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Naomi M. 'Mo' Downing
Naomi M. "Mo" Downing, 74, died Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango. Mrs. Downing had a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
She was born Jan. 30, 1930, in Greeley, the daughter of DeVona Kirkpatrick and Orville Kirkpatrick. She married Ralph Downing on July 24, 1953.
The Downings moved to the area in 1971, and Mrs. Downing had lived in Ignacio for the past 33 years.
Mrs. Downing worked at Burns National Bank for several years. She also worked as a teacher's aide at Smiley Junior High School until her retirement.
She enjoyed bowling, traveling and spending time with her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1983 and a son, Douglas Downing, in 1979.
She is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Justesen of Ignacio and Deborah Edstrom of Farmington; six grandchildren, Jenny Schwarck of Anacortes, Wash., Carrie Smith of Mead, Melissa Branam of Longmont, Peter Jamie of Ignacio and Michael Justesen of Ignacio; and a brother, Wes Kirkpatrick of Squaw Valley, Calif.
A private memorial service for the family will be held at a later date.
Fedelina Corina ‘Lena’ Hall
Fedelina Corina "Lena" Hall, 84, who had lived first in Hesperus then in Durango since 1925, died Sunday, March 14, 2004, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango with her family. She died of natural causes, said her brother Anthony Archuleta.
Mrs. Hall was born Oct. 14, 1919, in San Miguel, N.M., the daughter of Beatrice and Eduardo Archuleta. She spent the first three years of her life in the Children’s Hospital in Denver with a congenital deformity of her back, Archuleta said. She walked with braces for some time after that.
She went to school at old Fort Lewis College. During her first years at Durango High School, Mrs. Hall was a weekly commuter. She stayed in town with a cousin then rode the Galloping Goose home for the weekends.
She married Chester Leroy Hall, who died in March 1978.
Her hobbies included sewing and fishing with her family at Vallecito Lake. Mrs. Hall was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, the Altar and Rosary Society, and St. Columba Catholic Church.
Mrs. Hall is survived by her sisters, Rose Alexander of Durango and Genevieve Archuleta of Hesperus; her brothers, Joe Archuleta of Hesperus, David Archuleta of Cortez and Anthony Archuleta of Grand Junction; and many nieces and nephews.
A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today at St. Columba Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Columba Catholic Church. The Rev. James Koenigsfeld will officiate. Burial will take place at Crestview Cemetery in Durango.
Pamela Lane Koss Dirkson
Pamela Lane (Koss) Dirkson, 47, who grew up in Durango, died Friday, March 5, 2004, in Seattle, Wash. The cause of death was undetermined, said her brother Shawn Koss.
Mrs. Dirkson was born Feb. 11, 1957, in Denver, the daughter of Connie Koss and Paul Koss. She enjoyed her childhood in Durango and graduated from Durango High School in 1975. Then she moved to Seattle.
She married Mike Dirkson, her husband of 12 years, May 17, 1992, and pursued a nursing career in Seattle.
"Pam brought joy, inspiration and courage to her family, friends and patients," Koss said.
Mrs. Dirkson is survived by her husband of Seattle; her father of Phoenix, Ariz.; and her brothers, Doug Koss of Silver City, N.M., Shawn Koss of Durango and Stein Koss of Phoenix.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hood Mortuary. A reception will follow at noon at the Elks Club. Friends of the family are invited to attend.
Patricia J. Garcia
Patricia J. Garcia, 72, died Friday, March 12, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center. The cause of death was not disclosed, said Beverlee Ertel, of Ertel Funeral Home.
Ms. Garcia was born Dec. 26, 1931, in Omaha, Neb., the eldest daughter of Dorothy Estella (Gunsolley) Stoft and Donald Dean Stoft.
As a single mother, she gave her sons a sense of where determination and drive could take them, said her son Andrew G. Givens. She was proud of her accomplishments after a simple upbringing, he said.
Education for herself and others was of great importance to Ms. Garcia, Givens said. She received her credentials in physical exercise and spent her life teaching and helping others.
