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Cecilia Louise Clarke Ray (5/20/2007)
Cecilia Louise Clarke Ray died Friday, May 18, 2007, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango after a one-day stay. She was 88.
Mrs. Ray was born Oct. 21, 1918, in Miles, Texas, to Huby and Nettie Clarke. She married Gilbert Ray in 1942 in Miles, and lived most of her life in Stockton, Texas, where she retired after more than 30 years of service as a schoolteacher.
Mrs. Ray later lived at Vista Mesa in Cortez and Sunshine Gardens in Durango.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert.
She is survived by daughter Lissa Ray of Durango, son Ronald G. Ray of Canyon Lake, Texas, and two granddaughters.
Lyle Kenneth Halls (5/18/2007)
Aztec resident Lyle Kenneth Halls died at his home on Wednesday, May 16, 2007. He was 73.
Mr. Halls was born in Mancos to Leon David and Mary Louise (Medford) Halls on Aug. 21, 1933.
On Nov. 16, 1956, he married Patricia Ann McCoy in Farmington.
Mr. Halls was a welder by trade, and in his spare time, he enjoyed creating ornamental iron work. Because he loved horses, he learned the art of farriering.
His family said that he was devoted to them, and he thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent taking rides together.
Mr. Halls is survived by his wife of 50 years, Patricia Halls, of Aztec; children Terry Ann Halls and L.K. Halls, both of Aztec, Eddie Lynn Halls of Evanston, Wyo., and Rachelle Louise Shure of Queen Creek, Ariz.; sister Quincy Dean Smith of Battle Mountain, Nev.; brother Lynn Medford Halls of Dove Creek; and one grandson.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007, at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Mr. Harry Halls will officiate.
To send condolences, visit www.ertelfuneralhome.com.
James Edward Godbold (5/18/2007)
Bondad resident James Edward Godbold, 79, died at his home on Monday, May 14, 2007. He had been diagnosed with acute leukemia a week and a half earlier.
Known as "Pop," he was born to Burton and Losia (McDaniel) Godbold at his family's home in Magnolia, Miss., on May 5, 1928. He was the youngest of six children.
Mr. Godbold served four years of active duty in the Air Force and continued on in the Air Force Reserves.
He retired after 40 years of service as a chief master sergeant. While stationed in Lexington, Ky., he met and married Anna Katharine Fearrand.
Later, the Godbolds moved to Baton Rouge, La., where Mr. Godbold earned a bachelor's degree in business from Louisiana State University. After his graduation in 1960, he went to work for the Social Security Administration.
After his retirement in 1988, Mr. and Mrs. Godbold moved to Pagosa Springs, which they had visited since 1974. In 1994, they moved to the Durango area.
Mr. Godbold was a member of the Osyka Masonic Lodge and the Baton Rouge Consistory of the Scottish Rite 32 degree.
Mr. Godbold was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Katharine Godbold.
He is survived by his daughters Debbie Doggett of Farmington and Karen Godbold of Durango; son Rick Godbold of Nashville, Tenn.; sister Bessie Allen of Virginia; four granddaughters; and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church of Durango. A short graveside service will follow at Hilltop Cemetery in Pagosa Springs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Wayne Hubert Harris (5/17/2007)
Wayne Hubert Harris, 91, a former deputy sheriff in La Plata County, passed away May 16, 2007, at his home in Price, Utah.
He was born April 13, 1916, in Monticello, Utah, to Joseph Hubert and Emma Corline Hadden Harris.
Mr. Harris married Elma Ileen John, on June 24, 1939, in Farmington. The marriage later was solemnized in the Mesa, Ariz., Temple in 1942.
He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served as an explorer scout master.
He served in the Army in the Horse Cavalry in Ft. Riley, Kan., and in the Philippines, where he was a cook and baker.
Mr. Harris was active in his community and while living in Durango and Moab, Utah, he served in law enforcement as a deputy sheriff. He also spent many years working in the uranium mines, coal mines and the mills throughout Colorado, Utah and New Mexico.
