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Anna Mae Van Natter
Anna Mae Van Natter, of Durango, died Sunday, May 2, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center. She was 91.
Mrs. Van Natter was born Feb. 25, 1913, in Pratt City, Ala., the daughter of John and Margaret Carter. On Nov. 21, 1931, she married Percy Chester Van Natter in Kentucky.
Mrs. Van Natter was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Durango, 2nd Ward.
She was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her daughter, Anita Carden of Durango, 11 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with Bishop Vaughan Johnson officiating. Burial will occur at 10 a.m., May 7 at Crown Hill Cemetery in Denver.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Missionary or Humanitarian Fund, Durango LDS Church, 2nd Ward, 2 Hilltop Circle, Durango, CO 81301.
Lillian Louise Burkes
Lillian Louise Burkes, a resident of Bayfield, died Sunday, April 25, 2004, of natural causes. She was 96.
Mrs. Burkes was born Oct. 19, 1907, in Mount Vernon, Ind., the eldest of five siblings.
Mrs. Burkes, a nurse and substitute teacher for many years, loved to watch deer that came into her yard, and she had a special passion for quilting and reading. She also played the harmonica at all family gatherings and special evenings.
Mrs. Burkes is survived by a son, Jerry Burkes of Tucson, Ariz.; and daughters, Sharon Ferguson of Bayfield and Phyllis Kennedy of Thousand Oaks, Calif. She also is survived by nine grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and nine nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Burkes' siblings, Werner, Margie, Selma and Johnny, preceded her in death.
Memorial donations may be sent to Pine Valley Church, P.O. Box 740, Bayfield 81122.
David Albert Speelman
David Albert Speelman, of Ignacio, died of cancer at his home Friday, April 30, 2004. He was 68.
Mr. Speelman was born Oct. 2, 1935, in Monterey, Calif., the son of John and Mary Zopfi Speelman.
Mr. Speelman served in the Army during the Korean conflict. He married Betty J. Hall on April 2, 1976, in Gallup, N.M.
After spending years in the lumber industry in Northern California, Mr. Speelman turned to education, receiving a degree from Humboldt State University in Arcada, Calif. He moved to Thoreau, N.M., to begin a 23-year career in education there and in Bloomfield. He earned a master's degree in vocational education from Colorado State University.
Mr. Speelman was a member of Durango Elks Lodge #507, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed the mountains and the ocean, snowmobiling, hunting and traveling, especially with his grandchildren.
Mr. Speelman is survived by his wife, his mother and five sons, Kelly of Parker, Kirk of Crescent City, Calif., Kenney of San Diego, Brian of Miranda, Calif., and Klint of Nashville, Tenn. He also is survived by a niece, Wendi Rider of Lamar, and nine grandchildren, Kiley, Kooper, Logan, Mercedes, Jennifer, Jessica, Katie, Andrael and Mikaela. He was preceded in death by two grandsons, Storm and Tiger Hall.
A graveside service is scheduled at 2 p.m. Monday at Pine River Cemetery in Bayfield, with the Rev. Art Bell, with Calvary Presbyterian Church, officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Hospice of Mercy, 3801 Main Ave., Durango 81301 or to the Ignacio Community Library in Ignacio.
Paul W. Cronkhite
Paul W. Cronkhite, 79, died Tuesday, April 27, 2004, at his home in Pagosa Springs, of natural causes.
Mr. Cronkhite was born Dec. 21, 1924, in Denver, the son of Paul and Helen Cronkhite.
Mr. Cronkhite attended South High School in Denver and earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering at the University of Colorado School of Engineering.
He married Muriel D. Cronkhite on Sept. 15, 1951, in Flushing, N.Y.
Mr. Cronkhite enlisted in the Navy in 1942 during WWII and attained the rank of lieutenant, junior grade. He served on the USS St. Paul and was honorably discharged in 1946.
