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Stephen Lee Hunt
Longtime Bayfield resident Stephen Lee Hunt, 62, died on Wednesday, July 7, 2004, in Kingman, Ariz. The cause of death was heart failure.
Mr. Hunt was born on April 18, 1942, in Mojave, Calif., to Ruben and Bertha Hunt.
He worked for Geneva Steel and M&M Plumbing in California. While he was in Colorado, he was employed by Strohecker Construction in Bayfield and the La Plata County Fairgrounds, where he worked in maintenance for more than a decade. He also owned the Wampum Wigwam store in Gem Village until it was washed out in a flood.
His sister-in-law, Jewell Hunt said, "He was always happy-go-lucky and funny."
He is survived by his son, Steven Hunt of Hawaii; his daughter, Jaimie Freeman of Bayfield; several grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a brother, Jerry Hunt of Kingman; and a sister, Barbara Jo Bynum of California.
Cremation has occurred and services will be announced at a later date.
Ione Slade Lee
A mother and grandmother, Ione Slade Lee, 89, died Sunday, Aug.1, 2004, at her home in Redmesa. The cause of death was cancer.
Mrs. Lee was born May 17, 1915, at home in Redmesa to James and Agnes (Burnham) Slade. She attended Redmesa School before going on to graduate from Durango High School in 1933.
She married Wallace Raymond Lee Sr., on Sept. 3, 1935, in the Logan Temple in Logan, Utah.
Mrs. Lee was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During her lifelong membership of the Redmesa Ward, she, at various times, taught seminary, was twice the president of the Relief Society and served as primary president.
Her son Russel Lee said, "She taught by her example, and you never heard her talk bad about anyone." He also mentioned that she was very patriotic and always voted.
Mrs. Lee enjoyed the outdoors, especially gardening.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace, in June 2003.
She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Harris of Blanding, Utah, Diana Thimmes of Logan, Utah, Janette Harris of Page, Ariz., Shawna Azbill, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Sheryl Willis of Fruit Heights, Utah, and Cindy Whittaker of Redmesa; her sons, Wallace Lee Jr., of Eagle Gate, Idaho, and Russel Lee of Altas, Okla.; a sister, June Brinkerhoff of St. George, Utah; 35 grandchildren, including Brian Whittaker of Redmesa, Dena Lee of Durango and Jennifer Lee, Brady Lee and Missy Lee, all of Pagosa Springs; 60 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A funeral will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug.5, 2004, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Redmesa Ward. Bishop Trent Taylor will officiate. Burial will occur at Redmesa Cemetery in Redmesa.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 375 E. Park Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Daniel P. McKellip
Bayfield resident Daniel P. McKellip died July 29, 2004, with family by his side, at St. Anthony's Central Hospital in Denver. The cause of death was not disclosed by the family. He was 34.
"Daniel was a very loving father, brother, son and husband," according to his sister, Linda Smith.
Mr. McKellip was born Jan. 21, 1970, in Wheat Ridge.
He is survived by his wife, Tracy McKellip of Bayfield; his children, Tymira of Littleton and Alexandra of Bayfield; and his stepchildren, Harley and Randy of Bayfield. He is also survived by his father, Bob McKellip of Westminster; his brother, Michael McKellip of Indianapolis; his sister, Linda Smith of Littleton; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Judy A. McKellip; he will be laid to rest beside her.
The funeral will be at 3 p.m. today at Crown Hill Chapel and Cemetery in Wheat Ridge.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to trust funds created for his children. Please send donations to the Daniel McKellip Memorial Fund, Account 30483, Coors Credit Union, 816 Washington Ave., Golden, CO 80401-1095.
Caroline Frankie Tookey
A lifelong Silvertonian, Caroline Frankie Tookey, 82, died in her home on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004. The cause of death was congestive heart failure.
She was born in a small home on Snowden Street on Feb. 8, 1922, to Charles and Caroline "Carrie" Pearson. She graduated from Silverton High School in 1940, and on June 6, 1942, eloped to Ouray to marry Vincent W. Tookey. At the time of her death, they had been married for 62 years.
Mrs. Tookey had a varied career, serving as the librarian of the Silverton Public Library, a clerk at Swanson's Market, the manager of the Drug Store, the municipal judge and the San Juan County assessor. As a third generation Silvertonian, she also served on the local school board for several years.
Her family said that Mrs. Tookey was a strong woman who worked hard to help provide for her children. She loved to travel, and the Tookeys liked to take their children, and later, their grandchildren, on annual family vacations that usually included a stop at Disneyland. It is rumored that she kept a suitcase fully packed just in case the opportunity for a trip presented itself.
"She had a large family and was just always there for everybody," said her son William Tookey.
