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Hugh Gilbert Gil' Brown III
Hugh Gilbert "Gil" Brown III, 50, who lived in Purgatory for many years, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, at University Hospital in Denver, after a long battle with sclero derma.
Mr. Brown was born in Knoxville, Tenn., and grew up in Georgia. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in history and journalism.
In 1981, after working as a sports writer and stringer for several Knight-Ridder papers in Georgia, Mr. Brown hitchhiked to Colorado to start a new life.
A driver dropped Mr. Brown in Purgatory where he worked as a cook, carpenter and Cat driver, learned to ski, met his wife, Carrie Cline, and started a family.
He founded theSan Juan Mountain Registernewspaper. He was a fan of bluegrass music, freshly groomed ski runs and of ink pens that flowed evenly.
Mr. Brown is survived by his former wife, of Purgatory; his children: Hanna Mae Brown and Hugh Langston Brown, both of Purgatory; his mother, Ann Christopher Brown, of Rome, Ga.; his sisters: Patti and Harriet Ann and his grandmother Ann Langston Christopher, who is 108, all of Rome.
A memorial service will be scheduled in the spring.
Henry Allen Leyshon
Henry Allen Leyshon, 75, died Sunday, Feb. 29, 2004, at his home in Ignacio. He died of natural causes.
Mr. Leyshon was born July 20, 1928, in Ignacio, the son of Evean and Cecile (Snyder) Leyshon. He married Bernadine Ann Norris on Oct. 9, 1948, in Aztec. He served in the Navy during World War II. After leaving the service, Mr. Leyshon, who was a carpenter, lived in California and Denver with his family. He returned to Ignacio after his retirement.
Mr. Leyshon enjoyed traveling, camping and fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Bernadine Ann Leyshon of Ignacio; two sons, Glen Leyshon of Northglenn and Steve Leyshon of Las Vegas, Nev.; three daughters, Judy Hill of Buena Park, Calif., Gloria Leyshon of Lakewood and Roberta Ostberg of Arvada. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jim and Shannon Leyshon of Denver, Evean Leyshon of Denver, Rickey Leyshon of Missouri, Ryan Ly Barger of Ohio, Jennifer Leyshon of Nevada, Bradley Leyshon of Denver, Hannah Leyshon of Denver and Julia Ostberg of Denver; his great-grandchildren, Rachel Leyshon, Clark Leyshon, MacKenzie Leyshon, Isiah Leyshon, Elijah Leyshon, Mariah LyBarger; two brothers, Leslie Leyshon of Durango and Glen Leyshon of Ignacio; and three sisters, Ida Whitcomb of Littleton, Ethel Miller of Ignacio and Pearl Wiggins of Dolores.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and three sisters.
A funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Pine River Valley Baptist Church. Pastor Joe Sparks will officiate. Burial will occur at Ignacio West Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Hood Mortuary from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ignacio Volunteer Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 371, Ignacio 81137 or to the Pine River Valley Baptist Church, 11942 Colorado Highway 172, Ignacio 81137.
Earl S. Johnson
Earl S. Johnson, 87, who established and ran Johnson Jewelry on Main Avenue for 39 years, died Sunday, Feb. 29, 2004, at Four Corners Rehabilitation Center. He died of problems related to congestive heart failure, said his son Walter Johnson.
Mr. Johnson was born July 23, 1916, in Pinckneyville, Ill., the son of Bertha and Steven Johnson. His family moved to Colorado where he met and married Helen Llewellyn in Denver on Dec. 31, 1938.
Mr. Johnson learned his watch repair skills working for Montgomery Ward. His skills led him to repair bomb sites and instruments in the Army during World War II.
After he was discharged, the Johnsons opened a jewelry business in Denver in 1948. Later, the family chose to move to Durango in part because it seemed to be a good place to raise children. Mr. Johnson was also impressed with the big fish he caught in Junction Creek on the family's first visit.
