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Nicholas Patrick Park Jr. (2/10/2007)
Former Durango resident Nicholas Patrick Park Jr., 43, died on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, in West Hills, Calif. He had required care for the last 10 years after contracting a virus of the neurological system. He died from complications of the disease.
Mr. Park was born to N. Patrick and Margaret J. Park in Lynwood, Calif., on June 16, 1963. His family moved to Durango when he was a teenager, and he graduated from Durango High School in 1981. He was a member of the Rodeo Club in high school.
The Park family in this area dates back to Doc Julian Hathaway, who had been involved in the oil and gas industry in the Marvel area since the 1940s.
After graduating from DHS, he attended the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, Idaho, where he studied ranching and rodeo.
In September 1994, Mr. Park married Patricia Kelly in Calabasas, Calif.
Mr. Park was a professional saddle bronc rider and a cattle rancher who had reached championship levels on both the Colorado and California rodeo circuits. He and well-known champion saddle bronc rider C.R. Kimball competed together before Mr. Park's illness.
He had worked for Classic Crafters and was an accomplished cabinet maker.
"He was a sincere, honest and loyal friend," his family wrote, "A man of integrity and all around good guy who could fix just about anything. His motto, "Don't weaken" served as the inspiration to his rodeo peers who looked to Nick for spiritual, moral and physical strength.
Mr. Park's passions were dancing with his wife, rodeoing, serving Christ and loving his wife, son, family and friends, said his family.
He also enjoyed fly fishing and tied his own flies. His family said he had some secret fishing spots.
Mr. Park is survived by his wife, Patricia (Kelly) Park, of Brentwood, Tenn.; son Nicholas Patrick Park III, also of Brentwood; father N. Patrick Park Sr. of Durango; sisters Kari Tillotson of Durango and Diana Jewell of Hesperia, Calif.; brother Jon Park of Durango; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 12, 2007, at The River Church, 860 Plymouth Drive. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery near Mr. Park's mother, who died four months ago.
Francis A. Manzanares (2/9/2007)
Ignacio native Francis A. Manzanares died at his Farmington home on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007. He was 77. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Mr. Manzanares was born to Senobia and Marion Manzanares in Ignacio on March 2, 1929. He studied at the old Oxford School. When he was 16 in 1945, he joined the Army and was in the process of being shipped to Japan when they discovered that he was too young. He was discharged and sent home.
On his 18th birthday, Mr. Manzanares re-enlisted and was then shipped to Korea, where he was wounded.
Soon after he returned to Durango, he met Helen Martinez. The couple married on Aug. 8, 1951, and began a family that eventually consisted of 11 daughters.
During this time, Mr. Manzanares served two tours in Vietnam. After more than 20 years of military service, he retired from the Army and moved his family back to Durango.
He worked for the city of Durango and eventually for the La Plata County Sheriff's Office.
In 1979, the Manzanares family moved to Farmington. There Mr. Manzanares worked for the San Juan County Sheriff's Department and Aztec Public School District as a security guard.
Mr. Manzanares was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 3448 and a member of the Fourth Degree. He was named the council's grand knight, district master and faithful navigator for many years.
In 1990, Mr. Manzanares retired. He and his wife enjoyed traveling. Mr. Manzanares also enjoyed camping, hunting and calling bingo at the Knights of Columbus.
The Manzanares family had many memories, such as Christmas Eve, when Mr. Manzanares was known for the serious attention he gave his job as Santa Claus.
Mr. Manzanares was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Manzanares, and daughters Linda Martinez and Alice Manzanares.
He is survived by his nine daughters Mary Jones of Farmington, Caroline Martinez of Bayfield, and Roberta Manzanares, Beverly Atencio, Audrey Johnson, Annette Delgado, Janet Delgado, Cynthia Manzanares and Sandra Rue, all of the Farmington-Bloomfield area; brothers George Manzanares of Ignacio, Gilbert Manzanares of Price, Utah, and Willie Manzanares of Provo, Utah; sisters Alice Martinez of Ignacio and Margie Vallegas of Grand Junction; 29 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today, Feb. 9, 2007, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Farmington. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Durango. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery.
Marlow Hermand Slade (2/9/2007)
Longtime resident of the Durango area Marlow Hermand Slade died of pneumonia in Orem, Utah, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007. He was 92.
Mr. Slade was born to Benjamin and Agda (Evensen) Slade in Kline on Oct. 15, 1914. He grew up in Kline and attended Marvel School, riding there on a donkey with his brother. When Mr. Slade would reminisce about those early days, he would tell his son, Lyle Slade, about how difficult the times were and how he didn't know how his father managed to support a family.
On Jan. 12, 1935, he married Ida Loretta Eaton in Kline. She preceded him in death in 1994, after 59 years of marriage.