He earned a master's in physics at the University of Minnesota. Mr. Cronkhite worked at Monsanto and Motorola as a key designer and developer of the silicon wafer. He owns many patents for the chips and the processes involved in their creation.
Mr. Cronkhite lived in Pagosa Springs for 15 years.
He enjoyed woodturning and woodworking, and he was a passionate student of science and history throughout his life.
"He would say, 'Don't ever question the judgment of an engineer,'" said Mrs. Cronkhite.
He is survived by his wife, of Pagosa Springs; two sons, Larry Cronkhite, of Atlanta, and Dennis Cronkhite of Dallas; a daughter, Barbara Valenteen of Pagosa Springs; grandchildren Alison and Jason Brainard of St. Louis, Mo., Greg and Brian Cronkhite of Atlanta, Nicole Cronkhite of Dallas, Jared Lincoln of Boulder, Kyle Lincoln of Albuquerque, and John and Kelly Garrett of Arlington, Texas; a sister, Joan Carter; an adopted son Tim Olson, of Pagosa Springs; a niece; a great-niece; a nephew; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Robert Pope will officiate. Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary Crematory in Durango.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Cronkhite's name to the CU Foundation and will be used for scholarships in the Chemical Engineering Dept.:
Colorado University Foundation, Paul W. Cronkhite '45 Scholarship, College of Engineering and Applied Science, Development Office, 422 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0422.
Kurt Wiley Seeger
Kurt Wiley Seeger, 44, died Saturday, April 17, 2004, at his home in Durango after a long illness.
Mr. Seeger was born Aug. 22, 1959, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of George "Zeke" Seeger and Sally Schumacher Seeger. He attended Western State College in Gunnison. He met Stacie McIntyre in Sedona, Ariz., in 1982 and they married in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1987.
His love for Colorado brought him and his family to Durango in 1997, where he built the family home on Missionary Ridge. Known as the "Dent Guy," he owned and operated Dent Tech.
His wanted to try everything at least once and that took him backpacking through the Amazon, diving with sharks, skydiving, motocross racing, skiing, hunting, fishing and golfing with his best friend Dan Speece.
Always a proud father and devoted husband, he had a smile and a joke to make people laugh even during the most difficult days, his family said.
He is survived by his wife, Stacie, sons Zachary Robert and Nicholas Wiley, all of Durango; his mother Sally Seeger of St. Louis, Mo.; a brother, Peter Seeger, sisters Suzanne McDaniel, Laura Wilson, and Amy Hanser, all of St. Louis, Mo., and numerous family members.
Cremation took place at Hood Mortuary Crematory in Durango. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Nicholas and Zachary Seeger educational fund at Vectra Bank in Durango.
Bessie 'Betty' Lucinda Sneed Reynolds
Bessie "Betty" Lucinda Sneed Reynolds, 74, died Sunday, April 25, 2004, in Arboles of a heart attack.
Mrs. Reynolds was born Oct. 20, 1929, in Merkel, Texas, the daughter of Sarah and Frank Sneed.
She married Tom Reynolds Jr. in Merkel on April 28, 1947. That was 57 years ago today.
Mrs. Reynolds was an ordained minister of the Assembly of God Church and a minister of music.
"She was the prayingest woman who ever walked on two feet," said her son-in-law, Sam Evans.
"She was known as a warrior who lived for the Lord and her family," said her daughter, Bonnie Evans. "She also liked to play the domino game, 42."
Mrs. Reynolds was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Georgia Ann Jones.
She is survived by her husband of Arboles; her children: Johnny Reynolds of Mayer, Ariz., Dale Reynolds of Humboldt, Tenn., Connie Lynn Reynolds of Arboles, Bonnie Evans of Arboles, Sharon Mackey of Middle Mesa, N.M., Jewel Meadows of Farmington; her 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Arboles Baptist Church. Burial will be at Allison Tiffany Cemetery.
Contributions may be to the Betty Reynolds Memorial Fund, care of Patty Mickey at the Wells Fargo Bank in Ignacio.
