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Loyd N. Hess (8/13/2006)
Florida Mesa resident Loyd N. Hess, 82, died at his home on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006.
He was born to Loui and Verna Gibson Hess, Dec. 27, 1923, in Alamosa. He was one of four children.
When he was young, the family moved to Camp Hallar, where his father worked at Mesa Verde, later moving to Mancos where he attended Mancos schools until his senior year, when he moved to Durango to attend Durango High School. He worked and lived at Hood Mortuary, finishing his senior year at Durango High School and graduating in 1942.
Mr. Hess enlisted in the Navy in 1944, following recovery from knee surgery. He served on the USS Shipley Bay, an aircraft carrier in the Pacific theater. After discharge, he attended Colorado A&M University, now Colorado State University, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts. In college, he met and married Lulu Mae (Sue) Brown on Aug. 21, 1948, in Durango at the First Methodist Church.
Mr. Hess taught industrial arts at Manitou High School until June 1960. At that time, the family moved to the family ranch on the Florida Mesa. Mr. Hess was a 4-H leader, a director of the San Juan Basin Soil Conservation district (now Natural Resources), director of the Florida Water Conservatory, state director and vice president of the Colorado Soil Conservation, acting director for Resource Conservation and Development Region 5, and a member of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association and the La Plata Archuleta Cattlemen. He also enjoyed singing in the local barbershop organization.
Mr. Hess' great interest was woodworking and jewelry making, spending many hours creating unusual and beautiful pieces. He was pleased to be able, with his family, to contribute to the History Wall at the new Mercy Regional Medical Center.
He is survived by his wife, Lulu Mae (Sue) Hess; five children: Linda Zahller of Edina, Minn.; Dennis Hess of Lakewood; Alton Hess of Durango; Lorna Hess-Frey of Westminster; and Richard Hess of Durango; 11 grandchildren; his sister Josephine Baker of Delta; and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18, 2006, at Hood Mortuary Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Mercy Health Foundation, 1010 Three Springs Blvd., Suite 108, Durango, CO 81303 or La Plata-Archuleta Cattlemen or La Plata CowBelle Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2546, Durango, CO 81302.
Gail Ann Jaramillo (8/13/2006)
Durango native Gail Ann Jaramillo, 50, died on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006, in Albuquerque. The cause of death was cancer.
She was born to Lester and Bertha Woolsey Thompson in Durango on June 26, 1956. Mrs. Jaramillo graduated from Durango High School in 1974 and attended the University of Denver for two years.
On Jan. 24, 1976, she married Robert Jaramillo in Durango.
Her family said that the thing she loved the most was spending time with them.
Mrs. Jaramillo is survived by her husband, Robert Jaramillo of Albuquerque; children Matthew Jaramillo and Kia Jaramillo both of Albuquerque; a brother, Richard Thompson of Tucson, Ariz.; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. today, Aug. 13, 2006, at Hood Mortuary. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, 2006, in the Bayfield Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 10501 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Suite 300, Albuquerque, NM 87111.
Tillie Anaya Gonzales (8/12/2006)
Lifelong La Plata County resident Tillie Anaya Gonzales died in Durango on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006. She was 79.
She was born in Ignacio to Andrew and Beatrice Anaya on April 8, 1927. Mrs. Gonzales attended schools in Ignacio and Durango. Her family and stepfather Juan Martinez were one of the first families to live at what is now Santa Rita Park.
On April 8, 1950, she married David Gonzales Sr. in Aztec.
Her family said she was a homemaker who excelled in sewing, cooking and making porcelain dolls and quilts. They said she took care of all of her family and extended family members as well as being a foster parent. She extended a hand to make sure that homeless individuals were well fed.
They said she treated everyone alike and made everyone "family."
Mrs. Gonzales enjoyed music and was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David Gonzales Sr., in 1980; and son David Gonzales Jr.
She is survived by her daughters Marie Medina, Louise Lucero and Laura Medina; sons Charles Gonzales and Chris Gonzales; sister Olive Anaya, of Oregon; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family members.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, 2006, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. that day, also at Sacred Heart.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 14, 2006, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The Rev. Antonio Flores will officiate. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 375 E. Park Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Betty Haskell (8/11/2006)
A celebration of Betty Haskell's life will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, 2006, at the Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall. A reception will follow.
Mrs. Haskell died at her Durango home on Wednesday, July 19, 2006.
Virginia Lucile Repert (8/11/2006)
Durango resident Virginia Lucile Repert, 86, died at her home on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006. The cause of death was congestive heart failure.
She was born to Walter and Gladys Repert in Dunkirk, N.Y., on Nov. 1, 1919. Ms. Repert was a graduate of Alfred University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in microbiology.
She moved to Durango in the mid-1950s and worked for the San Juan Basin Health Department in environmental quality testing.
Ms. Repert's brother was local well-known physician Dr. Richard Repert, who preceded her in death in 2005.
Her family said Ms. Repert will be remembered for her generosity and how she gave to numerous causes, particularly those that contributed to the welfare of animals. She was proud to have been a recycling pioneer for the city of Durango.
"She always had something positive to say about people," her niece, Judy Lund-Green, said. "I never heard any negativity out of her."
Ms. Repert is survived by one niece; one nephew; and three great-nieces and one great-nephew.
Cremation will occur. At Ms. Repert's request, no services are planned.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the La Plata County Humane Society, P.O. Box 2164, Durango, CO 81302.
Margaret Branch Dexter (8/10/2006)
Former Bayfield resident Margaret Branch Dexter died in Las Vegas on Friday, Aug. 4, 2006. She was 85.
She was born to John R. Branch Sr. and Elsa M. Branch in Belen, N.M., on Aug. 14, 1920.
