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Patricia Lee Trease (10/6/2005)
A woman whose roots ran deep in La Plata County, Patricia Lee Trease, 76, died at Mercy Medical Center on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005. The cause of death was congestive heart failure.
She was born to Emerald and Grace (Anderson) Patrick in Redlands, Calif., on Nov. 9, 1928. Mrs. Trease graduated from high school there.
On June 20, 1948, she married Jack R. Trease in Redlands. After they divorced in 1964, she and her children moved to Ignacio to be near her family.
The Patrick family presence in La Plata County goes back to Washington Patrick and his brothers, who moved here from Indiana. Washington Patrick was Mrs. Trease’s great-grandfather and was known for building the fish hatcheries at Emerald Lake and in Durango. He also built the fish ponds on the Patrick Ranch. That area is now the Wit’s End Guest Ranch at Vallecito Lake.
Mrs. Trease was a hairdresser and made many friends. She owned two beauty salons in Durango, one downtown and one in the Ernst Building near 22nd Street and Main Avenue. She later opened a salon in Ignacio with her daughter, Laura Whitt, and worked there until her retirement in 1994.
“She was easygoing,” said her son-in-law, George Whitt. “She had a very good family rapport and worked all the time to send her children through school and do what she could for them.” Mrs. Trease especially enjoyed dancing and bowling. For the last three years, she had been a resident at Four Corners Health Care Center.
She is survived by her daughter, Laura Whitt of Ignacio; son David Trease of Creswell, Ore.; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Cremation has occurred. A graveside service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Ignacio East Cemetery. The Rev. Curt Alderton with the Ignacio Community Church will officiate.
John G. Clancy Jr. (10/5/2005)
A talented author and dedicated attorney, John G. Clancy Jr., 69, was killed on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2005, when his car overturned on U.S. Highway 84 between Ghost Ranch and Christ of the Desert Monastery in New Mexico. He was ejected from his car when it rolled and was declared dead at the scene. Mr. Clancy was not wearing a seat belt.
He was returning home from a business trip to Santa Fe.
Mr. Clancy was born in New York City to John Gerard and Edna (Lyons) Clancy on Jan. 24, 1936. He earned his bachelor of arts from Fordham University and his law degree from Columbia University.
After clerking for a federal appellate judge in San Francisco, Mr. Clancy entered private practice. His client list was eclectic. In addition to commercial litigants, he represented clients pro bono, and he represented professional football players and writers, including his longtime friend Hunter S. Thompson.
“He was intensely passionate about justice, about fairness and about equity,” said his brother, Martin Clancy.
The week before his death, Mr. Clancy had submitted a report on prison reform in New Mexico to the state’s lieutenant governor. He also was in the process of getting funding for the Institute for Effective Prisons, which he founded.
Mr. Clancy was a writer himself. He had many articles published in magazines, including Harper’s, The Atlantic Monthly, Sports Illustrated, Scanlon’s and Rampart’s. He primarily wrote about politics and sports. “He was probably one of the biggest football fans that ever lived,” his brother said. Mr. Clancy moved to Colorado in 1984, while continuing to practice appellate law in California. He taught courses in criminal justice and political science at Fort Lewis College for 14 years. He was also active at St. Columba Catholic Church. Mr. Clancy married Judy Campbell, the proprietor of Smelter’s Coalroom, in Aztec in November 1984. They met when he was negotiating for the National Football League’s Player’s Association when the players went on strike in 1982. She was making cowboy shirts on the Navajo Reservation and went to Albuquerque, where the negotiations were taking place, to find models for the shirts. He is survived by his wife, Judy Campbell of Durango; daughters, Claire Clancy of Durango and Katie Clancy, a student at New York University; brother, Martin of New York City; and sister, Phyllis Clancy of Staunton, Va. A rosary will be said at 6 p.m. Thursday at St. Columba Catholic Church. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, also at St. Columba. Burial will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Silverton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Mr. Clancy’s memory be made to the Carmelite Monastery, 5660 South 151 Street West, Clearwater, KS 67026.
Jess Claude Cadby (10/4/2005)
Jess Claude Cadby, 80, died Saturday, Oct. 1, 2005, at Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte.
He was born to Mack and Lillian (Johnson) Cadby on Aug. 18, 1925, in Riverton, Wyo. Mr. Cadby served in the Army during World War II.
He was stationed in Germany, Czechoslovakia and Japan.
He married Rosa Abraham a few years after the war in Spokane, Wash. They lived mostly in San Diego, where he worked repairing electronics, primarily in the telecommunications area.
