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Mildred Louise Wright Hein (2/21/2006)
Longtime Durango resident Mildred Wright Hein, 86, died in Durango on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006. She had been in failing health and died from complications of bronchitis and diabetes.
She was born to Minnie Marie (Sharp) and Olin Cecil Bell in Kansas City, Kan., on June 18, 1919. Her mother died when she was only three months old, so she was eventually raised by her maternal grandparents, the Rev. W.A. Seward Sharp and Frances Sharp.
Mrs. Wright Hein attended Ottawa University in Topeka, Kan. She met Harold P. Wright at the First Baptist Church in Holton, Kan., where her grandfather was the pastor. They married on Christmas Day in 1938.
The Wright family moved to Southern California in 1945. Mrs. Wright Hein worked for Bank of America for 30 years. She was one of the first female bank managers in California.
The Wrights moved to Durango during the early 1980s. Mr. Wright died in 1986.
On Feb. 25, 1989, she married Harold Hein in Durango at the First Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member. The couple traveled all over the United States.
Mrs. Wright Hein enjoyed quilting and meeting with her "Fan Club" friends every Friday for many years.
"She was very spunky," her son Alan Wright said. "She had a pretty good sense of humor. She had a lot of love for her family and her grandchildren were very special to her."
In addition to her first husband, Harold Wright, Mrs. Hein Wright was preceded in death by her son Ronald Dean Wright.
She is survived by her husband, Harold Hein, of Durango; her children Kathryn Deaderick and Richard Alan Wright, both of Durango; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p .m. Saturday, March 4, 2006, at the First Baptist Church of Durango.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Foundation, Colorado Affiliate, 2450 S. Downing St., Denver, CO 80210, or the charity of your choice.
Hope 'Grammy' Simons (2/19/2006)
Hope "Grammy" Simons died of natural causes on Jan. 8, 2006, in Durango, three days after her 96th birthday.
She was born Hope Willis Baily on Jan. 5, 1910, in Seattle to Clarence Herbert and Elsie Waring Baily. She was the youngest of three children.
The Baily genealogy has been traced back to the Mayflower and includes descendants who were early settlers of the Plymouth colony and also writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, according to the family.
Mrs. Simons grew up in Southern California and had fond memories of riding horses on the beach in La Jolla. Her love of the ocean was with her always.
Growing up, she attended the Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, which brought her great joy and comfort. Her faith in God carried her throughout her life.
She graduated from high school in Los Angeles and then attended UCLA, from which she attained a bachelor's degree in education in 1933. She was always proud of the fact that she was a pioneer Bruin.
Mrs. Simons worked in the 1930s at Paramount Studios, where her brother Tom was publicity director.
She married Gilbert Ransom Simons on July 6, 1935, at the Church of the Angels in Pasadena, Calif. Mr. Simons was a Los Angeles County sheriff. He was known to Mrs. Simons and their friends as "Solly" and to their grandchildren as "Pompa."
Mrs. Simons was a homemaker while raising their four daughters in Burbank, Calif. After Mr. Simons died in 1966 after 31 years of marriage, she traveled on and off to different parts of the world with her sister Dottie, a retired high school teacher.
While others her age were considering retirement, Mrs. Simons began working in the handbags department of JW Robinson's Department Store in Glendale, Calif., and later in Newport Beach, Calif., for a total of 18 years, at times earning the honor of top salesperson for her department. She retired at age 77.
In 1987, she left Southern California, moving to Durango with her daughter Sandy and granddaughter Jamee to join her granddaughter Kelly and newborn great-granddaughter Gentry Hope, her namesake.
Mrs. Simons was happiest when spending time with family. She enjoyed gardening, especially roses, daffodils and daisies. She was an avid reader and she spent many hours working crossword puzzles and assembling jigsaw puzzles.
She always had a zest for life and lived independently in her own home until four months before her death. She had the energy of someone much younger, her family said, and was active until the end - at times riding the exercise bicycle in the physical therapy room at Four Corners Health Care Center.