Mr. Harris was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Justina Sheets, and a grandson, James Harris.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Elma Harris, of Price, Utah; children, Oliver Harris of Blanding, Utah, Elma Palmer of Flora Vista, N.M., Ruth Nicol of LaSal, Utah, Linda Kennedy of Cleveland, Utah, Bonnie Crum of Kirtland, N.M., Jo Ellen Atwood of Price, Utah, Chad Harris of Monticello, Utah, Nivana Hocker, of Red Mesa; Orlin John Harris of Naturita; sister, Ida Harris Elkins of Trowbridge, Calif; 47 grandchildren; 118 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007, in Price, Utah, at the Eleventh Latter-day Saints Ward Chapel. The family will be at Mitchell Funeral Home, 233 East Main Street in Price, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and at the church Saturday one hour before the service. Interment will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007, at Kline Colorado Cemetery.
Adelina Sisneros Lobato (5/16/2007)
Adelina Sisneros Lobato, 86, a lifetime resident of Pagosa Springs, died Sunday, May 13, 2007, in Durango.
The daughter of Anacleto and Emilia Archuleta Sisneros, Ms. Lobato was born Feb. 21, 1921, in Frances, a small town about 25 miles south of Pagosa Springs.
"She enjoyed being among friends, going to church and visiting friends and family. Being with people was one of her greatest joys," said her son M. Steve Lobato.
Ms. Lobato was preceded in death by her longtime companion, George Yanase, and her daughter Mary Ellen Lobato.
She is survived by sons Jose C. Lobato of Clinton, Utah, M. Steve Lobato of Layton, Utah, Gene Lobato of Pagosa Springs and Leroy Lobato of Pagosa Springs; daughters Maria Loyola Maestas of Farmington, Jane Madrid of Henderson, Nev., and Tessie Yanase Chavez of Farmington; sisters Mary Tomasita Archuleta of Pagosa Springs and Rose Archuleta of Durango; 24 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. today, May 16, 2007, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Pagosa Springs. A rosary will be said after visitation at 6 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 17, 2007, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. The Rev. Carlos A. Alvarez will be the celebrant. A private family interment in Greenmount Cemetery in Durango will be held at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a Catholic charity of your choice or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.
Charles M. Searle (5/15/2007)
Cortez community leader, banker and homebuilder Charles M. Searle died at Swedish Hospital in Denver on Friday, April 13, 2007. He was 83.
Mr. Searle was born to Brig. Gen. Howard S. Searle and Helen (Shaver) Searle in Topeka, Kan., on Oct. 23, 1923.
During World War II, he served with the Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Lewis, Wash. After being transferred to San Diego in anticipation of deployment, Mr. Searle went to a United Service Organizations after-dinner to get some ice cream. There he met Betty Stanton, the daughter of a Marine who was stationed there. After the war ended, he served an additional two years in the Kansas National Guard and retired with the rank of captain.
Mr. Searle earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
On June 28, 1947, he married his USO sweetheart at The Shove Chapel on the campus of Colorado College in Colorado Springs.
In 1949, the Searles moved to Colorado Springs, where Mr. Searle began building homes along the Front Range. His home design in Colorado Springs was named the top design by the National Homebuilders Association. He served as the president of the Colorado Springs chapter of the association and regional vice president of the national association, representing Colorado and Wyoming.
At one time, he had concurrent housing projects not only in the Springs, but in Chipita Park and Woodland Parks west of the city; in Moab, Utah; Nebraska; Canada; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Cortez. He also developed real estate in Iowa.
In 1954, Mr. Searle began building in Cortez and completed more than 185 homes in the Mesa View subdivision. He was the first builder in Cortez to pave subdivision streets.
In 1957, the Searle family moved to Cortez, and in 1960, Mr. Searle became a major stockholder and president of Citizens State Bank. He served as president for 39 years until 1999, retaining his position of chairman of the board until the sale of the bank to Community Bankshares of Colorado shortly before his death.
Mr. Searle served as president of the Rotary Club of Cortez, the Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest Colorado Homebuilders Association. He was a founder of the Montezuma/Cortez Development Council. In 2000, Mr. Searle was honored for his decades of community service when he was named the Cortez Journal Citizen of the Year.