After many years of mining and doing carpentry work, he finished his work career at Fort Lewis College in maintenance and as a locksmith. He began his career there just as Dale Rea, his daughter-in-law Cleone's father, was concluding his time as the college's president. Mr. Slade retired in the early 1980s. He had lived in Orem, Utah, since 2000.
He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mr. Slade also enjoyed gardening, filling his front yard with flowers and his backyard with vegetables. He enjoyed giving away his garden's bounty, particularly the tomatoes and cucumbers.
Mr. Slade is survived by his son, Lyle Slade, of Orem, Utah; brothers James Slade of Lewis and twins Chester Slade of Pleasant Grove, Utah and Lester Slade of Mississippi; sister Mary Fern Evans of Missouri; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today, Feb. 9, 2007, at Hood Mortuary Chapel. A graveside service will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, at the Kline Cemetery. The turnoff to the cemetery is off Colorado Highway 140 near Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School.
Maude Kingsley Washington (2/9/2007)
Towaoc native Maude Kingsley Washington died at the Valley Inn Nursing Home in Mancos on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007. She was 75. The cause of death was not disclosed.
She was born to Walter Poore and Jessie (Kingsley) Washington in Towaoc on July 27, 1931.
Mrs. Washington enjoyed time spent in her garden. She liked to do beadwork and read. Her family said she was especially happy when she got to spend time with them and her friends.
Mrs. Washington was preceded in death by her children Victor Watts, Calvin Watts, Duane Watts and Wade Smith Watts, Alfred Alire and Baby Alire.
She is survived by her daughters Sandra Ortiz of Las Vegas and Michela Americanhorse of Towaoc; sister Shirley Esparza of Ignacio; brother Stanford Washington of Ignacio; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today, Feb. 9, 2007, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Cortez. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, also at St. Margaret Mary. The Rev. Joseph Gallegos will officiate. Burial will follow at Cortez Cemetery.
Robert Anthony Dalla (2/8/2007)
Durango native Robert Anthony Dalla died in Moab, Utah, on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007. He was 68.
Mr. Dalla was born to Rudy and Lilly Mae Dalla in Durango on June 19, 1938. He graduated from Durango High School.
Mr. Dalla served in the Air Force from 1956 to 1960 and was stationed in several locations, including Fukuoka, Japan. That's where he met Mitoshi Oda. The couple married on April 4, 1959, and moved back to Durango when Mr. Dalla received his honorable discharge from military service.
The family later settled in Utah, first in Price, then Monticello and finally in Moab in 1975.
Mr. Dalla was an engineer for the Bureau of Land Management. During his service to the BLM, he became the district engineer and was responsible for design and range-improvement projects in San Juan, Grand, Emery and Carbon counties in Utah. He also was the Air Tactical Group (Air Attack) supervisor for fighting forest fires. He retired from the BLM in 1997.
Mr. Dalla served on the Grand County Airport Board for 17 years, where he oversaw the design and construction of the terminal that bears his name. He also was involved in standing up the local Redrock Flight, Utah Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. He was named Commander of the Year in 2005.
Mr. Dalla was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Moab, where he served in many capacities, on Parish Council, as a lector and usher, and as an official member of the dishwashing team, among other duties.
Mr. Dalla was preceded in death by his wife, Mitoshi Dalla, in 1992.
He is survived by his son, Ron Dalla of Colorado Springs; sisters Marguerite Blohm of Durango and Nina Trapp of Rawlins, Wyo.; one grandson; and three nieces and one nephew.
A vigil was held and the rosary was recited on Monday, Feb. 5, 2007, at St. Pius X Catholic Church. A funeral Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, also at St. Pius. The Rev. Rick Sherman officiated. Mr. Dalla was buried next to his wife in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Moab.
Marlow Hermand Slade (2/8/2007)
Longtime resident of the Durango area Marlow Hermand Slade died of pneumonia in Orem, Utah, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007. He was 92.
Mr. Slade was born to Benjamin and Agda (Evensen) Slade in Kline on Oct. 15, 1914. He grew up in Kline and attended Marvel School, riding there on a donkey with his brother. When Mr. Slade would reminisce about those early days, he would tell his son, Lyle Slade, about how difficult the times were and how he didn't know how his father managed to support a family.
On Jan. 12, 1935, he married Ida Loretta Eaton in Kline. She preceded him in death in 1994, after 59 years of marriage.
After many years of mining and doing carpentry work, he finished his career at Fort Lewis College in maintenance and as a locksmith. He began his career there just as Dale Rea, his daughter-in-law Cleone's father, was concluding his time as the college's president. Mr. Slade retired in the early 1980s. He had lived in Orem since 2000.