Mrs. Simons was preceded in death by her husband, brother and sister.
She is survived by her four daughters, Susie Prout of Aurora, Sandy Edison of Redmesa, Sherry Ritchie of Mission Viejo, Calif., and Sally Conrad of Carmel Valley, Calif.; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Simons would say that "there is good in everyone" and tried her best to see it in all. She will be greatly missed by all whom she shared her life with, said her granddaughter Jamee.
She will be buried next to her husband at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills, Calif.
Since Mrs. Simons believed in a good education for all children, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to St. Columba School, Adopt A Student Fund, 1810 East Third Ave., Durango CO 81301.
Helen J. Haverstraw (2/19/2006)
Helen Jarrett Haverstraw died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, at Mercy Medical Center in Durango. She was 102.
Mrs. Haverstraw was born on Dec. 12, 1903, to Emmett E. and Rosa Ann Weisenberger Jarrett in Sherman, W.Va.
Mrs. Haverstraw graduated from Williamstown High School in 1923. She was a resident of St. Marys, W.Va., for 60 years.
She was a member of the St. Marys United Methodist Church, the Love Circle of the United Methodist Women and the Ohio Valley chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Mrs. Haverstraw is survived by her daughter, Mary Jane Klein of Bayfield, with whom she lived for the past 13 years; one grandson, two great-grandchildren; four nieces; two nephews and one great-nephew.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Theodore A. Haverstraw; daughter Sara Ann Haverstraw; granddaughter Cheryl Lynn Williamson; two brothers and a sister.
A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006, at the Ingram Funeral Home in St. Marys, W.Va. The Rev. Jim Kelly will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Marys United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 100, St. Marys, W.Va.
Floyd Henry Clifton (2/18/2006)
Floyd Henry Clifton, 71, a 10-year resident of Bayfield, died at home Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006. The apparent cause of death was a heart attack, according to the family.
Mr. Clifton was born June 26, 1934, in Weatherford, Okla., to Presley B. Clifton and Florence Amanda Kixmiller Clifton. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean conflict.
Following his military service, Mr. Clifton served as deacon at Love Baptist Church and North Phoenix Baptist Church in Arizona.
Mr. Clifton had two favorite hobbies, fishing at Vallecito Reservoir and carving eagles from basswood, aspen and oak.
Mr. Clifton is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nelly Lou Barber Clifton; sons Wayne, Wesley and Dave Clifton, and daughter Charlotte Granstrom, all of Arizona. He also is survived by sisters Lillie Bozman, Jean Farns and Jewell Barber, eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
"He had a sense of humor and a frequent saying, 'When it's your time to go, the Lord will take you,'" said daughter-in-law Cheryl Clifton.
Visitation is scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at Hood Mortuary in Durango. A funeral is set for 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at Frontier Baptist Church in Durango, with the Rev. Peter Reitz officiating. Burial will follow at Florida Cemetery in Durango.
William Gary Edwards (2/16/2006)
A man who enjoyed the outdoors, William Gary Edwards died at his Durango home on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006. The cause of death was lung cancer.
Mr. Edwards was born to Dwight and Darlene Edwards in Denver on Oct. 17, 1940. He was raised in Denver and graduated from East High School in 1958. He completed his education at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.
On June 1, 1963, he married Donna Lee M. Struck at St. Philomena's Catholic Church in Denver.
Mr. Edwards worked for the U.S. Forest Service and with the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico. His assignments included work in New Mexico, Arizona, Michigan, Washington, D.C. and Alaska, as well as Spain and Latin America.
His family said that he and his fellow foresters were ecologists and conservationists long before the words became popular. Mr. Edwards was dedicated to the wise use of renewable resources.
Mr. Edward's volunteer interests included the Boy Scouts, National Ski Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Mr. Edwards' family said that he was a fun-loving optimist who was concerned about others. They share many memories of his great sense of humor and family adventures, including pursuits such as sailing, fishing, outdoor adventures and travel.
