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Ronald Jack 'Gus' Gustaveson
Ronald Jack "Gus" Gustaveson died March 10, 2005, at his home in Ignacio after struggling for years with medical disabilities. He was 82.
Mr. Gustaveson was born Feb. 4, 1923, in Manitowoc, Wis., to Norman Walter Gustaveson and Mabel Anderson. Mr. Gustaveson was a veteran of World War II, serving at Pearl Harbor.
He married Rosalee Louella Turner.
Mr. Gustaveson spent more than 60 years in Kennewick, Wash., where he retired from the Pre-Mix Concrete Co.
He made many friends and touched everyone he encountered with his kindness and love of life, and he could bring a smile even on the cloudiest of days, his family said.
Mr. Gustaveson is survived by his wife, Rosie Gustaveson of Ignacio, son Donald Gustaveson of Missouri and daughters Deborah Ann Patterson of Durango and Dee J. Lacombe of Ignacio. Sisters Murial and Laverne, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren also survive him.
He was preceded in death by his sister Olive.
A funeral is scheduled at 1 p.m. Tuesday at a place not yet determined. Call Durango Funeral Options at 247-8555 for the location. Interment will be in Greenmount Cemetery. The Rev. Louis M. Day will officiate.
Paul Corley
Paul Corley died Monday, March 7, 2005, in La Plata County. He was 47.
Mr. Corley, a resident of the Durango area for 12 years, was a certified Rolfer practicing in Durango, and a coach to individuals and teams in successfully and healthfully achieving their goals.
Beginning in 1988 Mr. Corley devoted most of his career to Youth at Risk, a program that builds stronger communities through supporting underprivileged youngsters. He provided leadership for thousands of young people and volunteers across the United States and in England.
Through his work with Youth at Risk he met his wife, Elizabeth Shepard Corley, in 1988.
Mr. Corley was active and had many friends and associates in the Durango and Denver areas, both from his social network and community involvement. He was an avid athlete and adventurer who loved camping, skydiving, snowboarding and many other sports.
"Paul was deeply loved and respected. Not only was he a loving and devoted husband, but he was known as someone who could be completely relied upon to provide help and support whenever needed. He will be sorely missed," said his wife, Elizabeth.
Mr. Corley was born in Chicago to a family of seven. He is survived by his mother, Marion and four brothers, Pat, Steve, Brian and David, all of whom live in the Chicago area. Several years ago, Mr. Corley changed his name from Curley to Corley in honor of his grandfather, James Corley, who emigrated from Ireland through Ellis Island, where officials inadvertently changed his name.
A service in Mr. Corley's honor will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday near the Corley home in Bayfield. Directions may be picked up at Durango Office Suites, 1053 Main Ave., Suite 102.
In lieu of flowers, make donations in Mr. Corley's name to Colorado Youth at Risk.
Mr. Corley was believed to have died by suicide, authorities said.
Eugene Arthur Stamsta
Eugene Arthur Stamsta died Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at The Valley Inn in Mancos. He was 77.
Mr. Stamsta was born Sept. 17, 1927, in Manitowoc, Wis., the son of Osborne and Hilda Kriehn Stamsta. He married Betty Jane Bowden in 1970 in Round Lake, Ill. He lived in Durango since 1998.
Mr. Stamsta served in the Army, enlisting on Oct. 24, 1950, and being honorably discharged as a corporal on Oct. 4, 1952.
Mr. Stamsta was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jane.
He is survived by three step-sons, Joe Shannon of Illinois, Bob Boydston of Georgia and Mickey Shannon of Durango; and two step-daughters, Cindy Cornett of Durango and Ginny Pople of Illinois.
Betty Melaas
Betty Melaas died Monday, Feb. 28, 2005, in Aurora. She was 72.
Mrs. Melaas was born Nov. 10, 1932, in Green County, Ill., the daughter of Lloyd and Bonnie Van Bebber. She was a member of the Ignacio Historical Society, the Chamber, the Senior Center and was a community volunteer.
"Betty made a difference," said her friend Casey Correia.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William.
Mrs. Melaas is survived by her daughter, Debi Wade of Neosho, N.Y.
A Mass of remembrance will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. The Rev. Daniel Huber will officiate. Burial of cremains will follow the services at Ignacio East Cemetery in Ignacio.
Saaswanis HisWaqs Buckskin
Saaswanis HisWaqs Buckskin died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005. He was 64.
