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Raymond George Ledford
Raymond George Ledford, 77, a Four Corners native, died Saturday, April 3, 2004. He died peacefully at home, south of Durango, surrounded by his family, after a long struggle with pancreatic cancer.
Mr. Ledford was born March 27, 1927, in Waterflow, N.M., one of many children of Ruth Parker Ledford and Charlie Ledford.
He married Margaret Brown on June 28, 1952, in Durango. They had six children.
Mr. Ledford served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a Seaman 2nd Class on the USS Salt Lake City. He was honorably discharged on May 31, 1946.
He worked for the Colorado Department of Transportation from 1963 until 1984, which included 10 years of plowing snow on Red Mountain Pass. He loved the mountains and spent a lot of time camping and hunting, his family said.
During retirement, he enjoyed farming and raising quarter horses. He was honored by the American Quarter Horse Association for 30 years of breeding quarter horses.
"Dad lived his life in the cowboy way where his word was as good as his handshake and his greatest reward was his friends and family. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends," a member of his family said.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Ledford; his children, Sherrie Catalano, David Ledford, Marshall "Hoss" Ledford and Kim Wacondo, all of Durango, Raymond Greg Ledford of Montrose and Richard Ledford of Vista, Calif.; and 12 grandchildren.
There will be a gathering in his memory this summer.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Basin Rodeo Club at the First National Bank of Durango.
Vivian 'Suzy' Hixson
Vivian "Suzy" Hixson died Saturday, April 3, 2004, at her home in Delta. She was 81.
Mrs. Hixson was born on Aug. 4, 1922, on a homestead near Aztec, to Dell and Bertha (Boyce) McWilliams. She attended grade school in Aztec and graduated from Durango High School in 1940.
She worked in a flower shop until she met and married David Hixson on Nov. 30, 1941, in Reno, Nev. They lived in Sacramento, Calif., until David Hixson joined the U.S. Navy in April 1942. They then lived in San Diego and she worked at Rohr Aircraft until 1943. Mr. Hixson shipped out in March of that year, and Mrs. Hixson returned to Durango where their daughter L'Jeanne was born.
The family also lived in Dove Creek, where Mrs. Hixson worked for theDove Creek Pressfor seven years. She also worked as the District Court Clerk. In 1960, they moved to Delta, where they owned and operated the Texaco Bulk Plant and Service Station. After closing the station, Mrs. Hixson was employed at Skyland Foods for nine years.
She was a member and past matron of the Garnet Chapter Order of Eastern Star No. 39. She was also a member of the Delta United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband on April 5, 1995; five brothers; her daughter, L'Jeanne Johnson, on May 29, 1976; and her great-grandson, Evan Johnson, on June 11, 2003.
She is survived by three grandsons, Boyd Johnson of Detroit Lake, Minn., Darrel Johnson of Mesa, Ariz., and Dell Johnson of Delta; six great-grandchildren, Olivia and Nathan Johnson of Detroit Lakes, Minn., Cassie and Bryce Johnson of Mesa, Ariz., and Emily and Derrek Johnson of Delta.
A memorial service is planned for 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 9, at the Taylor Funeral Service Chapel in Delta. Darrel Johnson will preside. Services will be performed by members of Order of Eastern Star Garnet Chapter No. 39. Services will conclude at the chapel. A private interment will take place at Delta City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 24, Delta, CO 81416, or the Delta United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 427, Delta, CO 81416, or the Masonic and Eastern Star Building Fund, c/o Lanoia Conrad, 2215 Canal St., Austin, CO 81410.
Charles W. Carroll
Charles W. Carroll, 82, died of natural causes Monday, April 5, 2004, at his home in Durango.
Mr. Carroll was born Aug. 29, 1921, in Marion County, Ala., the son of Elmer and Ella (Garrett) Carroll. He married Betty G. Carroll on April 11, 1948, in Shreveport, La.
Mr. Carroll served in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific aboard the USS Napa during World War II. He and Mrs. Carroll moved to Durango in 1971 from Shreveport. He owned and operated Carroll Motors (now Pat Murphy Motors, owned by Mr. Carroll's son-in-law) from 1971 to 1983. He enjoyed golfing and creating stained glass, and was an avid fan of country music. He was a member of B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge No. 507 of Durango.
"He was a good, honest businessman and a good husband and father. We would have celebrated our 56th anniversary on the 11th of this month," said his wife, Betty Carroll. He fought a long battle with heart trouble, she said, and it was time.
