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Jean Kerwin Crinion (6/14/2006)
New Durango resident Jean Kerwin Crinion, 75, died at Mercy Medical Center on Saturday, June 10, 2006. The cause of death was heart failure.
Mrs. Crinion had moved to Durango in 2005 to be closer to her daughter, Mary Chandler, and three of her grandchildren.
Her family said that although she was a relative newcomer, she immediately felt at home and made friends quickly. One highlight of her life in Durango was when she and her friends won first prize for their colorful costumes at the Snowdown Do's and Don'ts Luncheon.
Mrs. Crinion volunteered at the library at Mercy Medical Center and was looking forward to working in the new facility.
She was born to Frank and Marion Kerwin in Detroit on Feb. 4, 1931. Mrs. Crinion was the second of seven children.
She married Loren Crinion in Detroit in November 1951.
She and her husband moved to California in the early 1960s, where they raised their two children. Mrs. Crinion worked as a secretary in an insurance agency, a librarian and a radiology technician until her retirement in 1997, when she moved back to Michigan to be closer to family and friends. While in Michigan, Mrs. Crinion's love of books led her to work part-time in her local library.
Her family said Mr. Crinion had a zest for life and enjoyed joining in all of their activities.
She was a talented singer and was in a choral group for many years.
She enjoyed singing with her four lifelong friends, Pat Pepper, Mickey Galea, Joanne Lee and Betty Higgins. The five of them were planning a reunion this summer to celebrate their collective 75th birthdays. Mrs. Crinion's family said that her friends will have to go on without their alto.
Mrs. Crinion believed in the importance of the organ-donor program and was a donor herself.
Mrs. Crinion was preceded in death by her husband, Loren Crinion.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Chandler of Durango; son, Brian Crinion of Temecula, Calif.; sisters Marilyn Sharkey of St. Louis, Karen Kerwin Brown of Hobe Sound, Fla., and Kathy Kerwin, of Troy, Mich; brother Tim Kerwin, of Keuka Lake, N.Y; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at noon Saturday, June 17, 2006, at her daughter's home, 77 Whispering Pines Circle in Durango.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jean Crinion Benevolent Fund at Bank of the San Juans, 1710 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301; or to a favorite charity.
Dorothy M. Lechner (6/14/2006)
Former Durango resident Dorothy M. Lechner died in Farmington on Saturday, June 10, 2006. She was 90.
She was born to Wellington and Samantha McDonald in Gatewood, Mo., on Aug. 23, 1915. She was one of eight children. As a young girl, she worked as a housekeeper and did other jobs, including working for an electrical company in St. Louis.
On Aug. 7, 1941, she married Milton F. Lechner in Aztec. After their wedding, the Lechners spent most of their life ranching here and in Bloomfield, N.M. Her family said Mrs. Lechner spent long hours working in the hay fields and taking care of the cattle, but she most enjoyed taking care of her family.
They said she was a wonderful cook and enjoyed cooking for family and friends. For several years, she cooked for the Bloomfield School District.
Her favorite hobby was quilting and she made many hand-pieced quilts, which she shared with family and friends. Mrs. Lechner also enjoyed crossword puzzles, card games and Scrabble.
In their later years, the Lechners enjoyed spending the winter in Casa Grande, Ariz., and summers at their ranches in Colorado and New Mexico.
Her family said that she always had a warm smile and open arms for everyone.
Mrs. Lechner is survived by her husband of 64 years, Milton R. Lechner, of Bloomfield, N.M.; sons John W. Lechner and Robert E. Lechner; sister Patty Orrell of Urbana, Mo., four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
At Mrs. Lechner's request, no services will be held.
Condolences and memories may be shared with her family at www.brewerleelarkin.com.
William J. 'Jim' Brennan (6/11/2006)
William J. "Jim" Brennan died May 13, 2006, at the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Medical Center in Phoenix. He was 83.
Mr. Brennan was born on Aug. 26, 1922, in O'Neill, Neb., to Frank and Ellen Malles Brennan. He graduated from Durango High School in 1941 in the same class as his future wife, Evelyn. They met at Midnight Mass and were married in 1943 in Farmington.
Mr. Brennan moved to California and worked there until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on the "11th month, 11th hour, 11th day" of 1942, his family said.
He served on the destroyer USS Laws in the Pacific theater during World War II, fighting in the battle of Iwo Jima and serving at the Japanese surrender at Tokyo Bay. He attained the rank of Radarman Third Class.
After his military service, Mr. Brennan worked at the historic Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. He later returned to Durango, managing a coffee shop in the Strater Hotel. After that, he worked at Miller Motor Co. as office manager.
Mr. Brennan then moved to Albuquerque, living there for 18 years before retiring from Montgomery Ward. He and his wife moved to Santa Maria, Calif., before coming to Mesa, Ariz., in 1989.
Mr. Brennan loved to fish and hunt as a younger man. His main hobby was hard work and making a good living for his family, his family said.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; brother John Brennan of Durango; daughter Karen Stinn of Cave Creek, Ariz.; son James Casey Brennan of Shady Side, Md.; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Graveside services will be held at Greenmount Cemetery at 10 a.m. Friday, June 16, 2006.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association.
Olen Glen Anderson Sr. (6/11/2006)
Olen Glen Anderson, Sr., died Friday, June 9, 2006, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango. He was 81.
Mr. Anderson returned to Durango in January after living here during the early 1990s.