James Robert Dailey
James Robert Dailey, a Colorado resident since 1993, died Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center. He was 86.
Mr. Dailey was born May 27, 1917, in Blue Mound, Kan., but was reared in Kansas City, Mo., where he drove streetcars before he moved to San Diego in 1940. He served in the Army during World War II as a truck driver and demolition expert.
After his military service, Mr. Dailey worked as a bus driver for the San Diego transit system for 20 years before moving to Los Angeles, where he was employed as a bus driver for the airport transit system and tour guide. He moved to Pagosa Springs in 1993 to be near his family and moved to Arboles in 1998. He was an active member of the Church of Christ and served as an elder in the church.
"He loved the Lord and dedicated his life to serving in his church," said Mr. Dailey's daughter, Sharon Ramsey, of Arboles.
In addition to Mrs. Ramsey, Mr. Dailey is survived by daughters Patricia Silva, of Havelock, N.C., and Barbara Adams, of Headrick, Okla. He also is survived by stepson Jerry Koch, of El Cajon, Calif.; stepdaughters Kathey Myers of Bayfield, Jeanette Coleman of Brownstown, Ill., and Betty Woolsey of Ramona, Calif.; a brother, David Dailey of Albuquerque; 33 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Mr. Dailey was preceded in death by wives, Tiny Dailey and Mary Dailey, and stepson Donald Koch.
A funeral service is scheduled at 2 p.m. today at Hood Mortuary, with Pastor Dorman Diller officiating. Cremation will follow.
William Head 'Chief' Vasquez
William Head "Chief" Vasquez, 80, died Thursday, April 22, 2004, at his home in Ignacio with his family present. He died of natural causes, said his daughter Ruth Herrera.
Mr. Vasquez was born July 17, 1923, in La Posta, the son of Virginia (Martinez) Vasquez and Louis Vasquez. He married Sarah Mestas on June 28, 1944, in La Posta.
The family moved to Salt Lake City, where Mr. Vasquez first worked in construction. Later he worked for Salt Lake County for 23 years.
Earlier in his life, Mr. Vasquez enjoyed fishing, camping, playing Cancun rummy and slot machines.
"He won every time on the dollar machines," Herrera said.
But as he came to have trouble getting around, his earlier interests dropped away and his favorite activity came to be spending time with his family.
Mr. Vasquez was well-liked by his friends and colleagues who called him "Chief."
"Willie was a very caring man. He will be dearly missed," said his son-in-law, Victor Herrera.
The family would like to thank the medical staff and the staff at Mercy Medical Hospice for the care given to Mr. Vasquez.
"Many thanks to Dr. Clark, Dr. McCana, Dr. Andrea, and a special thanks to Susan Turner and Della Mestas, with the Mercy Medical Hospice Team," Ruth Herrera said.
Mr. Vasquez is survived by his wife, Sarah, of Ignacio; his children: Ruth Herrera of East Carbon, Utah, and Edna Candeleria and Valentino Ray Vasquez, both of Ignacio; his sister, Rose Borrajas of Payson, Utah; his twin brother, Manuel Aragon Vasquez of Phoenix and brother Elmer Vasquez also of Phoenix; 19 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. today at Hood Mortuary. A Rosary will be said at 6 p.m. today at St. Ignatius Catholic Church.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Deacon John O'Hare will officiate. Burial will be at Ouray Memorial Cemetery in Ignacio.
Roy P. Craig
A memorial service for Roy P. Craig will be held at the Southern Ute Pavilion - the large white tent next to the Sky Ute Lodge - at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Mr. Craig, an investigator who worked on the country's largest, most systematic investigation of flying saucers, died Thursday, March 18, 2004, at his La Boca Ranch, south of Ignacio. He died after a struggle with cancer.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Craig/Dyer Scholarship Fund, care of the Fort Lewis College Foundation, 1000 Rim Drive, Durango, CO 81301, or to the Hospice of Mercy, 3801 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