Mrs. Tookey was preceded in death by her sons George Tookey and Charles Tookey.
She is survived by her husband, Vincent Tookey, of Silverton; daughters Caroline Hamacher of Sheridan, Ore., and Cindy Willis of Dallas; sons William Tookey of Silverton, James Tookey of Lafayette, Richard Tookey of Colleyville, Texas, and Timothy Tookey of Lemoore, Calif.; 13 grandchildren including Cassandra Peacock and Brandy Tookey, both of Durango; and eight great-grandchildren.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Word of Life Fellowship Church in Silverton. The Rev. Jim Greenfield will officiate. Visitation will be held at the church from noon until the time of the service. Burial will immediately follow at Hillside Cemetery.
Zona Eneldis Betow Mummert
Zona Eneldis Betow Mummert died on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004, at the Four Corners Health Care Center where she had been a resident since February. She was 75.
Mrs. Mummert was born April 16, 1929, in Hastings, Minn., to Herman Ferdinand and Edith Amanda Abraham Betow. As a child, she lived in Durango for a number of years until her parents moved to Artesia, N.M., in her junior year of high school. She graduated from Artesia High School in 1946. As a child, she played violin and piano, hiked and collected rocks and gemstones. She also participated in Rainbow Girls and attended the Methodist Church.
After the family moved to Bristow, Okla., Mrs. Mummert relocated to West Lake, La., in 1950 to work in the pipeline division of Continental Oil Co. She was a clerk and switchboard operator and on occasion worked in the field taking gauge readings. While at the oil company, she met Keith James Mummert, whom she married on Dec. 31, 1952, in West Lake.
The couple began selling mobile homes as Royer Mobile Homes in Slidell, La., in 1963. There the family attended Christ Episcopal Church where she was an organist for many years. Later, Mrs. Mummert embraced Jehovah's Witnesses. She was a life member in Beta Sigma Phi and was active in Xi Alpha Chi chapter in Slidell. She worked for Holiday Inn in customer service and as a night auditor.
After a stroke, Mrs. Mummert moved to Bayfield.
Mrs. Mummert is survived by daughters Melinda Jean Boihem and Kathryn Gail Mackenroth, both of Bayfield; son Daniel James Mummert, of Durango; sister Helen Mae Betow Finke of California; brother Lowell Herfer Betow, of Ponca City, Okla.; grandchildren, Michelle Lynn Mackenroth Spiers, Gail Patrice Mackenroth Honaker, and Victoria Kay Mummert, all of Slidell, and Robert Daniel Mummert of the Washington, D.C., area; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; grandsons Robert Michael Mackenroth, Ricky Thomas Boihem and Joseph Keith Boihem; brother Lloyd Betow; and sister Ardis Betow.
Services are scheduled at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at Hood Mortuary Chapel. Burial will be at the Pine River Cemetery in Bayfield. Visitation is from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Hood.
Juleyann Roundtree
Juleyann Roundtree, 63, died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center. She died of natural causes.
Ms. Roundtree was born June 12, 1941, in Durango, the daughter of Henry and Erma (Witt) Brown. She was a Durango High School graduate in the Class of 1959. She attended Pueblo Community College and became a registered nurse. Afterward, she became a nurse for Dr. Luter and the Four Corners Health Care Center, where she worked as a geriatric nurse until her retirement.
She loved to travel the world with friends, tend her flower garden, and sit on the back porch watching the red-tailed hawks fly overhead. She thoroughly appreciated nature and loved being in the Durango area.
"She made an occupation of spoiling her grandkids as well as being there for anyone who asked," said her son and daughter.
She is survived by her mother, Erma Brown, of Durango; son Russell Roundtree, of Sedalia; daughter Ranee Chiriboga of Chandler, Ariz.; five grandchildren, and longtime friend Robert Bradford of Durango.
At Ms. Roundtree's request, there will be no services. Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary in Durango.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Disease Association, 701 Camino del Rio, or any other medical research organization of your choice.
Frankie Mae Johnson
Frankie Mae Johnson died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, of natural causes at the home of her granddaughter and caregiver, Charlene Self, in Durango. She was 89.
Mrs. Johnson was born July 28, 1915, in Portales, N.M., to Arthur and Beulah Tubbs. Raised in Farmington and Allison, Mrs. Johnson was a retired accountant whose career included work at the Department of Defense in California and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in Ignacio.
Mrs. Johnson was active, gardening, fishing, traveling and watching birds. She also liked politics and entertaining and was an avid reader and football fan. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and once was active in the Holbrook (Arizona) Keyboard Guild, the Governor's Council of Arizona Women for Highway Safety and in the garden clubs of Durango and Holbrook.
