Mary Ray of Albuquerque; his step-brother, Julian Montoya of Bloomfield, N.M.; 15 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will take place from noon to 5 p.m. today at Hood Mortuary. A rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. today at St. Columba Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, also at St. Columba. The Rev. James Koenigsfeld will officiate. Burial will take place at Greenmount Cemetery.
Edna Mae Gresh
Edna Mae Gresh, 73, who lived in Durango for more than three decades, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Mrs. Gresh was born on May 3, 1930, in Milliken, the daughter of Anna (Cummings) Stansbury and Jess William Stansbury.
She moved to Durango from Greeley in 1969. That same year, on June 23, she married Arthur John Gresh in Cortez, a marriage that lasted for 34 years.
Mrs. Gresh enjoyed her life as a homemaker. She enjoyed caring for her family, home and yard, as well as the outdoors, creating art, and cooking. She was a member of the Neo Delphian women's club and the Durango Garden Club.
She is survived by her husband of Durango; her daughter, Lynn Brinkerhoff of Grand Junction; her grandchildren, Ron Brinkerhoff of Lemoore, Calif., and Brenda Landis of Grand Junction; her great-grandsons, Aaron Landis and Adam Landis of Grand Junction; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church on Aspen Drive in Durango.
Memorial contributions may be made to International Hearing Dogs, care of Art Gresh, 2909 Aspen Drive, Durango CO 81301-4475.
Eliza Wadena Luthi
Eliza Wadena Luthi, 90, who grew up in the Durango and Bayfield area from the early 1920s until 1953, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at the Vista Grande Nursing Home.
She died of complications after diabetes and dementia, said her daughter, Mary M. Imel.
"We took good care of her at home until almost the end," Imel continued. "She only went to the nursing home in October."
Mrs. Luthi was born on March 6, 1913, in Lamar, one of 10 children of Lillian May (Knight) Wagner and Peter Ruben. She was born with a club foot. When she was 4 or 5, her father took her to the hospital and promised to sell everything he had if they would fix her foot. Doctors did, and it served her well during her long life.
She sang at many weddings and funerals, as an alto, and continued to sing until two months before her death.
In 1953, she moved to Cortez, where she lived out her life.
"She was a sweet little lady who just loved everyone," Imel said. "I've lost the very best friend I ever had."
Mrs. Luthi was preceded in death by her husband, Emil Marvin Luthi.
She is survived by her children, Myron E. Luthi of Cortez, Robert E. Luthi of Grass Valley, Calif., Mary M. Imel, Lucille E. Waterman and David W. Luthi, all of Cortez; her grandchildren, Steve Farris of Cortez, Michelle Matney of Durango, Rob Luthi of Grass Valley, Calif., and Sherri Knight of Orangevale, Calif.; four great-grandchildren; her brother and sister, Roy Wagner of Ignacio and Ida Kelley of Odessa, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the Ertel Chapel, 42 N. Market St. in Cortez. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at the Cortez Cemetery.
Alice Frances Lunsford
Alice Frances Lunsford, a native of La Plata County, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, of natural causes at Mercy Medical Center. She was 96.
Mrs. Lunsford was born Sept. 9, 1907, in Falls Creek, the daughter of Peter and Nellie (Mahr) Frahm. She graduated from Bayfield High School and in January 1929 married Loyd Lunsford in Bayfield.
The couple, married 74 years, enjoyed waltzing.
She liked crossword puzzles, cooking and walking. At age 85 she still was walking three miles a day.
"My mother got along with people and had a wonderful sense of humor," said her son, Ron Lunsford of Ignacio. "I couldn't have had a better mother."
In addition to son, Ron, Mrs. Lunsford is survived by nieces Donna Young of Ignacio and Nellie Snow of Montrose and nephews Jim Frahm of Bayfield and Alfred Frahm of Albuquerque.
Mrs. Lunsford was preceded in death by her husband in January 2003, a brother and two sisters.
Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary, with interment of cremains at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ignacio Volunteer Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 800, Ignacio 81137.