He is survived by his wife of Durango; two daughters, Jane Carroll Danneman of Powder Springs, Ga., and Jan Carroll Murphy of Durango; a son, Charles W. Carroll Jr. of Summit County; three sisters, Hazel Yarbrough of Cullman, Ala., Mildred Allen of Birmingham, Ala., and Vita Marshman of Birmingham, Ala.; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 9. The Rev. Bill Postler of First Presbyterian Church will officiate. Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary Crematory in Durango.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 1161 East Third Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Udell Wilson Cardon
Udell Wilson Cardon, a one-time chief of the Ignacio Volunteer Fire Department, died at his home in Victorville, Calif., on Friday, May 28, 2004. He was 86 and died of natural causes.
Mr. Cardon will be remembered for his example of integrity, hard work and service, but most of all for his persistent smile and mischievous sense of humor, said his family.
Born in Tucson, Ariz., on Aug., 8, 1917, he was the eighth of 10 children. Mr. Cardon ran an excavating business and lived much of his life in Southwest Colorado in Bayfield, Durango, Pagosa Springs and most recently Ignacio before moving to Victorville in 1994.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a sergeant and light artillery section leader in the 145th Infantry Regiment, and was later honored with American and Asia/Pacific campaign medals, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Bronze Star.
Mr. Cardon was preceded in death by his first wife, Annie Sauer Cardon.
He is survived by his wife, Anna May Cardon of Victorville, Calif.; four children, Carl Cardon of Caņon City, Georgia Lucero of Blanco, N.M., Jay Cardon of Riverside, Calif., and Joanne Whyte of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; a sister, Gladys Miller of Blanding, Utah; 17 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 3, 2004, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 12100 Ridgecrest Road in Victorville, Calif. Graveside services will follow at Desert View Cemetery.
Edith `Gypsy' Callaway
Edith "Gypsy" Callaway, a free-spirited longtime resident of Durango, died Thursday, May 27, 2004 in a single-car accident. She was 89.
"As near as I can tell about 40 percent of the English speaking world was her friend; and some Spanish, too," said her son Roger Callaway.
Mrs. Callaway was born in Yorktown, Texas, on Jan. 25, 1915, and spent her childhood in El Paso, Texas, where she got to school by riding the streetcar, transferring twice each way.
She tried her hand at many things and became a successful pilot at a time when wings were made of wood and canvas. Her most memorable flight was a moonlit trip to White Sands National Monument in New Mexico for a picnic in the dunes.
Mrs. Callaway also took up fencing with a group of friends. She was proud to say that she had sparred with Jake Ehrlick -- billed as the "tallest man in the world."
Later, Mrs. Callaway moved to Galveston, Texas, to work as a lab technician. She met Dr. Sam Callaway and they were married in March 1943.
Shortly after, Dr. Callaway joined the U.S. Navy and served in World War II on a PT boat in the South Pacific. Upon his return, the couple moved to Durango and Dr. Callaway opened up a private practice.
Mrs. Callaway worked in the office and then became a housewife when her family grew. The Callaway house was known as a place that was open to all of her children's friends. She kept track of each and every one of them forever after.
After her children left, she devoted her life to friends and her yard.
Mrs. Callaway's only regret in life might be missing her first granddaughter's high school graduation this coming June, said her son Roger Callaway.
Mrs. Callaway is survived by two sons, Roger Callaway of Charlotte, N.C., and David Callaway of Portland, Ore.; a brother, Gus Eckhardt of San Angelo, Texas; three grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Callaway did not want a formal service. Instead, a celebration of her life will be announced later this summer.
Gordon Eugene Hill
Gordon Eugene Hill, 87, who lived in Durango from 1953-63 and worked on Lemon Dam, died Tuesday, June 8, 2004, at home in Glenwood Springs with his four daughters. He died of pancreatic cancer, said his daughter, Catherine Bullock.
Mr. Hill was born March 2, 1917, in Longmont, the first of four children of Frances M. Hill and Walter M. Hill. He grew up in several Front Range cities and in Bellfield, N.D., where he lived for four years.
He graduated from Longmont High School in 1935. In 1940 he was awarded a bachelor of science degree in civil and irrigation engineering from Colorado A&M College, now Colorado State University, in Fort Collins.
On Sept. 26, 1940, he married Marie Patricia Casey of Longmont in St. Joseph's Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Mr. Hill went to work for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina. He entered the military in 1943, serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineering Corps, the Seabees, during World War II. He served in the U.S. and South Pacific until February 1946, and, after that, in the reserves.
After his service, Mr. Hill went to work for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. He worked for the bureau until he retired in 1973. With the bureau, he lived in Fort Collins, Loveland, Durango, Salida, and Glenwood Springs.