Surviving Mrs. Johnson are sisters Esther Wilmer of Northglenn, and Anna Lois Wilmer of Bayfield; grandsons Francis Self of Durango, and Gregg Self of Farmington; and granddaughters Charlene Self, of Durango, and Debra Holiday of Farmington. She also is survived by great-grandchildren Jarrett Self, Nicole Self, Randi Gillet, Stephanie Kramer, Christopher Self and Ian Holiday, and great-great-granddaughter, Kelsey Abeyta.
Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by husbands, Lowell Maine, Morgan "Mac" McLaughlin and Irving L. Johnson (on March 3, 1999); daughters Patricia Maine and Carolyn Self; sisters Jessie Lee Biesanz and Marion McGee; and brothers Arthur Tubbs, J.W. Tubbs and Raymond "Emory" Tubbs.
A funeral service is scheduled at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, at Hood Mortuary, with the Rev. Andrew Cooley of St. Mark's Episcopal Church officiating. Burial will be in Greenmount Cemetery. Visitation is at the mortuary from noon to 8 p.m. Monday.
Contributions may be made to the Hospice of Mercy, 375 East Park Ave., Durango 81301.
Faye Mattie Teeson Brown
An avid animal lover, Faye Mattie Teeson Brown died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004.
Mrs. Brown was born on March 9, 1905, in Chromo and lived most of her life in Archuleta County. She married Raymond Theodore Brown on Oct. 29, 1922, in Pagosa Springs. She was a rancher, a lifestyle she felt was her destiny.
Mrs. Brown was known for feeding one and all, usually sending them away with food. The milk, butter and cream from Mrs. Brown's cows were known to many in Pagosa Springs.
Though sometimes impoverished in her life, Mrs. Brown did whatever had to be done to make ends meet. She always had her cattle, her horses, vegetable garden and crop of hay. Mrs. Brown never had to herd her cattle, she just called them and they followed.
She spent as much time on horseback as on foot and was an expert horsewoman. Mrs. Brown had many faithful dogs. Bobbie was her favorite.
For more than 30 years, Mrs. Brown rode her horse in the annual Pagosa Springs Fourth of July Parade. She rode for the last time on July 3 at the age of 99.
Mrs. Brown was a Mormon, a religion she chose at a young age. She started a grass-roots effort to establish a ward in Pagosa Springs, which had previously been only a branch of the Mormon Church. She was recruited for the Eastern Star and was a Grand Page.
Mrs. Brown was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond.
She is survived by her sons, Raymond L. Brown of Allison, and Warren Joe Brown of Bayfield; her 12 grandchildren including Twila Faye Brown and Brad Brown of Pagosa Springs, Dan Brown of Allison, Cindy Highland and Christy Duran of Bayfield, Connie White and Lynn Hood of Cortez; and 26 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
John Eichar
John Eichar, 81, a combat and movie stunt pilot, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, in Richland, Wash. The cause of death was kidney infection and failure.
Mr. Eichar was born in Torrance, Calif., on Dec. 10, 1922. His parents were Claude Eichar and Elsa Neimeer Eichar. His father worked at Fox Movie Studios, so as a youngster, Mr. Eichar worked at the studio.
During World War II, he joined the Army Air Corps and continued to serve the United States through the Korean War. His pilot logbooks totaled nearly 4,000 hours of flying. He flew P-38 Lightnings, P-51 Mustangs and F-86 jets. Mr. Eichar earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and numerous individual campaign ribbons and commendations. He was credited with bringing his entire squadron to safety while flying a damaged plane.
During the 1950s and 1960s, he worked as a crop duster in California and Nicaragua, and flew as a fire bomber in Southern California. He also had a brief career flying stunt planes in movies, including "Tora! Tora! Tora!"
He married his wife, Ramona, in Camarillo, Calif.
Mr. Eichar graduated from Whittier College with a degree in chiropractic and was also a licensed hypnotherapist. He was an innovator in both the chiropractic field and alternative medicine.
Mr. Eichar moved to Durango 22 years ago and continued his chiropractic practice, not fully retiring until the age of 80. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Durango, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 507, the Amateur Radio Club and the Experimental Aircraft Association. He built the first home with an attached hangar at Animas Air Park.
His friends will remember John as a quick-witted and humorous man, a loyal friend and a man who never went anywhere without his beloved dog Misty. His family said John's great loves were his wife and flying.
Mr. Eichar is survived by his wife Ramona Eichar of Richland, Wash.; daughter Darrien Ward of Guam; son Mark Eichar of Petaluma, Calif.; four stepdaughters; and several grandchildren.
Cremation has occurred. A private service was held in Richland, Wash.