Carol Ann Earl
Carol Ann Earl, 68, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center after a brief illness, her family said.
Ms. Earl was born April 11, 1935, in Manchester, N.H., the daughter of Irving and Bella Gleason. She graduated from Central High School in Manchester, where she was an honor society member.
She worked for Equifax for 34 years until her retirement in 1990. She also worked for Suzanne's Sewing in Durango and retired to run her own crafts, quilting and sewing business.
Ms. Earl enjoyed camping, the mountains, skiing, the Grand Canyon region, and especially her cats, Jazz and Rusty.
"She lived life to the fullest. Sewing and crafts were her way of life and her living," said her sister, Kay Fregia.
She is survived by her sons, Joe Gagnon of Durango and Jim Gagnon of Allenstown, N.H.; her sisters, Merle Woitkowski of Manchester and Kay Fregia of Baytown, Texas; and her grandsons, Nicholas Gagnon of Allenstown and Jason Gagnon of Candia, N.H.
She was preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey Gagnon.
A memorial service was held Tuesday at Hood Mortuary. The Rev. Myron Darmour officiated. Cremation was at Hood Mortuary Crematory.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, 1280 S. Parker Road, Denver, CO 80231.
Betty Virginia Shepard
A memorial ceremony for Betty Virginia Shepard, 82, who died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Durango Friends Meeting House, 803 County Road 233. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Women's Resource Center of Durango.
Shepard, who lived in Durango for 10 years, practiced as a marriage and family therapist. She was active in the community, an environmentalist and a lover of music and the arts.
Grace Di Pietrantonio Aspromonte
Grace Di Pietrantonio Aspromonte, 89, who looked after some 2,000 children in her life, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, at the Valley Inn Nursing Home in Mancos. She died of natural causes, said her daughter, Clara Aspromonte-Piccoli.
Mrs. Aspromonte had lived at the Valley Inn since 1997.
She was born in Fallascosa, Italy, on April 27, 1914, the youngest child of Nicoletta Piccoli Di Pietrantonio and Paolino DiPietrantonio. After her father's death when she was small, she lived with her mother, three brothers and one sister in their grandparents' home until she was 19. The family's circumstances meant that she only had a third-grade education, but she trained as a seamstress and learned to weave her own linens.
She married Charles "Charlie" Aspromonte, of Durango, who had gone to Italy to find a wife, and she came back with him to live in Durango. The couple's mothers had gone to school together in Italy. In 1957, she became a widow at the age of 43, with two grown children and three more to raise.
Primarily, Mrs. Aspromonte was self-employed from home as a seamstress, foster-mother and child-care provider. She cared for many children until she retired at 82.
She was a member of the Sacred Heart Altar Society and of the Sorelle Di Colombo Lodge.
In 1977, Mrs. Aspromonte had an audience with the pope in Rome. At that time, she presented a piece of her embroidery to the Vatican. The artwork is a picture of the Virgin Mary and child Jesus surrounded by angels. Mrs. Aspromonte drew the picture and embroidered it on a treadle sewing machine in 1933. The piece was included in an art exhibit that toured cities across the United States. It now hangs in the Vatican.
During the Depression and World War II, Mrs. Aspromonte made clothing for her family. As times got better, she made pep club uniforms for Fort Lewis College and Durango High School. She made the waitress uniforms for the restaurant at Purgatory when it opened.
Her skills have been passed down. Her granddaughter, Gina Aspromonte, was the county fair's homemaker of the year in 2000.
Mrs. Aspromonte is survived by her daughters: Angelena "Angie" Aspromonte of Palmdale, Calif., and Clara Aspromonte-Piccoli of Bayfield: her sons, Dominic Aspromonte of Mancos, Dean Aspromonte of Durango and John Aspromonte of Aztec; her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A rosary will be said at 6 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Durango. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, again at Sacred Heart. The Rev. Joseph L. Gallegos will officiate. Burial will follow in Greenmount Cemetery, then a reception will follow at the Durango/La Plata Senior Center.
Charitable contributions may be made to favored charities in lieu of flowers.