The Celebration of Life Service was held at the Williamson River Indian Mission west of Chiloquin, Ore.
Mr. Buckskin was an enrolled member of the Klamath/Modoc Tribe and was born at the old Klamath Agency on Aug. 7, 1940.
Mr. Buckskin had a great love for native people and was a remarkable volunteer and organizer for events that benefited the health and goodwill of all American Indians.
He was head of security for the Longest Walk, a march across the United States protesting the abrogation of all Indian treaties. The walk began with a Pipe Ceremony on Alcatraz Island in February 1978, and ended five months later in Washington, D.C., in July of the same year.
Mr. Buckskin was a delegate to the United Nations in Brussels, Belgium, on behalf of indigenous peoples of the world. He was truly loved and respected by all who knew him.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the SunUte Community Center in Ignacio.
Vera Pauline Dakin
Vera Pauline Dakin died Tuesday, March 1, 2005, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango. She was 85.
Mrs. Dakin was born Sept. 30, 1919, in Hopedale, Ill., to Vonnie Coggins and Emma Hess Coggins.
After graduating high school in 1937, she moved to Chicago where she attended the University of Illinois and culinary school, danced to the era's big bands and met Earnest Paul Miller, a chemical engineer for Pure Oil. They married in 1942. They moved to Anvil Points, a small Colorado town, in 1948.
They later lived in Charlotte, N.C., and Rio de Janeiro, before settling in Denver in 1955. After Mr. Miller died, she married Thomas Arthur Dakin in 1965. When Mr. Dakin retired from Safeway, they began traveling the world. They moved to Durango in 2002 where Mr. Dakin died in 2003.
Mrs. Dakin enjoyed family, friends and the beauty of life. Her family and many close friends were constant recipients of her gourmet cooking, generous spirit and quiet sense of humor. An accomplished seamstress, weaver and potter with an artist's eye, she was a founding member of Denver's Colorado Potters Guild. Her beautiful pottery pieces were always gifts and are prized throughout her extended family and her friends.
"Pauline embodied love, generosity, kindness and goodwill; she will be missed by all who knew her," said her family.
Mrs. Dakin is survived by her children, Geoffrey Miller and Susan Spehar; step-son, John Dakin, brother, Max Coggins, and three grandchildren.
She will be buried in a private ceremony at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver. A memorial service for friends and family will be held from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Wellshire Inn, Tudor Room.
Donations in her memory may be made to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pueblo, 429 W. 10th St., Pueblo, CO 81003.
John (Juan) Sidro Lucero
John (Juan) Sidro Lucero died Monday, March 7, 2005, at his home in Bayfield. He was 80.
He died of natural causes.
Mr. Lucero was born April 18, 1924, in Pine River, N.M., the son of Abraham and Pablita Lucero. He married Macedonia C. Lucero on Feb. 21, 1944, at Blanco, N.M. They raised 10 children.
By the age of 10, Mr. Lucero was herding sheep, and he spent most of his working life ranching and working with animals. He was an excellent woodcarver and a leather craftsman. He enjoyed fishing and hunting.
Mr. Lucero was a storyteller and a jokester. He enjoyed making people laugh. He enjoyed visiting and spending time with his family. He loved his animals. He enjoyed his truck and garage sales.
He was preceded in death by his son, Paul Lucero in 1980, granddaughter, Taunya Lucero in 1980 and sister, Maggie Martinez in 2004.
He is survived by his wife, Masie (Macedonia C.) Lucero of Bayfield; daughters, Helen Hanson and Emma Lou Lucero, both of Durango, Maryann Johnston of Boise, Idaho, and Sarah Thompson of Bayfield; sons, John Lucero Jr. of Greenbelt, Md., Lloyd Lucero of Ignacio, Orlando Lucero of Cortez, Arnold Lucero of Durango and Silvano Flores of Denver; eight grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; brothers, Celestino Lucero of Grand Junction, Pete Lucero of Allison and Max Lucero of Pagosa Springs; sisters, Elba Garcia and Viola Montoya, both of Allison.
A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at Hood Mortuary, and a rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today at Hood Mortuary Chapel. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Durango. The Rev. Joseph L. Gallegos will officiate. Burial will occur at Pine River Cemetery in Bayfield.
Gladys Irwin
Gladys Irwin died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005, in Durango. She was 91.
Mrs. Irwin was born in Pittsfield, Mass., in Nov. 7, 1913.
