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Linda Lee Bolen
Linda Lee Bolen, 58, died Friday, July, 8, 2005, at Mercy Medical Center. The cause of death was complications resulting from breast cancer.
Linda Bolen was born in Chicago to Bruno and Florence Shares on Feb. 5, 1947.
She grew up in southwest Chicago, where she attended St. Turibius Grade School and graduated from Gage Park High School. She attended Loop Junior College (now the University of Illinois at Chicago), the Art Institute of Chicago and Northern Illinois University at De Kalb, Ill., where she was an art major. She earned a bachelor of science in business administration at Regis University in Denver.
It was at Northern Illinois University that she met her future husband, Jim. They were married at St. Turibius Church in Chicago on Aug. 22, 1970.
The Bolens moved to Durango in 1987. Mrs. Bolen was an 18-year employee of Mercy Medical Center. She was on the board of directors and various committees of the Durango Arts Center and was on the board for the Women's Resource Center. Linda Bolen was active in the United Way of Southwest Colorado, having served on the board of directors and as the organization's president in 2000. That was a record-breaking year for United Way, as it passed the $500,000 mark in fundraising. She retired from the United Way board in 2002.
"Linda was a loving and devoted wife," said her husband, James Bolen. "Linda was known for her honesty and forthrightness with her friends. I and her many friends will miss her deeply."
Linda Bolen was a gourmet cook and water-color artist. She also enjoyed skiing, hiking, bicycling and traveling. She had a great appreciation for gourmet food and wine.
She is survived by her husband, James Bolen of Durango; her sister, Judith Rimkus of Lombard, Ill; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Columba Catholic Church. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Aug. 6 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Lombard, Ill.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Journey of Hope Fund (which provides mammograms to women who cannot afford them in Southwest Colorado), in care of the Mercy Health Foundation, 375 E. Park Ave., Durango, CO 81301; to United Way of Southwest Colorado, P.O. Box 3040, Durango, CO 81302; or to the Georgia O'Keeffe Scholarship Fund, c/o the Women's Resource Center, 723 East Second Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Elsie Mae Jackson
Elsie Mae Jackson, 75, died Friday, July 8, 2005, at Mercy Medical Center. She was a breast cancer survivor since 1994.
Mrs. Jackson was born Dec. 3, 1929, in Ralston, Okla., the daughter of Irvin and Mattie Robbins. She moved to the Durango area in 1930 at age 1 and lived here until her death.
In 1954, she married Buddy Cecil Jackson in Hawthorne, Nev. Mrs. Jackson worked for many years as a waitress at local establishments.
She is remembered by her family as a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as a fabulous cook and a superb baker.
Mrs. Jackson was preceded in death by her father, Irvin Robbins; her mother, Mattie Northrup Robbins; and four brothers, Rocky, George, Les and Bill Robbins.
She is survived by her husband, Buddy Jackson of Ignacio; four sons, Dale Peters of Houston, Robert Jackson of Hesperus, Dean Jackson of Durango and Nathan Jackson of Missoula, Mont.; her daughter, Renee Clauson of Bayfield; three brothers, Ernie Robbins of Denver, Richard Robbins of Salida and Robert Robbins of Escondido, Colo.; a sister, Hazel MacTagert of Spencer, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at Hood Mortuary in Durango from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango. The Rev. Steve Salizar of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will officiate.
John Donaldson Fugate Sr.
John Donaldson Fugate Sr., 78, died Thursday, July 7, 2005, at Mercy Medical Center. The cause of death was undetermined.
He was born in Denver to J. Don and Mary Fugate on Aug. 9, 1926.
Mr. Fugate married Cynthia Shell in Hopkins, Mo., on Sept. 11, 1947. He served as a gunner's mate in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Iowa during World War II and the Korean conflict.
The family moved to Durango in the fall of 1969, when Mr. Fugate began his employment with Morehart Chevrolet. By the time he retired in 1989, he was the body shop foreman. The Fugates' retirement years were spent in Stockton, Mo. The couple returned to Durango last year.
"His family definitely came first," said his daughter-in-law Pennelin Fugate. "He taught all his sons to hunt and fish, and dearly loved his wife. During their 58 years of marriage, they were only separated when he was in the Navy."
Mr. Fugate also enjoyed flying remote-control airplanes and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by his wife Cynthia Fugate of Durango; a daughter, Janyne Carelock of Durango; four sons, John D. Fugate of Aztec, Jody Fugate of Montrose, Jerry Fugate of St. Cloud, Minn., and Jeffrey Fugate of Durango; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Columba Catholic Church. The Rev. James Koenigsfeld will be the celebrant.