In recent years, the Searles had maintained a second home in Centennial to be near family.
Mr. Searle was preceded in death by his son John Searle.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Searle, of Cortez and Centennial; sons Charlie Searle of Denver and Tom Searle of New River, Ariz.; daughter Ann Philpott of Denver; sister Phyllis Hamilton of Edgewood, N.M.; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007, at the Cortez First United Methodist Church.
Memorial contributions may be sent to The Charles and Betty Searle Endowment Fund, Onward! A Legacy Foundation, P.O. Box 26, Cortez, CO 81321.
For more information or to send condolences, visit www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.
Tony Dick Meyer (5/15/2007)
Former Durango resident Tony Dick Meyer, 75, died at his home in Bloomfield, N.M., on Tuesday, May 8, 2007. The cause of death was chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
Mr. Meyer was born to Jacob and Edna (Sauer) Meyer in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Aug. 19, 1931.
In 1949, he married Eileen Hankins in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
The Meyer family lived in Durango from 1959 to 1986. Mr. Meyer worked as a logger and then in construction.
He enjoyed fishing and hunting.
Mr. Meyer was preceded in death by his daughter Vicki Werts and grandson Sam Albrecht.
Mr. Meyer is survived by his wife, Eileen Meyer, of Bloomfield, N.M.; sons Dan Meyer of Marvel and Kenneth Meyer of La Plata, N.M.; daughters Kathy Ryan of the Florida Mesa, Donna Belford of Colorado Springs, Linda Slade of Aztec and Shirley Sabin of Prescott, Ariz.; sister Dorothy Hite of Springdale, Wash.; 19 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.
Cremation has occurred. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007, at Cope Memorial Chapel, 405 S. Main St. in Aztec. Burial at Greenmount Cemetery will take place later on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northwest Hospice, P.O. Box 3239, Farmington, N.M. 87499.
Derrel Leland Couch (5/13/2007)
Derrel Leland Couch died Friday, May 11, 2007, in Durango because of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was 81.
Mr. Couch was born July 16, 1925, in Healdton, Okla., to William and Celesta Couch. When Mr. Couch was a child, his family moved to the Texas plains near Anton where the family farmed cotton. He went to school in Anton through 10th grade, but left school to help on the family farm when his father's health failed. Mr. Couch served in World War II in 1943 and 1944, receiving an early discharge to again care for his ailing father. William Couch died in 1951.
Mr. Couch met his wife, Rosemary, in 1945. The couple married in 1946 in Littlefield, Texas. Their son, Leland, was born in 1948 and daughter, Janice, in 1953. Mr. and Mrs. Couch lived and farmed in Anton until 1961 before moving to Dumas, Texas, where Mr. Couch purchased a retail business with his brother James. He moved back to the plains area and purchased a store near Floydada and lived there until 1967.
In 1967, after a vacation to Colorado, Mr. Couch purchased 160 acres near Bayfield. He retired in 1996 and bought a new home in Bayfield. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In November 2005, Mr. Couch agreed to have his condition treated at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango.
His wife wrote that Mr. Couch often could be seen walking his property with an irrigation shovel over one shoulder. His motto was, "Make hay while the sun shines."
Mr. Couch spent his life surrounded by family, church, friends and work. After retiring, he kept his cars clean, his garden without weeds and his lawn always mowed. The shovel still stood outside the back door after his retirement.
Mr. Couch is survived by wife Rosemary Couch of Bayfield; son Leland Couch of Ignacio; daughter Janice Dunavant of Bayfield; sister Thelma Pritchard, of Anton, Texas; seven grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; numerous step-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother James and his sisters Mary Sue and Willa.
Visitation will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Monday, May 14, 2007, at Hood Mortuary. The family will gather to receive guests at the funeral home at 7 p.m. A funeral will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at Florida Mesa Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Pine River Cemetery in Bayfield.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pine River Cemetery, P.O. Box 51, Bayfield, CO 81122 or the Parkinson's Association of the Rockies, 1420 Ogden St., Denver, CO 80218-2892.