"I swear that fish was the primary thing that prompted him to choose Durango," Walter Johnson recalled. "And I fell in the creek."
The Johnsons worked together in their business and Mrs. Johnson was the second woman in Colorado to become a registered jeweler. They closed the business when they retired in 1987.
Mr. Johnson was an active member of First Baptist Church as well as other community organizations.
He was a horseman who owned a gray Arabian stallion called Sir Prize. Walter Johnson remembers that the horse followed his father around like a dog and went on to sire many colts.
"My father was the most honest person I've ever known," Walter Johnson said. "For instance, once when he sized an opal ring and the heating cracked it, he replaced the opal with one that was substantially larger."
After he retired, Mr. Johnson stayed active in the church and the community.
He was preceded in death by his wife in January 2001.
He is survived by his sons, Walter Johnson of Lakewood and Roger Johnson of Pueblo; and his grandchildren, Gretchen, Roger, Aniela and Miguel.
Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Hood Mortuary. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church. The Rev. Jim Brown will officiate. Burial will be at Greenmount Cemetery.
Lawrence J. 'Bud' Denkhoff
Lawrence J. "Bud" Denkhoff, 88, who was manager of Gardenswartz Sporting Goods on Main Avenue for many years, died Monday, April 26, 2004, in Sun Valley Hospice in Peoria, Ariz.
He died of cancer complicated by emphysema after an illness that lasted many years, said his wife, Dorothy Denkhoff.
"He was strong. I can't believe what a body can take," Mrs. Denkhoff said.
Mr. Denkhoff was born March 19, 1916, in Madelia, Minn., the son of Anna (Meise) Denkhoff and Theodore F. Denkhoff. He attended Catholic schools in Monticello, Iowa, and then married Mrs. Denkhoff in September 1950 in Moline, Ill.
Mr. Denkhoff was a watchmaker and jeweler by trade. His long success at Gardenswartz was because he was a skilled salesman who enjoyed talking to people, Mrs. Denkhoff said.
The Denkhoffs moved to Durango in September 1953, and then left for Sun City, Ariz., in January 1980. They returned to Durango in 2000 for their 50th anniversary but the combination of Mr. Denkhoff's health and the altitude meant they couldn't stay long.
"Bud loved the outdoors, especially the mountains. He skied and fished and had horses before we were married," Mrs. Denkhoff said. "He was always talking about cars and was really an all-around handyman."
He belonged to the Lions Club and to the Elks Club for 51 years.
Mr. Denkhoff is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of Sun City; one nephew; one grandnephew and several nieces.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Sun City. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the family plot in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Davenport, Iowa.
Memorial donations may be made to Sun Health Foundation, 131 North 103 Ave., Sun City, Ariz. 85351; or to St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Palmeras Drive, Sun City, AZ. 85373; or to a charity of choice.
Ralph B. Candelaria
Ralph B. Candelaria, 83, died in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 15, 2004. He died of natural causes, said his niece Jacque Jackman.
Mr. Candelaria was born Oct. 24, 1920, in Arboles, the son of Maria Ruben and Anastacio Sena Candelaria.
During World War II, he served with the U.S. Army in the South Pacific, Hiroshima and Okinawa.
He lived in Seattle for 45 years where he worked for the Boeing Aircraft Co. for more than 30 years until he retired in 1983.
Mr. Candelaria was a member of the Hiline Sportsmen's Club; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 751, which gave him a 40-year veteran's award; the Des Moines Salmon Chapter; and the American Legion, WA Post 0124.
He enjoyed fishing, gardening, cards and participating in community affairs in Seattle, Jackman said. "We'll remember his kindness and gentleness," she added.
Mr. Candelaria is survived by his sister, Ana Escandon of Wellington, Utah, and his brother, Arthur Candelaria of Texarkana, Ark.; his nieces, nephews and many friends.
A memorial Mass was celebrated April 22 at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Sandy, Utah.