In June 1981, Mr. Cadbury married his second wife, Betty. After his retirement, the couple moved to Bayfield in 1999.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rosa Cadby, and his second wife, Betty Cadby.
Mr. Cadby is survived by his sons Steve Cadby of San Francisco and Matthew Cadby of Indio, Calif., daughters Allison DuQuette of Sioux City, Iowa, and Pennie Burns and Wendy Reyes, both of Everett, Wash.; brother Pat Cadby of Pasco, Wash.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Pine River Cemetery in Bayfield. Martin Wilson and Ruthie Topinka will officiate.
Jess M. Price (10/4/2005)
Former Durango resident Jess M. Price, 87, died Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005, in Sun City, Ariz. The cause of death was multiple system failure.
He was born on his father’s homesteaded ranch on Aug. 10, 1918, outside of Des Moines, N.M. His parents were Minet Carroll and Nora Ellen (Parker) Price. After growing up on the homestead and graduating from a small high school near Mount Capulin, he attended one year at Texas Tech University.
Mr. Price was stationed in Puerto Rico as an airplane mechanic in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, he met and married fellow boardinghouse occupant Jessie Munn in Denver. The couple said their vows on Nov. 11, 1949.
The Price family moved to Durango in 1953. Mr. Price owned Price Building. He was a member of the Masons and the First Presbyterian Church of Durango.
“He loved fishing at Electra Lake,” said his daughter Karen Crane. “He wasn’t much of a traveler, because he couldn’t understand why someone would go anywhere else when they could be at Electra.” For the last 23 years, Mr. and Mrs. Price had lived in Sun City West, Ariz. For several years, they had summered at their Electra Lake cabin, but had not been able to do so in recent years because of the altitude.
Mr. Price is survived by his wife Jessie Price of Sun City West, Ariz.; daughters Karen Crane of Durango and Judy McKelligott from Tampa, Fla.; son David Price of Houston; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Mr. Price was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.
Contributions may be made to the Sun Health Hospice, P.O. Box 2015, Sun City, AZ 85375.
Carol Gwen McCall (10/4/2005)
A woman passionate about healing, Carol Gwen McCall, 53, died at her home in Phoenix on Friday, Sept. 16, 2005.
The cause of death was breast cancer.
She was born to Pierce and Marjorie Miller in Durango on April 13, 1952. After growing up in Durango, she graduated from Durango High School in 1971.
On Dec. 12, 1971, she married Ted McCall in Durango. The marriage was later dissolved.
The McCalls moved their young family to Aztec, and once her children were in school, Mrs. McCall worked as a teacher’s aide at the Farmington Special Preschool for eight years. During the early 1990s, she moved to Albuquerque to study massage therapy.
After she was certified, Mrs. McCall returned to Durango, working at Trimble Hot Springs from 1997 to 2001. At that time, she moved to Phoenix, continuing her work as a massage therapist.
“She loved her family dearly,” said her daughter, Heidi Macaluso, “and loved being around them.” Mrs. McCall is survived by her son Craig McCall of Las Vegas; daughter Heidi Macaluso of Farmington; sisters Judy Parkhouse of Phoenix and Beverly Ferriegel of Alamagordo, N.M.; brothers Jim Miller of Louisville and Craig Miller of Phoenix; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Erwin C. Means (10/3/2005)
A longtime real estate broker who specialized in farms and ranches, Erwin C. Means died Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango. He was 85.
Mr. Means was born Dec. 6, 1919, in Salida, the son of Clarence and Hattie Means. Clarence Means was a homesteader in Colorado, and Hattie (Carson) Means came to Colorado from Wichita, Kan., in a covered wagon.
Erwin Means grew up in Saguache and Montrose counties.
He served the U.S. Army in the European theater in World War II, working on B-24 engines.
He and Lucylle Busse were married in Aztec, N.M. In 1954, Means replaced his father as owner of Farm and Ranch Service, Realtors, at 2007 Main Avenue.
Mr. Means was a former president of the La Plata County Board of Realtors and a former director of the Colorado Association of Real Estate Boards.
He was thoroughly involved with civic organizations.
He was a member of the Durango Chamber of Commerce; exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge No. 507 of Durango; district deputy of the Grand Lodge of Elks, the Masonic Blue Lodge No. 46 of Durango; and member of the National Real Estate Board.