Evelyn Faith 'Eve' Wick
Durango native Evelyn F. "Eve" Wick died Monday, June 27, 2005, in Pueblo. The cause of death was a heart attack.
She was born Aug. 9, 1944, in a home up the Animas Valley. Her parents were Walter Jefcoat and Lillie Belle Dean.
At the age of 13, she began working as a waitress in Cuba, N.M., and later in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. In Montana, she was a secretary for the Blaine County Extension Office and the Triangle Telephone Co-op Association. While in the Big Sky state, she married Chick Warren in Chinook, Mont.
In July 1983, she became the owner of Pueblo West Liquor in Pueblo. Three years later, she had a stroke, and then sold the business in 1989.
In 1997, she moved to Scottsbluff, Neb., and returned to Pueblo on March 19, 2005.
Mrs. Wick was grateful to the Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous groups for their love and friendship.
"It was very refreshing to be around her," said her sister Colleen Smith. "She made life smoother, more serene and peaceful."
She was preceded in death by her first husband Chick Warren.
She is survived by her son Doug Warren of Pueblo; brother Art Jefcoat of Bowie, Texas; sisters Gladys Carnaban of Great Falls, Mont., Louise Wendel of Naples, Fla., and Colleen Smith of Clovis, N.M.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation has occurred. Memorial services will be held at a later date.
The family can be reached c/o Colleen Smith, (505) 769-9094 or at 3900 Don January Ave., Clovis, NM 88101.
William Ellsworth Bowker
A man who lived and loved the cowboy way of life, William "Bill" Ellsworth Bowker died at his son's home in Silt on Thursday, June 30, 2005. The 88-year-old man died of prostate cancer.
He was born Jan. 4, 1917, to George Harold and Ramona Bowker in Kearny, Neb. He grew up on a farm during the Great Depression and graduated from Kearny High School. Later he moved to California, where he married and raised four children.
On Dec. 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, he joined the U.S. Navy. From 1942-43 he held the rank of petty officer 1st class on a destroyer, then worked on subMarines as a diesel mechanic until late 1944. He was assigned the task of escorting warships across the Atlantic from the United States to Europe.
After he left the service, he had various iron-working jobs and later became a plumber, retiring from San Diego County Plumbers' Local Union 230. He was also a volunteer for the San Diego Sherriff's Mounted Posse.
Riding horses was his passion, and he continued to ride his mare, Ruby, until just before his death. Mr. Bowker was a wrangler for hunting camps, enjoyed riding in parades and was always available to help a neighbor or friend to drive cattle. At the age of 70, he broke his last horse and he was a pick-up man in the rodeo until he was 84.
Mr. Bowker was involved as an elder at the Hayfork Community Church in Hayfork, Calif., and his family said he was always willing to share his faith in God.
He is survived by daughters Gloria Rose of Tucson, Ariz. and Patti Hamberger of Gypsum; sons Gary Bowker of Silt and Billy Bowker of Durango; one stepson; two stepdaughters; 20 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
There will be a private celebration of his life in Silt. In lieu of flowers or donations to the family, they ask that you pass on a good deed or act of kindness to your fellow man.
Kyle Nathaniel Tinhorn
Kyle Nathaniel Tinhorn died Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at Mercy Medical Center. He was 1. The cause of death was undisclosed.
He was born April 25, 2004, in Denver to Tyler Tinhorn and Fabrienne Rae Denet.
"He was a loving son and his energy was uplifting to everyone," said his mother. "We love him so and will miss him very much."
He is survived by his father Tyler Tinhorn of Durango; mother Fabrienne Denet of Durango; grandparents Frank and Jane Denet of Sweetwater, Ariz.; grandmother Barbara Tinhorn of Peach Springs, Ariz.; grandfather Albert Tinhorn of Dennehotso, Ariz.; uncles Tyris Tinhorn, Tyrrell Tinhorn and Tyson Tinhorn, all of Phoenix; aunts Althea Denet of Aztec, Cassandra Bia of Salt Lake City, and Tyra Tinhorn, April Tinhorn and Alexandria LaValdo, all of Phoenix; and uncle Vernon Denet of Fruitland, N.M.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. today at Greenmount Cemetery. Andrew Tso will officiate. Burial will follow the service.
Elsie Eppich
Elsie Koenig Eppich, 92, died on Monday, July 4, 2005, at San Juan Regional Hospital in Farmington. The cause of death was not disclosed.
She was the second of seven children born to Anton and Stephanie (Schauer) Koenig on March 3, 1913, on her father's ranch on the West Dolores River. Both of her parents were immigrants from Yugoslavia-Austria.
