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Minnie Jewel Sweezy
Minnie Jewel Sweezy died Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at Mercy Medical Center in Durango. She was 86.
Mrs. Sweezy was born July 25, 1918, to Harris Hooper Carter and Otella May Peterson Carter in Turkey Creek, Waverly, Tenn.
She married Floyd E. Sweezy on Jan. 14, 1939, in LaGrange, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Sweezy retired in 1974 and moved to Apache Junction, Ariz.
Mrs. Sweezy, a homemaker and a mother, was a dedicated genealogist, and she was self-reliant. She was active in her church service. She enjoyed many hobbies, including scrapbooking, canning, writing journals and gardening.
Mrs. Sweezy's family called her a "wonderful example in compassionate service."
She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd, on June 13, 1981. They were married for 42 years.
Survivors include her son, Alvin Donald Sweezy; daughters, Rhonda D. Jack and W. Renea Young; brother, Grady L. Carter; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10256 S. Greenfield Road, in Gilbert, Ariz. Funeral services will follow visitation at 10 a.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the LDS Church Missionary Fund.
Minnie Jewel Sweezy
Minnie Jewel Sweezy died Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at Mercy Medical Center in Durango. She was 86.
Mrs. Sweezy was born July 25, 1918, to Harris Hooper Carter and Otella May Peterson Carter in Turkey Creek, Waverly, Tenn.
She married Floyd E. Sweezy on Jan. 14, 1939, in LaGrange, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Sweezy retired in 1974 and moved to Apache Junction, Ariz.
Mrs. Sweezy, a homemaker and a mother, was a dedicated genealogist, and she was self-reliant. She was active in her church service. She enjoyed many hobbies, including scrapbooking, canning, writing journals and gardening.
Mrs. Sweezy's family called her a "wonderful example in compassionate service."
She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd, on June 13, 1981. They were married for 42 years.
Survivors include her son, Alvin Donald Sweezy; daughters, Rhonda D. Jack and W. Renea Young; brother, Grady L. Carter; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10256 S. Greenfield Road, in Gilbert, Ariz. Funeral services will follow visitation at 10 a.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the LDS Church Missionary Fund.
Wayne J. Lunt
Wayne J. Lunt, 83, died Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango.
Mr. Lunt was born Aug. 12, 1921, in Duncan, Ariz., the son of George and Kindness (Johnson) Lunt.
During childhood, Mr. Lunt lived in Durango. He moved away but always dreamed of returning. He finally did come back in 1951.
He married Jessie O. Foote on Nov. 28, 1940, in Lordsburg, N.M.
During World War II, Mr. Lunt served in the Merchant Marines.
Mr. Lunt was active in the community, serving as a leader for the Florida Mesa 4-H Club. He was a member and president of La Plata Electric Association, Colorado Association of Electric Cooperatives, Florida Mesa Water Conservation District and the Florida Mesa School Board.
He also had a passion for music. He sang as a barbershopper and loved singing silly songs to children. Mr. Lunt also enjoyed camping and the mountains.
Survivors include his wife, Jessie O. Lunt of Durango; sons, Roger Lunt of Tallahassee, Fla., Brent Lunt of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Barry Lunt of Durango; daughter Danelle Waller of Durango; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother; and one sister.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Durango Ward. Bishop James Cooper, Brother Don Bushnell and Brother Lyle Short will officiate. Burial will occur at Crestview Cemetery in Durango.
Casimiro 'Cassie' Anselmo Saiz Jr.
Casimiro "Cassie" Anselmo Saiz Jr. of Bloomfield, N.M., died Thursday, April 7, 2005. He was 83.
Mr. Saiz was born Nov. 24, 1921, in Blanco, N.M., as one of 17 children to Casimiro Sr. and Teresa Sanchez Saiz. A farmer and a rancher, he could grow a plentiful crop anywhere, and he loved to work with horses, sheep and cattle. He was a pioneer in the San Juan Basin oil and gas industry.
Mr. Saiz moved to Washington state and married Elsie in 1977.