He was born on April 12, 1925, in Dennison, Kan., to Walter and Helen (Chestnut) Anderson. He lived in Kansas most of his life, but also lived in California and Arizona.
Mr. Anderson loved Colorado and its mountains and came back to Durango in January to be closer to his children. He was referred to by his children as a "simple man" who also enjoyed all sports.
He worked as a farmer and for an aluminum company in California before suffering a disability in an accident, said his daughter Linda Oxford.
He is survived by daughters Linda Oxford, Mary Sargent, and BiBi Brinkhoff, all of Durango; sons Glen Anderson Jr. of Durango, Billy W. Anderson of Clark Fork, Idaho, and Charles E. Anderson of Haysville, Kan.; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife since 1992, Melita Maten-Anderson, and a brother.
Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary Crematory in Durango. Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 1332 N. Halsted St., Suite 201, Chicago, IL, 60622.
Jeronimo Porfirio Maes (6/10/2006)
Durango native Jeronimo Porfirio Maes, 60, died on Friday, Feb. 3, 2006, in Castro Valley, Calif. He died after receiving a blunt-head trauma after falling down a flight of stairs.
Mr. Maes was born to Guadalupe and Francis Maes in "The Flats," a rural area outside of Durango, on June 10, 1945.
His family said he lived the best years of his life in Durango, where besides his parents and eight brothers and sisters, he had many close friends.
Mr. Maes' passions when he was young were cars and music. He taught himself to play the bass guitar and began playing in a band, traveling to nearby towns.
Mr. Maes graduated from Durango High School in 1963, and shortly after moved to Newark, Calif., to live with his sister Mary Jean Velarde.
Mr. Maes married Barbara Moyle after he was drafted and before he left for Fort Benning, Ga., where he was trained and stationed. Mr. Maes served a total of two tours spanning seven years in the Vietnam War as a helicopter crewman. He was awarded 10 Air Medals and a Bronze Star and survived two helicopter crashes.
His family said the war experience changed his life forever.
After the war ended, the Maes family came back to Durango, where Mr. Maes attended vocational school in Cortez and became a diesel mechanic. He went on to work at the sawmill and enjoyed the physical and mental challenge of the job.
His family said Mr. Maes loved everything about Durango. He enjoyed going to the Animas River, practicing with his friends in the band, shooting pool and partying. He liked the change of the seasons and the mountains.
Mrs. Maes left Durango to live in her hometown in California, and Mr. Maes eventually followed her. The couple divorced after 20 years of marriage.
Mr. Maes had a son, Anthony Maes, at the age of 44 with his girlfriend, Leslie Clack. The couple split up when the child was an infant, and Mr. Maes raised him.
Mr. Maes had continued working as a diesel mechanic and became a foreman, running a shop fleet of about 40 trucks.
Mr. Maes was an avid sports fan and loved going to Oakland Raiders football games, especially when they played the Denver Broncos. His family said he was known for yelling "Go Raiders!" no matter who was around.
Mr. Maes is survived by his children, Anthony Maes, Richard Maes and Tricia Piquero; sisters Dora Padilla and Mary Jean Velarde; brothers Ronnie Maes and Kelly Maes; and five grandchildren.
A Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 3, 2006, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church followed by a celebration of Mr. Maes' life.
Mary Edith Martin Wheeler (6/10/2006)
Breen native Mary Edith Martin Wheeler died after a lengthy illness in Waterflow, N.M., on Thursday, June 8, 2006. She was 80.
She was born to James and Rose Lucero-Martin in Breen on Nov. 7, 1925. Mrs. Wheeler attended Breen School and graduated from La Plata and Red Mesa High School.
She moved to New Mexico in 1944. Mrs. Wheeler owned Hogback Trading Post for 40 years.
Her family said she was a great cook and homemaker who loved being with them.
Mrs. Wheeler was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She worked as a librarian for the church and in the cannery.
Mrs. Wheeler is survived by her son, Thomas Wheeler; daughters Mary L. Rogers and Rose L. Fieldsted; brother Willy Martinez; 13 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. today, June 10, 2006, at Kirtland Stake Center. Dennis Fieldsted will conduct the service. Burial will follow in Kirtland Cemetery.
Robert Brenneman Savidge (6/9/2006)
Durango resident Robert Brenneman Savidge died at Mercy Medical Center on Wednesday, June 7, 2006. He was 86.
He was born to Preston and Mary Savidge on June 22, 1919, in Danville, Pa. Mr. Savidge served in the 12th Armored Division during World War II in France and Germany. He was wounded by a German mortar near Colmar, France. At the end of the war, he received the Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, America Theater Service Medal, Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He also received the combat-infantry badge.
Mr. Savidge, his wife, Margaret, and their three children moved to Durango from Camp Hill, Pa., in 1951. After working for the Vanadium Corporation of America for seven years, he was employed by the San Juan National Forest Service for 12 years.
Mr. Savidge built Wapiti Lodge and owned and operated it for 15 years.
His family said Mr. Savidge loved the mountains in the Durango area and was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Mr. Savidge is survived by his wife, Margaret Savidge, of Durango; sons Robert Savidge of Mesa, Ariz., Neil Savidge of Klamath Falls, Ore., and Rodney Savidge of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada; sister Dorothy Lawrence of Hollywood, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2006, at the Hood Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Myron T. Darmour will officiate. Burial will take place at Greenmount Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross, Billy Graham, Easter Seals or Many Waters Mission.
