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Ethel May (Arnspiger) Ancell (9/10/2005)
A woman who lived in La Plata and Archuleta counties all of her life, Ethel May (Arnspiger) Ancell died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005, at her home in Ignacio. She was 98.
She was born to Henry and Susie (Lee) Chambers in Ignacio on July 3, 1907, one of nine children.
She told her family stories of walking several miles to the one-room Mason School and of seeing her first car and first airplane. She completed the 10th grade at Ignacio High School.
She married Ernest Arnspiger in Ignacio in 1924. He was a butcher who became a farmer. After his death, she married Albert Ancell in Phoenix during the 1960s. He also was a farmer.
During her younger years, she was active in various extension clubs and community social clubs.
Her family said her zest for life was contagious, and she enjoyed her family and friends.
Mrs. Ancell had many hobbies, including painting, knitting, crocheting and working in her flower garden. She was the kind of gardener who started all her roses from cuttings.
She was a member of the Allison Community Presbyterian Church. In her later years, Mrs. Ancell was active at the Ignacio SUCAP Senior Center, participating in the exercise program as well as enjoying meals and social activities like bingo.
She is survived by her daughter Frances Lorraine Cline of Tucson, Ariz.; sister Maxine Payne of Deertrail; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Ancell was preceded in death by her husbands Ernest Arnspiger and Albert Ancell; and her son Randall Ancell.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Hood Mortuary. The Rev. Alan TeBrink with the Allison Community Presbyterian Church will officiate. Burial will take place at Crestview Cemetery in Durango.
Memorial contributions may be made to the SUCAP Senior Center, P.O. Box 324, Ignacio, CO 81137; or the Ignacio Volunteer Emergency Service, P.O. Box 371, Ignacio, CO 81137.
Hazel D. Payne (9/9/2005)
A former resident of Durango, Hazel D. Payne, died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005, at the Wilson N. Jones Hospital in Sherman, Texas. She was 87.
She was born to Earl and Pearl Robinson on July 1, 1918, in Decatur, Texas. On April 20, 1939, she married Charles Payne in Tulia, Texas. Her family said she was a loving homemaker and rancher's wife for 66 years. Mrs. Payne was a member of Northside Church of Christ in Bonham, Texas.
The Paynes lived in the Durango area from the mid-1940s until 1977. All five of their children graduated from Durango High School.
They originally raised cattle in the area north of Baker's Bridge before settling south of Breen. There they raised cattle, hogs and chickens. They had their own egg label, Blue Circle Egg Farm, which was sold at City Market.
Mrs. Payne was a member of the Breen Busy Bees and the Breen Grange.
"She was very much into her family," said her daughter-in-law, Mary Payne. "She was kindhearted and generous in helping neighbors, but most of all, she should be remembered as being devoted to her family."
She is survived by her husband, Charles Payne of Lamasco, Texas; daughters Vesta Peterson of Phoenix, Melba DeWitt of Fort Worth, Texas, and Lynda Hamilton of Bells, Texas; sons Curtis Payne of Crum, Texas, and Kyle Payne of Lamasco, Texas; sister Earlene Maddox of Lubbock, Texas; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one nephew.
Teresa L. Chapman (9/8/2005)
A woman who served her country during World War II, Teresa L. Chapman, 82, died on July 25, 2005, at her home in Durango. The cause of death was lung cancer.
She was born to Carl and Mabel Gravett on Nov. 7, 1922, in Fresno, Calif. Her family moved to Denver when she was a toddler, and she grew up there.
Mrs. Chapman was proud of her service in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. She was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque.
After the war, she attended the University of Denver on the GI Bill. She worked as an X-Ray technician at St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver.
In 1951, she married H.W. Chapman in Aztec. After the birth of her children, she became a homemaker.
In 1993 she moved to Durango, where she enjoyed gardening, animals and her family's activities.
Her family said, "Her legacy was her courageous perseverance and reminder that no obstacle was too big if your will to overcome was bigger."
Mrs. Chapman is survived by her daughters Laurie Carpino and Nancy Hofman, both of Durango; and seven grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, H.W. Chapman.
Allen Leon Sandoval (9/4/2005)
Allen Leon Sandoval, 45, of Farmington died on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Mr. Sandoval was born on April 13, 1960, in Durango to Manuel A. Sandoval Jr. and Pauline I. (Bellino) Sandoval. He was the sixth of eight children.
Mr. Sandoval is survived by his wife, Mary M. Sandoval of Farmington; his children, Amanda, Kristi Ana, Elliott and Amber, all of Farmington; his brothers, Gerald Sandoval of Fort Collins, Robert Sandoval of Bloomfield, Manuel Sandoval of Aztec, Anthony Sandoval of Farmington, and John Paul Sandoval of Watkins; and his sisters, Bernadette Vigil of Farmington and Nancy Ramirez of Fort Collins.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home and Crematory, 103 E. Ute Street, Farmington. A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Calvary Apostolic Church, with the Rev. Keith Duvall officiating. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. in Juanita Cemetery in Juanita, Colo. A reception will be held at 6 p.m. in Farmington.
Herb Lipp (9/4/2005)
A former resident of Durango, Herb Lipp, 75, died of natural causes at The Mancos Valley Inn on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005.
He was born to Isidor and Toba Obornker in Poland on Feb. 12, 1930. His parents were European Jews, and they spent some of the early years of World War II in the Warsaw ghettos. The family managed to escape to Berlin, where they thought it would be safer. His parents were killed in the Allied bombing of Berlin, and the village where they had lived was completely destroyed by bombing as well.