Mr. Means is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lucylle Means; a daughter, Kathy Benson of Colorado Springs; a son, Dennis Means of Lakewood; a sister, Bette Talbot of Sweethome, Ore; a granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Hood Mortuary. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, also at Hood Mortuary. The Rev. Earl Caudill with the Hospice of Mercy will officiate. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Mercy, 3801 N. Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Manetta Edith Arnold (10/2/2005)
A longtime resident of Durango, Manetta Edith Arnold, 93, died Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005, at the home of her son Ken Arnold of Montgomery, La. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Mrs. Arnold lived in Colorado all of her life except for the final five years. She married Marple Arnold, and the couple moved to Durango in 1939 from the Front Range. Mr. Arnold helped construct the Vallecito Dam.
The family lived at 369 W. 23rd St. from the early 1940s to 1951, when Mr. Arnold was killed in an accident. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Arnold and her family moved out of town on Florida Road, where they lived until 1973, when she moved to Denver.
Mrs. Arnold was over 50 when she enrolled in a licensed nursing program. After graduating and passing the state board exams, Mrs. Arnold returned to Southwest Colorado, working at Community Hospital and several nursing homes in and around Durango until her retirement.
Mrs. Arnold was preceded in death by her husband, Marple Arnold.
She is survived by her sons, Marvin Arnold of Wilton, Calif., Frank Arnold of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Ken Arnold of Montgomery, La.; daughter, Peggy Arnold of Aztec; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-grandchild; two brothers; and six sisters.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Greenmount Cemetery. Her son the Rev. Ken Arnold will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Focus on the Family Hurricane Relief Fund, P.O. Box 35500, Colorado Springs, CO 80935.
Robert Edward Watts (10/2/2005)
An avid outdoorsman, Robert Edward Watts, 44, died Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, in Durango.
Mr. Watts was born Aug. 26, 1961, in Durango, the son of Ed and Rosa Watts. He was a member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and graduated from Ignacio High School.
He worked for the tribe's conservation crew and more recently for the custom farming division.
Mr. Watts enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, traveling and gaming at the casino, especially video poker. He also excelled at working on his car.
His family was of great importance to him, and he showed his affection through humor and practical jokes.
A lifelong Ignacio resident, Mr. Watts also was an avid Elvis and oldies music fan.
"Whenever you needed help, he was there for you," said his sister, Gloria Frost.
He is survived by a daughter, Shayleen Watts of Ignacio, and two sons, Jaryn Watts of Ignacio and David Watts of Albuquerque. He also is survived by three brothers, Tim Watts of La Boca and Rapheal Watts Sr. and Marshall Watts, both of Ignacio; sister, Gloria Frost of Ignacio; three grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and an aunt.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia and Suzanne; a brother, David; a daughter, Renee Watts; a niece and nephew.
A wake will be held at 5 p.m. today at his home. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Ignacio. The Rev. Daniel Huber and the Rev. Larry Tucker will officiate. Burial will occur at La Boca Cemetery in Ignacio.
Ethel Maxine McCausland (10/2/2005)
A chef, nurse, angler and churchgoer, Ethel Maxine McCausland, 90, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, at Four Corners Health Care Center. The cause of death was pneumonia.
Mrs. McCausland was born April 6, 1915, in Denver to Leonard J. and Lucy K. Maxwell Brown.
She married Ross D. McCausland Jr. in 1942 in Detroit, and for the next 63 years they enjoyed a wonderful relationship and mutual respect, her husband said.
She was instrumental in the development and overall success of the Ah Wilderness Guest Ranch, located in the Animas River canyon midway between Durango and Silverton. She was hostess and master chef for 40 to 60 guests and employees.
She graduated with a registered-nurse degree from Presbyterian Hospital in Denver and worked as a nurse at the Remington Arms factory in Denver.
Mrs. McCausland also was hostess on the Union Pacific "City of Los Angeles" passenger train. On one trip, she was trapped in an overturned parlor car. She was excellent at fly fishing, her husband said.
Mrs. McCausland was very active in the Presbyterian Church, teaching Sunday school and participating in most of the church's social activities.
She is survived by her husband, Ross. D. McCausland Jr. of Durango; a son, Ross D. "Mac" McCausland III of Durango; two daughters, Judy L. Beggrow of Durango and Joan M. Gillies of Axtell, Utah; a sister, Helen Staingle of Allegany, N.Y.; a brother, Roy A. Brown of Denver, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers and a granddaughter.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday at Hood Mortuary Chapel. A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hood Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Myron Darmour will officiate. Burial will occur at Greenmount Cemetery.
The family discourages mourners from making contributions in her name.