A one-room schoolhouse was built near their ranch, and the teacher resided with the family. The school only ran through the eighth grade, so Anton Koenig bought a home in Dolores where the children could live while attending high school. He stayed on the ranch and his wife stayed in town with the children.
Mrs. Eppich met and married Allen Tozer in 1931. The couple had three children. They separated in 1938 and divorced in 1943. She supported her family by working as a cook at Mercy Medical Center.
She married Albert Eppich in 1943 and the new family lived in Mancos. They had one child together. Mrs. Eppich moved to Durango when she was 91 and resided with her daughter Amy Thomas.
One of Mrs. Eppich's favorite things was springtime, with its new growth and the birth of small and large animals. She was a proficient gardener and enjoyed both the planting and the harvesting.
She was active in the parish of St. Rita's Catholic Church in Mancos.
"Her faith was the most important thing for her," said her daughter, Theresa Marcum.
She was preceded in death by her husband Albert Eppich in 1991.
Mrs. Eppich is survived by her son Kenneth Tozer of Durango; daughters Amy Thomas of Durango, Theresa Marcum of Mancos and Vie Liddell of La Mesa, Calif.; brother Jim Koenig of Dolores; 15 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.
A funeral will held at 10 a.m. today at St. Rita's Catholic Church in Mancos. The Rev. Derrek D. Scott and the Rev. James F. Koenigsfeld will be the celebrants. Burial will follow in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Mancos.
Spiritual bouquets may be given for Masses in her memory.
Calvin S. Kennedy
Durango native Calvin S. Kennedy, 75, died Monday, July 4, 2005, at his home in Bloomfield, N.M. The cause of death was emphysema.
Mr. Kennedy was born to James and Edna Kennedy on Jan. 6, 1930 in Durango. He married Charlene Wright here on Dec. 27, 1952.
He worked as the janitor at Riverview Elementary School until his retirement from School District 9-R, when he had his own business, K & K Janitorial Service. The business closed when he moved to New Mexico in the mid-1990s.
Mr. Kennedy only had a sixth-grade education, but taught himself to read while working at Riverview. He said that both the teachers and the students helped him learn. One of his favorite activities thereafter was readintg Louis L'Amour novels.
He was an old cowboy, said his daughter-in-law Wendy Kennedy. He loved life, loved his family and loved to help people.
He was preceded in death by his grandson Wesley Kennedy.
Mr. Kennedy is survived by his wife Charlene Kennedy of Bloomfield, N.M.; sons Steve Kennedy, Phillip Kennedy and David Kennedy, all of Farmington; brother Delbert Kennedy of Oxford; sisters Lydia Semeler of Bayfield and Pauline Ford of Ignacio; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will take place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Hood Mortuary. A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hood Mortuary, with the Rev. Martin Wilson and the Rev. Jonathan Wilson of the NonDenominational Church from Farmington. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery.
James Philip Saler
Chief Warrant Officer James Philip Saler, Ret., who worked as a Tri-State CareFlight pilot, died in a helicopter crash near Mancos on Thursday, June 30, 2005. He was 40.
He was born to James and Marilyn Saler on March 11, 1965, in Orange, Calif. Mr. Saler graduated in 1983 from South Tahoe High School in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
After serving 20 years in the U.S. Army, he had recently retired. Mr. Saler began his military career as an infantryman, where he served in Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Able Sentry in Macedonia.
In 1995, he was selected for Warrant Officer Candidate School. After graduation, he attended the Army Aviation Flight School at Fort Rucker, Ala. Mr. Saler served two tours of duty in the Middle East.
The first was in "Operation Iraqi Freedom," from which he returned to Fort Carson in Nov. 2003. His most recent tour was as a Medivac pilot with the 571st Med Company Air Ambulance.
An avid skier, Mr. Saler also loved spending time with his family, camping and fishing. He had a special talent for building furniture, cabinets and other woodworking crafts. Becoming a pilot was his life-long dream.
His family said he touched the lives of many people, serving as an inspiration and role model to those who knew him.
Mr. Saler is survived by his wife Janet Byers Saler of Pueblo West; daughters Natalie Saler, Danielle Saler and Christine Saler, all of Pueblo West; mother and stepfather Marilyn and Lee Horn; father James Saler; sisters Sharon Mancuoso and Lisa Lawrence Tachibana; and numerous other family members and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Montgomery & Steward Chapel in Pueblo, with military honors by the Fort Carson Honor Guard.
Online condolences may be proffered at www.montgomerysteward.com.