Mr. Lipp and his brother, David, managed to make their way to Portugal as refugees, often living on a candy bar for two days at a time and under frequent strafing runs on the roads by the German Luftwaffe.
Once they reached Portugal, they were put on a freedom ship and sent to the United States. After entering the country at Ellis Island in 1944, the brothers were adopted by Midge and Michael Lipp, and grew up in Sacramento, Calif.
After graduating from the University of California at Davis with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, Mr. Lipp enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. During the Korean War, he served as a medical corpsman at an evacuation hospital in Anchorage, Alaska.
Mr. Lipp received both a National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal during his military service. He was honorably discharged on Sept. 2, 1955, as an orderly-medical service specialist.
Mr. Lipp had several successful businesses, including a real-estate appraisal company in San Clemente, Calif.
He married Sarah Jane Addleman in Sacramento on Sept. 5, 1954. Her mother had been a refugee from Germany during World War I.
He lived in Durango from 1999 to 2001, and returned in 2003.
Mr. Lipp loved to spend time with his family, cross-country skiing and the outdoors.
Mr. Lipp is survived by his son Eric Lipp of Bayfield; daughters Gesine Lipp of Kinglsey, Mich., and Michelle Wittersheim of Traverse City, Mich.; brother David Lipp of Fort Collins; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Jane Lipp.
Elizabeth 'Liz' Brannen Coffman (9/2/2005)
A woman whose family has deep roots in Durango, Elizabeth "Liz" Brannen Coffman, 55, died Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005 at her home in Durango. Although she had been sober for a while, she died after a long struggle with alcoholism.
She was born to Edward and Janet Patricia (Noland) Brannen in Albuquerque on Dec. 19, 1949. The family lived in many states during her childhood and moved to Durango in 1967, just after her graduation from high school in Imperial Beach, Calif.
Mrs. Coffman received her licensed practical nursing degree and worked at the old Community Hospital.
She married Chuck Coffman at the Fort Lewis College Chapel. The marriage was later dissolved.
Mrs. Coffman moved to Phoenix, where she continued her nursing career and joined the Navy Reserves. Over the years, she lived in San Diego, Juneau, Alaska, and most recently, Denver.
She was an avid fisherwoman and loved to travel.
Mrs. Coffman is survived by sisters Laurie Francil and Joni Cozby, both of Durango; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
At Mrs. Coffman's request, no funeral will be held.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 3801 N. Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Gene Evelyn Richardson (9/2/2005)
A resident of Durango since 2002, Gene Evelyn Richardson died at her home on the Wildorado Ranch in Durango on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005. She was 91. She died of natural causes.
She was born to Ernest and Ollie Mae McCoy on Jan. 31, 1914, in Locust Grove, Okla. She grew up there and in Pryor, Okla., before marrying Orin S. Richardson on April 6, 1933, in Pawnee, Okla. They were married for 67 years.
Her family said Mrs. Richardson was a proud and hard-working military officer's wife during her husband's 33 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. The couple lived in Albuquerque from the time of his retirement until her husband's death in July 2000.
Mrs. Richardson enjoyed painting, art and needlework. She was a passionate reader and enjoyed the military life, her family's extensive travels and their homes in diverse locations around the world.
"She loved being a wife, mother and grandmother; that's who she was, a people person," said her daughter, Vicki Koger.
Daughter Jeri Mac Burkett said, "She was an elegant lady, the cornerstone of our family. A mother holds her children's hands for a while, but their hearts forever."
Mrs. Richardson was preceded in death by her husband, Orin Richardson.
She is survived by daughters Jeri Mac Burkett of Durango and Vicki Koger of Oskaloosa, Iowa; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A private service has been held.
Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 3801 N. Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Virginia Josephine Percell (9/1/2005)
Virginia Josephine Percell, 80, died at The Valley Inn in Mancos on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005. The cause of death was complications from diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
She was born to Louie and Nell Albright on May 21, 1925, in Hayes, Kan.
The family moved to the Pagosa Springs area during the Dust Bowl. Mrs. Percell graduated from high school in Ogden, Utah, and then attended Fort Lewis College, where she earned her teaching degree.
Her future husband, Dayton Emery Percell, worked for the Colorado Highway Department and lived at the Cascade Highway Camp. They married in Aztec on March 1, 1947.
Mrs. Percell also taught school in Oxford. She retired from teaching after the birth of the couple's first child. For the rest of her life she was a devoted wife and mother.
Mrs. Percell enjoyed crocheting, traveling and canning. She also loved gardening.
Mrs. Percell was a longtime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as the secretary for the Durango Old Car Club for some time.
"She wasn't just a wonderful mother, she was a great confidante," said her son Robert Percell. "I was in the military for a while, and have a ton of letters she sent. She made sure I knew that she was thinking about me."
Mrs. Percell is survived by daughters Frances Hill of Gladstone, Mo., and Debra LeBarge of Lawson, Mo.; sons Paul Percell of Pinole, Calif., Lloyd Percell of Farmington and Robert Percell of Ignacio; sister Ida Stokes of Englewood; 17 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband and granddaughter Donna D Hill.
Visitation will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Friday at Hood Mortuary. A funeral will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hood Mortuary. The Rev. Mark Webber with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bayfield Ward, will officiate. Burial will occur at Pine River Cemetery in Bayfield.
Memorial contributions may be made to Butch McClanahan Memorial Library Fund, P.O. Box 886, Ignacio, CO 81137.