After her father died of the Spanish flu in 1918, her mother remarried a widower with three children. Mrs. Irwin befriended her stepsisters but was closest to her older sister, Helen. When both were left widowers, Helen moved in with Mrs. Irwin in Colorado Springs.
A remarkable student and athlete, Mrs. Irwin paid her way through Sargent College of Boston University by working as an au pair. When she graduated during the Depression, she had never left Massachusetts but accepted a job teaching physical education in Colorado Springs at the Deaf and Blind School. With no training available for such specialized teaching, Mrs. Irwin had to invent her own methods.
Mrs. Irwin met John Irwin while depositing her paycheck at the First National Bank, and they married in 1940. After her husband enlisted in 1942, she moved in with her mother-in-law, where she lived for more than 50 years.
Mrs. Irwin volunteered and managed events for organizations like the Parent Teacher Association, the Symphony Guild, the Red Cross and the First Congregational Church.
She enjoyed acrostics and classical music, and listened to Chopin and opera until her death. She was famous with children for the "dog cookies" that she baked almost every day and fed to dogs and eager humans alike. Although she grew to shun Monopoly, she played Clue and charades, and took pleasure in her grandchildren.
After a stroke in 2001, Mrs. Irwin was cared for by her daughter with the help of two caregivers, Victoria Soberanis and Bobbie Salvador.
Survivors include son George Irwin of Palo Alto, Calif., and daughter Emily Irwin of Durango; and four grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held in Colorado Springs over the summer.
Caryn Denise Howell
Caryn Denise Howell died unexpectedly Thursday, March 3, 2005, in Cancun, Mexico. She was 43.
Mrs. Howell was born March 16, 1961, in Riverside, Calif., the daughter of Warren Campbell and Patricia Copeland. She resided in Montclair, Calif., and graduated from Montclair High School in 1979. She then resided in Hesperia, Calif., and worked for Stator Bros. Super Markets. She moved to Durango in 1994 where she began to work for the Albertsons grocery store in Durango.
Mrs. Howell had many friends. She loved living, smiling and having a good time with her friends and family, her family said.
Mrs. Howell was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Durango.
She is survived by her daughters, Shante Howell and Ashley Howell, both of Durango; her mother and stepfather, Patricia and Bruce Copeland of Durango; her father, Warren Campbell of Kona, Hawaii; two sisters, Erika Toro of Durango and Michela Bolan of Petaluma, Calif.; a brother, Robert Campbell of Corona, Calif.; a stepbrother, Chris Copeland of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; two granddaughters; and eight nieces and nephews.
A rosary will be said at 6 p.m. Sunday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and the funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday. Interment will follow at Greenmount Cemetery, after which there will be a reception luncheon at the Sacred Heart Church Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made at the First National Bank of Durango, P.O. Box 2910, Durango, CO 81302 in Caryn Howell's name for the benefit of Shante and Ashley Howell to aid in expenses.
Lola Evelyn Davis
Lola Evelyn Davis died Monday, March 7, 2005, at her home in Durango. She was 91.
Mrs. Davis was born Sept. 28, 1913, in Meeker, the daughter of Blair and Elsie Wilson, an early pioneer family that homesteaded in the area. She went to live with relatives in Denver during her high school years and graduated from St. Francis High School.
She met her husband, Howard, who lived in Durango, in Denver via family matchmakers. They married in Denver and moved to his house on East Third Avenue in Durango where they made their home and raised their children.
Mrs. Davis liked doing crafts, including sewing and painting. She liked to bake and work in her garden. She and her husband were avid outdoors people and four-wheeled the San Juan Mountains extensively. They also hiked many of the upper trails and camped in the mountain ranges.
She loved to ski and did so until she was in her 70s.
Mrs. Davis made a lot of cross-country motorcycle trips with her husband, including a trip to Canada. She enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of many bridge clubs in Durango. She was very active with St. Mark's Episcopal Church including the Altar Guild, the Christmas bazaar, church dinners and more.
Mrs. Davis was preceded in death by her husband, Howard.
Survivors include two daughters, Ceona Chitwood of Brenton City, Wash., and Marilyn Malberg of Durango; four brothers, Walter Wilson of Odessa, Texas, Hilton Wilson of Washington, Utah, Wayne Wilson of Alamogordo, N.M., and Ellis Wilson of Ashland, Ore.; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Andrew Cooley of St. Mark's Episcopal Church will officiate. Burial will occur at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Columba School Adopt-a-Student Program, 1830 East Second Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