After moving to the Summit Ridge area in the late 1980s, Ms. Garcia began teaching exercise classes to the senior citizens of Mancos. She had an understanding of the healing processes received from touch and shared that with anyone who was interested in learning more, Givens said.
Ms. Garcia moved to Mancos in 2000 and became an active member of the Mancos United Methodist Church and its choir. She also taught exercise to the seniors of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in Ignacio.
"Pat was a teacher, guide and mentor to many women who looked to her for help. She was caring and giving of her time, and taught the importance of passing that on," Givens said.
Her sons remember her as an outstanding mother, especially considering the hardships she overcame. She was interested in what her grandchildren were doing. She was excited that a great-grandchild was on the way.
Ms. Garcia is survived by her sons, Andrew G. Givens of Blacksburg, Va., and Daniel Givens of Santa Maria, Calif.; her grandchildren, Kasey Martin of Blacksburg, Kelly Givens of Radford, Va., Andrew E. Givens of Blacksburg, Jonathan Givens of Blacksburg, Alison Givens of Orcutt, Calif., and Jeffrey Givens of Santa Maria, Calif.; her brother, Jack Stoft of San Francisco, Calif.; and her sister, Johanna Falk of Palm Desert, Calif.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Mancos United Methodist Church. The Rev. Ora Dailey will officiate.
Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Patricia J. Garcia with the American Cancer Society.
William Thomas Tom' Wiseman
William Thomas "Tom" Wiseman, 73, who owned and operated the Wiseman Hardware & Lumber Co. in Ignacio, died Friday, March 12, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center in Durango.
He died after a yearlong struggle with cancer, his family said.
Mr. Wiseman was born Nov. 4, 1930, in Durango, the son of Margaret Summers (Bowman) Wiseman and William Lawrence Wiseman.
Mr. Wiseman graduated from Durango High School in 1948 and from the University of Denver in 1952. In 1950, Lawrence Wiseman bought the H.C. Biggs & Co. and named it Wiseman Hardware & Lumber Co.
After college, Mr. Wiseman went into business with his father, and in 1968, he bought the business. He operated it until 1992 when he retired.
In 1954, Mr. Wiseman married Beverly June Moberly in Ignacio, and they had three children. The couple divorced in 1982. In 1988, Mr. Wiseman married Paula Lundell Conrad in Durango.
Mr. Wiseman was active in Ignacio. He served on the Ignacio Town Board, the Ignacio School Improvement Committee and the Presbyterian Church Session. He has been active in the La Plata County Republican Party and in recent years worked with the Ignacio Community Historical Society. He was also a member of the Durango Masonic Lodge.
He is survived by his wife, Paula Wiseman, of Durango; his children, Gretchen Germer of Palmer, Alaska, Loretta Lancaster of Casper, Wyo., and William Lawrence "Larry" Wiseman of Cheyenne, Wyo.; his grandchildren, Jennifer Germer and Brandon Germer, both of Palmer, Alaska, Mathew Lancaster and Tiffany Lancaster, both of Casper; and his stepsons, Gunnar Conrad of Durango, Carl Conrad of Bellingham, Wash., and Kurt Conrad of Cuchillo, N.M.
A private burial of Mr. Wiseman’s ashes was held at Ignacio East Cemetery. The Rev. Myron Darmour officiated.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ignacio Community Historical Society, P.O. Box 1228, Ignacio, CO 81137 or to the Hospice of Mercy, 3801 N. Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Cathryn P. Woodbury
Cathryn P. Woodbury, 83, of Asheboro, N.C., died Friday, March 12, 2004, at Clapps Convalescent Nursing Home in Asheboro. She died of natural causes, said a spokesman for Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro.
Mrs. Woodbury graduated from Rockingham High School in Rockingham, N.C., and Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C., where she was awarded a degree in mathematics.
She taught school for the early part of her career and then worked as a reference librarian for the Randolph Public Library. She was an active member of First Baptist Church in Asheboro.
Mrs. Woodbury was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Perry Woodbury Sr.