She and her husband, J. Loren Dexter, lived at Forest Lakes from 1984 to 2001. Mrs. Dexter's parents were residents at Vallecito Reservoir for many years.
Her family said Mrs. Dexter was "an excellent wife, homemaker and mother, an outstanding seamstress and cook and a faithful friend and volunteer who was deeply loved by all who knew her."
Mrs. Dexter is survived by her husband of 64 years, J. Loren Dexter, of North Las Vegas, Nev.; daughters Judith Richtsmeier of New Braunfels, Texas, Lt. Col. Nancy Heisterman, U.S. Air Force, of North Las Vegas; and Jan Pingree of Trabuco Canyon, Calif.; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006, at The Highland Hills Stake Center, San Destin Ward in North Las Vegas. A burial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, at Larkin Mortuary in Salt Lake City.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation, 4131 Swenson St., Las Vegas, NV 89119.
Marilyn Elizabeth Maisel (8/10/2006)
Durango resident Marilyn Elizabeth Maisel, 75, died at her home on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006. The cause of death was lung cancer.
She was born to William F. and Grace Keyes McCully in Troy, N.Y., on Oct. 3, 1930. One of four children, she grew up on a vegetable farm in Menands, N.Y. (between Albany and Troy). Mrs. Maisel attended Russell Sage College in Troy, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology.
On July 28, 1956, she married John Maisel in Menands. When he graduated from medical college in New York, they moved to the Denver area, where he completed his postgraduate work and residency. They also lived in Littleton and Phoenix, where he practiced medicine, before moving to the Durango area.
Her family said that although Mrs. Maisel worked in the area of medical research, which was her undergraduate training, her passion was art.
She expressed it with a variety of media, including oils and watercolors. Her work won numerous prizes in juried shows both in the Durango and Denver areas. She had remained active as an artist at the Durango/La Plata Senior Center until the last six months.
Her family said "her sensitive, warm, compassionate personality shone forth in her work."
Mrs. Maisel is survived by her husband, John Maisel, of Durango; son Peter Carl Maisel of Silverton; daughter Bess Maisel of Durango; two granddaughters; and nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006, at Hood Mortuary. No service is planned.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Mercy, 3801 N. Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Casey McCartney BarberMelanie Cecile Jones Barber (8/9/2006)
Durango residents Casey McCartney Barber, 40, and Melanie Cecile Jones Barber, 41, died in Flagstaff, Ariz., from injuries suffered in a car accident. Mr. Barber died on Monday, July 31, 2006 and Mrs. Barber died the next day on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2006.
The Barber family had lived in Durango for four years, left and had just returned to Durango when the accident happened.
Mr. Barber was born to Ralph and Nancy Barber on Feb. 1, 1966. He was raised in Pacific Beach, Calif., and attended St. Augustus and Mission Bay High School.
He graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Science Degree in business and focused on theater arts and production, stage managing and lighting techniques. After graduation, Mr. Barber joined the Set Builders' Union in San Diego and was a member for 20 years as a master carpenter. As a young boy, he learned to surf from his father, and friends say he never lost his passion for catching the big waves.
Mrs. Barber was the youngest of 11 children born to Stan and Bette Jones. She was born on Dec. 27, 1965, and was raised in San Pedro, Calif. Mrs. Barber graduated from Mary Star High School and received a basketball scholarship to the University of California Riverside. She also played volleyball, leading her team to their first national championship. Later, Mrs. Barber played professional club volleyball in Switzerland.
Mr. and Mrs. Barber met in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., and said that they fell in love at first sight. They originally settled in San Diego. The Barber family enjoyed many family activities together: camping, skiing, hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, surfing, bike riding and soccer. Mrs. Barber particularly enjoyed gardening.
Mr. and Mrs. Barber are survived by their three sons, Nicholas, 8, Cullen, 5, and Albert, 3, all of Durango; parents Ralph and Nancy Barber and Stan and Bette Jones, all of California; and brothers and sisters.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006, at St. Columba Catholic Church. A barbecue will be held after Mass. Friends are asked to bring a dish or dessert to share.
A Barber Boys Donation Account has been started at Vectra Bank.
Roy Ruben Wagner (8/8/2006)
Oxford resident Roy Ruben Wagner, 88, died at his home on Aug. 5, 2006. The cause of death was cancer.
He was born to Peter Ruben and Lillian May Knight Wagner in Bayfield on May 12, 1918. He was the fifth of 10 children.
Mr. Wagner lived his entire life in the Ignacio area except during World War II. He served in the U.S. Army from Nov. 7, 1941, to September 1945, fighting in the Pacific Theater and receiving the Philippine Liberation Medal.
On Oct. 22, 1948, Mr. Wagner married Lila May Parks at the Bayfield Free Methodist Church, which was located just across the street from the house where he was born.
Mr. Wagner worked as a carpenter, helping to build the natural-gas plant on Florida Mesa. He was employed by the Vanadium Corp. of America until it closed down. Mr. Wagner also founded and owned a building-construction business. After he retired, his son Kenneth Wagner said he also built furniture and made more than 125 baby cradles.
"They're scattered all over the U.S.," he said.
Mr. Wagner was preceded in death by his wife, Lila May Wagner, in June 1999.
He is survived by his children Kenneth Wagner and Herald Wagner, both of Oxford, Milton Wagner of Arboles and Verda Wright of Conifer; sister Ida May Kelly of Odessa, Texas; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006, at Hood Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Roedell Schmitts, a friend of the family from Rio Rancho, N.M., will officiate. Private burial will take place later in the Oxford Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 931, Durango, CO 81302; Hospice of Montezuma County, P.O. Box 740, Cortez, CO 81321; or to the Zion Baptist Church, P.O. Box 363, Ignacio, CO 81137.