Military burial will be at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Arboles Rosa Cemetery in Rosa, N.M.
Jennie Gray
Jennie Gray, 84, who had lived in the Animas Valley for about 70 years, died Sunday, May 2, 2004, after an accident at her home in Durango.
Mrs. Gray was born Jan. 10, 1920, in Gallup, N.M., the daughter of Jennie Crestian Grosley and Frank Grosley. She married William Alexander Gray on Oct. 7, 1950, in Aztec.
Mrs. Gray was active in the Animas Valley Grange and was an enthusiastic gardener.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Mrs. Gray is survived by her sons: Steve Hine of Bayfield, James Gray of Larkspur and Andrew Gray of Boone; her 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today in the Animas Valley Grange on County Road 203. The Rev. Dan Straw will officiate. Cremation will take place at Hood Mortuary Crematory. Mrs. Gray will be buried privately in Greenmount Cemetery.
Carolyn L. Holt
Carolyn L. Holt, 87, died Thursday, April 29, 2004, at her home in Durango. She died of natural causes.
Mrs. Holt was born March 14, 1917, in Pawtucket, R.I., the daughter of Henry and Melinda Chartier. Mrs. Holt and her family lived in California for 50 years and she was a homemaker throughout her life. She lived in the Durango area for the past eight years.
Mrs. Holt was an avid supporter of many causes, and was a member of the Sierra Club. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, walks and reading.
"Mom always supported many different causes," said her son, Fred. "She always sent support to any worthy organization. She had a big heart."
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Holt.
She is survived by her sons, Fred Holt of Durango and Peter R. Holt of Grants Pass, Ore.; her granddaughters, Jennifer A. Holt of Fort Collins, Katie M. Holt of Denver and Julie Zeh of Spokane, Wash., and her grandson, Michael Holt of Grants Pass, Ore.
No services are planned at this time.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sierra Club.
Patsy 'Adrianna' Johnson
Patsy "Adrianna" Johnson of Durango died Saturday, May 1, 2004, at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. She was 37.
Ms. Johnson was born July 4, 1966.
She is survived by four sons, Derrick Oliver, who is serving in the U.S. Army and stationed in Korea, Marcellus Oliver of Denver and Antonio Oliver and Sergio Oliver, both of Shiprock, N.M.; one sister, Christine Johnson of Farmington; and three brothers, Leonard Johnson, Jason Johnson and Arnold Williams, all of Shiprock.
A rosary service was held May 4 at LaQuey Funeral Home Chapel in Farmington.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. today at LaQuey Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. John P. Sauter will officiate. Burial will be at Greenlawn Cemetery.
Neida A. Haney Clark
Neida A. Haney Clark died Monday, April 19, 2004, in Lubbock, Texas, where she lived since leaving Durango in 1967. She was 87. The cause of death was lung disease.
Mrs. Clark was born Jan. 8, 1917, in San Saba, Texas. She grew up the daughter of a teacher in the West Texas Panhandle and graduated from Texas Tech College with a degree in English and history. She began her teaching career in Orange, Texas.
She married James W. Clark, also from West Texas, on July 15, 1940, and continued teaching in Orange and later in San Antonio until the couple moved to Durango in 1946. Following her husband's death in 1956, she and their three children, Mary, Marvin and Brett, continued to live in Durango where she returned to teaching. Mrs. Clark completed a master's degree and doctoral work at the University of Texas in counseling and guidance and worked as a guidance counselor, first at Miller Junior High and later at Durango High School.
In 1967, the family moved to Lubbock, Texas, where Mrs. Clark managed the family's farming business and worked as a guidance counselor at Texas Tech University, her alma mater.
She continued as a guidance counselor in the Lubbock area until her retirement.
Mrs. Clark is survived by her three children, Mary Clark Fischer, of Germany, and Brett Clark and Marvin Clark, both of Lubbock, Texas.
Mrs. Clark will be buried in Durango. At her request, there will be no services.