He is survived by his children, Phillip, Ted, Abel, Lena Clapper, Charles, Gary, Kevin and stepchildren Beverly Minkler and Richard Buckingham; as well as 15 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren, his sister Izilia Benavidez and brothers Ross, Alfred, Chris and Kayo.
Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday, and a funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, both at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Bayfield. Interment is at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at Greenlawn Cemetery in Farmington.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Bartholomew, P.O. Box 488 Bayfield, CO 81122.
Alisa Lynn Alires
Alisa Lynn Alires died Saturday, April 9, 2005, at Mercy Medical Center in Durango. She was 29. She died of heart failure.
Alisa Lynn was born Oct. 11, 1975, in Durango, the daughter of Alex and Sally Velasquez of Ignacio. Alisa Lynn was a lifelong resident of Ignacio. She completed 12 years of school, also in Ignacio. She was active in basketball and was a shot put thrower in track. She was active in the Native America Youth Organization. She also volunteered with concessions and other projects. She was employed as a cook and cashier at numerous cafes. Alisa Lynn's hobbies were fishing, camping, talking on her computer with friends and cooking, mostly barbecues. She also enjoyed listening to her music, dancing and shopping for clothes.
She is survived by her father, Alex Velasquez of Ignacio; her mother, Sally Velasquez of Ignacio; her brother, Alexis Velasquez of Denver; niece Celsa Velasquez of Ignacio; and nephews Lexis Velasquez and Ruben Martinez, both of Ignacio; and numerous other aunts, uncles and cousins.
A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. The Monsignor Daniel Huber of St. Ignatius Catholic Church will officiate. Burial will occur at Ignacio West Cemetery in Ignacio. A rosary will be said at 6 p.m. today at St. Ignatius Catholic Church.
Jim O. Bell
Jim O. Bell, who lived in Durango most of his life, died Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at his home. He was 73. No cause of death was given.
Mr. Bell was born June 27, 1931, in Amarillo, Texas, to Ernest and Annabell Bell. He came to Durango at a young age and attended Park Elementary School and Durango High School, where he was on the football, basketball and track teams. He is the only DHS football player to letter in the sport for five years because he played on the varsity squad as an eighth-grader. He received all-state and all-conference honors in his senior year.
After graduating in 1950, Mr. Bell attended Adams State College in Alamosa, where he played football. He later enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Japan, where he served as postmaster.
He married Margie Quinn at St. Columba Church in 1957.
Mr. Bell began a career in the grocery business with Safeway Stores, managing stores for almost 20 years. He later bought Wegher's market in partnership with Albert and Jennie Cometti. He later became purchasing agent at the DoubleTree/Red Lion Inn and worked for the firm until he retired.
He was a lifetime member of the Elks and the VFW and was a member of the Rotary Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and cutting firewood in the mountains.
Mr. Bell is survived by his wife, Margie; his daughters, Julie Harrington of Evergreen and Frances Haskins of Broomfield; his son, Andy Bell of Lakewood; and grandchildren Jeff Haskins, Nicole Harrington, Chris Harrington, Mason Bell and Karson Bell. He also is survived by sisters Mary Ann Shoemaker of Loveland and Frances Schmitt of Strawberry, Ariz.; cousins John and Kim Thomas; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial Mass is at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Columba Church, with the Rev. James Koenigsfeld officiating. Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary.
Warner E. Leighton
Warner E. Leighton of Cambria, Calif., and Durango died at his home on Sunday, March 20, 2005, with his friends and family nearby. He was 74.
Mr. Leighton was a storyteller, who worked as a film editor in Hollywood from 1952 until 1993. His credits are many and cover everything from editing sound on the first Cinerama production, "South Seas Adventure," to cutting picture for westerns and car-chase movies.
His long associations with Hanna Barbera Productions, Burt Kennedy, Toby Halicki, Mal Sharpe, Larry Sands and Bob Drucker produced wonderful friendships and moviemaking.
As the industry changed, Mr. Leighton felt the mutual respect that had embodied those professional relationships no longer existed in the new Hollywood and he decided to retire to Colorado. His film editing may have ended but his storytelling continued.