"He dearly loved Durango and its people and was bitterly disappointed when he was reassigned," Bullock said.
Mr. Hill worked as a project planner, construction supervisor and contract administrator on large irrigation projects, including the Big Thompson Project and Lemon and Reudi dams.
After he retired, Mr. Hill stayed in Glenwood Springs for the last 31 years of his life.
He was a member of St. Stephen's Catholic parish and the Knights of Columbus. He was a downhill skier and fisherman. He enjoyed hunting, golfing, swimming, bicycling and gardening.
Mr. Hill was preceded in death by his wife, Marie C. Hill and his great-grandson, Vicente Bullock.
He is survived by his daughters: Catherine Bullock of Albuquerque; Jacqueline Durrett of Glenwood Springs, Margaret Mortensen of Divide Creek and Patricia Hill of Glenwood Springs; his sisters: Gladys McCann of Sedro Wooley, Wash. and Patsy Dyekman of Cheyenne, Wyo.; his grandchildren: Victor Bullock and Vicente Bullock, both of Albuquerque; Dominic Durrett of Hummelstown, Pa., Boone Mortensen of Rifle, McKeaver Bershenyi of Glenwood Springs, Abbey Doyle of Johnson Creek, Wis.; and his ten great-grandchildren.
A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today at Farnum-Holt Mortuary in Glenwood Springs. A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Stephen's Church. The Rev. Joseph Boyle of St. Benedict's Monastery will officiate. Burial will be in Rosebud Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 123 North Seventh St., Grand Junction 81501 or to Roaring Fork Hospice, P.O. Box 1970, Glenwood Springs 81602
Chris E. Marler
A memorial service will be held in honor of Chris E. Marler who died Monday, May 24, 2004, from injuries suffered in a dirt bike accident.
The service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hood Mortuary. Mourners are encouraged to wear Broncos gear and bring stories to share.
After the service, a celebration of Mr. Marler's life will be held at Carolyn and Rob Hately's house, 40 Chinle Place. Call 247-2318 for directions.
Dan Stanley 'Dobbin' Shupe
Dan Stanley "Dobbin" Shupe, 68, died Saturday, June 5, 2004, in Wickenburg, Ariz. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Mr. Shupe was born in Taos, N.M., on March 13, 1936, the son of Leola and Guy Shupe. The family came to Colorado in 1944. The Shupes have lived at Vallecito Lake since 1949.
Mr. Shupe and his first wife, Caroline Shupe, owned and operated Weminuche Wilderness Adventure Pack Outfit and The Big Corral Riding Stable for 33 years.
Mr. Shupe is survived by his wife, Nancy Shupe of Wickenburg; his children, Terri Herrington of Durango and Troy Shupe of Colorado Springs; his grandchildren, Jason Herrington of Lamoor, Calif., Daryl Herrington of Durango, Colton Shupe of Arizona, and Tanner and Savannah Shupe, both of Troutsdale, Ore; his sister, Juanita Jordan of Durango; and his first wife, Caroline Shupe, of Bayfield.
A memorial service will be held at Vallecito Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Saturday. A potluck will be held at Virginia's Steakhouse after the service. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.
Bettie Jane Wood
Bettie Jane Wood died Thursday, June 3, 2004, at her home in Ignacio. She was 74.
Mrs. Wood was born Jan. 30, 1930, in Burlington, the daughter of Floyd and Harriet Jackson. She was reared three miles from Chimney Rock at the bottom of Yellow Jacket Pass near the bridge over the Piedra River. She and her brother, Bud, spent a lot of time swimming, fishing and ice skating there.
In later years, Mrs. Wood spent a lot of time at Navajo Reservoir camping with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends.
Mrs. Wood is survived by son, Harvey F. Robbins of Navajo Dam, N.M.; daughters, Kaunditta K. Sanchez of Arboles, Roxine A. McCoy of Ignacio, Cheryl A. Bailey of Modesto, Calif., Charline F. Bailey of Ignacio and Vanessa N. Bailey of Durango; a brother, Bud Jackson, and his wife, Elsie, of Cortez; and 19 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.
"Mom, we thank you for the wonderful memories," Kaunditta Sanchez said.
A memorial service is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church in Ignacio. A wake and potluck picnic to celebrate the life of Mrs. Wood is scheduled at 1 p.m. the same day at the Lower Piedra Campground. Cremation will take place at Hood Mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Mercy, 375 E. Park Ave., Durango CO 81301. The family wants to offer special thanks to Gayla, Gerri, Sherry and Roxanne from the hospice and Wendy Fielding, a hospice volunteer, as well as Dorothy and Leroy Salazar.