He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mr. Slade also enjoyed gardening, filling his front yard with flowers and his backyard with vegetables. He enjoyed giving away his garden's bounty, particularly the tomatoes and cucumbers.
Mr. Slade is survived by his son, Lyle Slade, of Orem; brothers James Slade of Lewis and twins Chester Slade of Pleasant Grove, Utah, and Lester Slade of Mississippi; sister Mary Fern Evans of Missouri; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, 2007, at Hood Mortuary Chapel. A graveside service will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, at the Kline Cemetery. The turnoff to the cemetery is off Colorado Highway 140 near Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School.
Viola E. Kees (2/7/2007)
Longtime Durango resident Viola E. Kees died in Durango on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007. She was 92.
Mrs. Kees was born to Robert F. and Emma L. Alexander in Oak Hill, Kan., on July 26, 1914.
When she was 8, she, her parents, three brothers and her dog moved to Durango in a Model T Ford.
"On the day she arrived, Dec. 5, 1922, Viola fell in love with Durango and the beautiful surroundings," her family wrote. "She always said she would never live anywhere else, and 82 years later, that proved to be true."
After her graduation from Durango High School in 1932, Mrs. Kees married Vincent Grosley. The couple had a daughter and a son.
In 1961, she married Arthur Kees. He was a well-known and respected mechanic and brought two sons to the new blended family.
"Everyone who knew Viola would agree that she was one of the most ethical and hard-working persons they knew," her family wrote.
Mrs. Kees worked for 33 years at the Spanish Trails Motel and retired as head housekeeper in 1989.
She was a member of the Eastern Star since May 7, 1951. She was a sentinel and filled in for many other positions. Mrs. Kees was also a long-standing member of Rebecca Lodge No. 2 and the Animas Valley Grange. For 13 years, she volunteered for Durango's senior citizens. She was also a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Kees was preceded in death by her son, Robert F. Grosley.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Louise Koch, of Hemet, Calif.; stepsons Richard Kees and Daniel Kees; five grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; and a nephew and niece.
Visitation will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb 9, 2007, at Hood Mortuary Chapel. The family will greet guests from 6 to 8 p.m.
A funeral will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, also at Hood. The Revs. Andrew Cooley and Myron T. Darmour with St. Mark's Episcopal Church will officiate.
After the service, there will be a private graveside service at Greenmount Cemetery. At 1 p.m. Saturday, there will be a public celebration of Mrs. Kees' life at the Animas Valley Grange Hall, 7271 County Road 203.
Lucile E. Brennan (2/6/2007)
Former Durango resident Lucile E. Brennan died of pneumonia on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007, in Las Vegas. She was 84.
Mrs. Brennan was born to Theodore and Essella (Erickson) Hansen on June 2, 1922, in Hibbing, Minn. She became a kindergarten and first-grade teacher.
In 1945, she married William J. Brennan in Minnesota. The couple divorced after 32 years together.
She moved her family a few times, but missed the mountains of Colorado. When her second son, TimSean, was attending Fort Lewis College, she moved here with three of her five children. Durango was her home for 26 years.
Mrs. Brennan worked as the bookkeeper for the Assay Office restaurant for many years, but her dreams of becoming her own boss and creative talents pulled her in another direction, her family said.
She became known as "Mom, the Doll Doctor," and opened her own business, Peggilu Doll Shop. She sold original handmade dolls, bears and a variety of craft supplies, with her Doll Hospital ready to handle all emergencies.
In 2003, Mrs. Brennan moved to Las Vegas so she could be close to her daughter, Peggy Weston, who took care of her until her death.
"Mom loved the mountains and all that is Durango," her family wrote, "She never met a stranger, and everyone called her 'Mom.'"
Mrs. Brennan was also an avid fan of the Denver Broncos and John Elway and loved NFL Sundays. She also cared about animals.
"She was always a mom, rattling through all the kids' names and some names we did not know, till she would get to the one she wanted to talk to or about," her family wrote. "She would then begin to laugh. This will be one of the things that we loved most about mom. Laughter was her best medicine."
Mrs. Brennan was preceded in death by her former husband, William Brennan.
She is survived by her sons John Brennan of Durango, Kevin Brennan of Newport News, Va., TimSean Brennan of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Mike Brennan of Mormon Lake, Ariz.; daughter, Peggy Weston, of Las Vegas; brothers Ted Hansen of Minneapolis and Calvin Hansen of Denton, Texas; sister, Lois Masunaga, of Kaneohe, Hawaii; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a large extended family.
A celebration of Mrs. Brennan's life is planned for late summer on top of Ophir Pass.
Memorial donations may be made to the La Plata County Humane Society, 1111 S. Camino del Rio, Durango, CO 81303.