Mr. Leighton spent retirement driving his Kubota tractor, running his hot dog cart "Get Along Little Doggie," overseeing the Rio Grande Building in downtown Durango, and telling stories at Solid Muldoon. If it was during NASCAR season, he would be found watching the races and cheering for Mark Martin.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret "P.J." Webb of Cambria; daughters Cynthia Leighton of Cayucos, Calif., and Denise Mello of Pacific Grove, Calif.; and one grandson.
A party to celebrate his life will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Solid Muldoon in Durango.
In lieu of flowers or contributions, the family asks that you honor Mr. Leighton by telling people close to you that you love them.
Gerald Grover George
Gerald Grover George, a longtime Bureau of Indian Affairs employee and wildland firefighter, died Thursday, March 31, 2005, in Towaoc. He was 55.
Mr. George was a member of the Duckwater band of the Shoshone Indian Tribe, and served for more than 32 years in the BIA fire service, working up through the organization in a variety of positions. His career included time in the following positions: firefighter, Stanislaus Hot Shot, National Interagency Fire Center training specialist, Southern Ute fire management officer, and finally, Ute Mountain Ute fuels specialist. His experience and knowledge made him a well-respected member of the fire culture.
Mr. George's interests included hunting, fishing, fine dining and attending various music concerts and festivals.
For all who knew him, Mr. George was a kind-hearted, generous and genuine person. All who knew him well said he was dependable "as the ocean tide."
A memorial celebrating Mr. George's life and accomplishments will be held at 1 p.m. today at the Ute Mountain Ute Gymnasium in Towaoc.
Jack Benton Gensheer
Jack Benton Gensheer, 78, died at his home in Douglas, Wyo., on Friday, April 1, 2005.
He was born Feb. 5, 1927, in Denver, the son of Fred and Grace (Goodman) Gensheer.
The family moved to Durango in 1936. He met and married Eunice Mae Money in Durango, and they raised four children together.
Mr. Gensheer was a lifetime member of the International Order of Odd Fellows. He resided in Wyoming for 28 years, living 15 years in Douglas and 13 years in Hanna.
He loved his family, and he enjoyed working his garden. He spent several years with the Wyoming State Fairgrounds with the Green Thumb project.
Survivors include his wife, Eunice, of Douglas; his children Frank Gensheer of Richmond, Calif.; Diane Parrish of Douglas; Mark Gensheer, of Indianapolis, Ind.; and Wendy Kennedy of Farmington, N.M.; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one grandson.
Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. today at the Converse Chapel at Gorman Funeral Homes in Douglas, Wyo., with Chaplain Debbie Rohlff of North Platte Hospice officiating.
Visitation will be held in Durango at Hood Mortuary on from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and a graveside service will be held 1 p.m. Friday in the Greenmount Cemetery in Durango.
A memorial of flower bulbs and perennial flowers for the Wyoming State Fairgrounds in Douglas, Bobbi's House in Douglas, or to a charity of the donor's choice would be appreciated by the family.
Dorothy Pearl 'Dot' Bennett
Dorothy Pearl "Dot" Bennett, loving wife and mother, died Friday, April 1, 2005, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango. She was 87.
Mrs. Bennett was born in Cumberland, Md., on April 23, 1917. She was the daughter of Chauncey and Gertrude Claubaugh. In 1939, Mrs. Bennett married Henry Paul Bennett Sr., and the two would remain a couple for 57 years until Mr. Bennett's death in 1996.
After moving to Colorado in 1960, the family first went to Pagosa Springs, then to Ridgway. After her husband retired, Mrs. Bennett and family moved to Bayfield.
Mrs. Bennett enjoyed cooking and crocheting.
She is survived by two sons, Paul Bennett Jr. of Bloomfield, N.M., and Tom Bennett of Bayfield; two grandchildren, Brenda Jones of Bayfield and Edward Bennett of Craig; and one sister, Mary May of Shippensburg, Pa.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Union Memorial Cemetery in Minchtown, Pa. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of Mercy, 375 E. Park Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Floral donations can be made through Everett Flowers/Gales Boutique in Everett, Wash., (814) 652-2533.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 375 E. Park Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Floral donations may be made through Everett Flowers/Gales Boutique in Everett, Wash., (814) 652-2533.