Mr. Edwards is survived by his wife, Donna Edwards, of Durango; son, Sean Edwards, of Juneau, Alaska; daughter, Melissa Edwards, of Appleton, Wisc.; brother Mike Edwards of Denver; sister Pat Carlson of Denver; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24, 2006, at the First United Methodist Church of Durango, 2917 Aspen Drive. The Rev. Jeff Huber will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Lance Armstrong Foundation, P.O. Box 130819, Houston, TX 77219-0819 or www.Livestrong.org; or Hospice of Mercy, 3801 N. Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Juanita Brown (2/16/2006)
Longtime Durango resident Juanita Brown, 71, died in Durango on Monday, Feb. 13, 2006. The cause of death was a tear of the pulmonary artery.
She was born to Leslie and Emma Potts in St. Joseph, Mo., on Nov. 5, 1934. Mrs. Brown moved to Colorado in 1958, living first with her aunt and uncle in Pueblo.
She eventually moved to Allison, where she worked for the Southern Ute Tribe as a clerk of the court. That's where she met Glen Brown. The couple married on Valentine's Day in 1960 at the home of his parents, Glen Sr. and Ada Brown in Grandview.
The young couple bought some land from his parents and built a house there.
Mrs. Brown worked as a bookkeeper for various businesses, including Mesa Propane and, more recently, at Brown Brothers Construction.
She had two cocker spaniels named Duke and Princess that her family said she loved dearly. She enjoyed her garden and fresh flowers. Mrs. Brown enjoyed shopping, and her family said that the retailers were always happy when they saw her coming.
Mrs. Brown liked having nice things and took great pride in taking care of those things. When she was a child, she owned one toy, a doll, so she enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren.
Her family said that if there was an outstanding photo, usually of those grandchildren, the chances were Mrs. Brown had taken it. They said Mrs. Brown loved to be surrounded by her family, always taking care of everyone and making sure everyone was fed.
She looked forward to Sundays at the Aztec Speedway so she could cheer on her sons Mark Brown and Kevin Brown as they drove modified race cars. Her family said she enjoyed the excitement and the chance to visit with her raceway friends.
Mrs. Brown is survived by her husband, Glen Brown, of Durango; children Eric Brown of Albuquerque and Mark Brown, Diane Shaline and Kevin Brown, all of Durango; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 2006, at Hood Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Robert Kujath and the Rev. Scott Kujath will officiate. Burial will follow at Allison Cemetery.
A memorial fund in Juanita Brown's name has been established at The First National Bank of Durango, 259 W. Ninth St., Durango, CO 81301.
Doris Gail Douglass (2/15/2006)
Longtime Durango resident Doris Gail Douglass, 70, died at the Mayo Clinic Sherman Home in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006. The cause of death is suspected to be Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
She was born to Henry and Florence Beverley in Amarillo, Texas, on March 25, 1935. She was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. In June 1957, she married Scott Douglass in Amarillo, Texas.
Mrs. Douglass had been a Durango resident for the past 32 years. She worked for Colorado Land and Title as an abstractor.
Mrs. Douglass was an avid golfer and participated in ladies regional golf competitions for many years. She also enjoyed all kinds of music and had played the piano and guitar in past years. Before moving to Durango, Mrs. Douglass was an active participant in the Junior League of Shreveport, La.
Mrs. Douglass is survived by her husband of 48 years, Scott Douglass, of Durango; sons Chris Douglass of Durango, Jeff Douglass of New York City and Greg Douglass of Bentonville, Ark.; and two grandchildren.
Cremation has occurred. There will be a joint memorial service for Mrs. Douglass and her mother-in-law, Dorothy Douglass, who died in Durango on Feb. 2, 2006. It will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, at Osborn Funeral Home in Shreveport, La.
A memorial service for Mrs. Doris Douglass will also be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Myron T. Darmour will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages people to support their local hospices. In Durango, donations may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 3801 N. Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