She is survived by her children, Cathy Walker of Asheboro and Richard Woodbury of Durango; her grandsons, Richie Woodbury, Jonathan Woodbury and Jimmy Curran; and his great-granddaughter, Josie Curran.
A graveside service took place Monday at Oaklawn Cemetery. The Rev. John S. Rogers officiated.
Donations may be made to the Randolph Public Library, 201 Worth St., Asheboro, NC 27203, or to the First Baptist Church, 133 N. Church St., Asheboro, NC 27203.
Verna Espinosa
Verna Espinosa, of Aztec, died Wednesday, March 10, 2004, in Farmington. She was 89.
Mrs. Espinosa was born Dec. 22, 1914, in Dyke, to Hilario and Barbarita Larribas.
She lived in the Allison area for more than 35 years, and in the Aztec area for more than 30 years.
Mrs. Espinosa is survived by her daughters, Nioma Gallegos and Albina Sanchez; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; her sisters, Rose Martinez, Aurelia Guerra, Corina Romero, Lila Martinez and Dolores Griese; and her brothers, Jerry Rivas, Tony Rivas, Luis Rivas and Leroy Larribas.
She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Fred Espinosa, and a daughter, Clara Gomez.
Visitation will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. today at the Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington.
A rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. today at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Aztec.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Joe Blonski as celebrant.
Interment will follow at the Aztec Cemetery.
Mary Ida Enriquez
Mary Ida Enriquez, 80, who lived in Durango for at least 60 years, died Tuesday, March 9, 2004, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango. She died of pneumonia after a gradual decline, said her daughter, Alyce Erwin.
Mrs. Enriquez was born Aug. 24, 1923, in Allison, the daughter of Feliciana and Ben Gurule.
"She enjoyed knitting, gardening, spending time with her grandchildren, Spanish dancing and cooking," Erwin said.
Mrs. Enriquez worked as a cleaner for several Durango businesses and for Mercy Medical Center.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe A. Enriquez.
Mrs. Enriquez is survived by her daughters: Ruby Carrillo of Durango, Sally Granados of Center and Alyce Erwin of Durango; her sister, Lilly Lobato of Pagosa Springs; her eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at Hood Mortuary. A rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The Rev. Joseph L. Gallegos, with Sacred Heart Catholic Church, will officiate.
Burial will take place at Greenmount Cemetery.
Frances Archambeau Pruner
Frances Archambeau Pruner, 97, onetime co-owner of Durango Fashion Furs, died Friday, March 5, 2004.
She died of natural causes in Albuquerque, said her great-nephew, Tim Tsoodle.
Mrs. Pruner was born Aug. 7, 1906, near Hog Shooter Creek, close to Bartlesville, Oklahoma Territory, the daughter of Katie and Charles Archambeau. She received her education at the Haskell Indian School and graduated from business college in Lawrence, Kan.
She was a secretary with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. She was also a member of Eastern Star, Ladies Elks, Pilot Club, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority of Durango, and the Haskell Club and the Cherokee Club in Albuquerque.
She lived in Durango from 1940 to 1955, when she moved to Albuquerque.
"Give me a hug,' she'd say. She was a great hugger," said her nephew Larry Archambeau.
In 1988, she married Charles Beaver Pruner, who preceded her in death on May 27, 1997.
Mrs. Pruncer is survived by her nieces, Bonnie Allen of Palmer Lake, Frances Tsoodle of Albuquerque, Irene L. Johnson of Albuquerque, Katie L. Goombi of Mount View, Okla., and Patricia Goombi of Anadarko, Okla.; her nephews, Larry Archambeau, Wes C. Goombi of Mount View, Okla., Robert L. Goombi of Eudora, Kan., James M. Goombi of Broken Arrow, Okla., and William W. Goombi of Wagnor, Okla.
A service will be held at 10:00 a.m. today at French Mortuary in Albuquerque. The Rev. Patricia Green and the Rev. Frank Evans will officiate. Burial will take place at 1 p.m. today at the Veterans National Cemetery in Santa Fe.
