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James L. Hunt
James L. Hunt, 83, died Monday, May 5, 2003, at his home in Cortez. Open visitation was held at Hood Mortuary Wednesday, May 7. Burial will occur at Greenmount Cemetery. Private family services will be held. Mr. Hunt died of mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer.
Mr. Hunt was born Jan. 22, 1920, in North Platte, Neb., the son of William and Marie (Buchtel) Hunt. He married Marjorie Laura Cowan April 13, 1946, in Reno, Nev.
Mr. Hunt enlisted in the U.S. Navy Seabees in 1943 and served as a machinists mate, stationed on Atu in the Aleutian Islands.
James L. Hunt is survived by his daughters: Geri Sanders-Klein of Cortez; and Linda Smithson of Filmore, Calif.; granddaughter Leigha Herrera of Filmore; grandsons: Jacob Nugent and Brandon Nugent, both of Filmore; and a great-grandson Bryant Herrera of Filmore.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1997; a brother Raymond Hunt; and sisters: Cecelia Cobb; Mary Kirchhefer, and Eleanor Wilkinson.
Arrangements are being handled by Hood Mortuary in Durango.
Patricia Byers
Patricia "Murph" Ruth Byers, a longtime resident of Dolores, passed away May 4, 2003, in the San Juan Medical Center in Farmington. She was 77.
A memorial service was held May 7 in the Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel. A committal service followed in the Lebanon Cemetery. Rev. Bud Rousset officiated.
Patricia was born to Michael Patrick and Elizabeth Ruth OGara Murphy Jan. 1, 1926, in Chicago. She graduated from Catholic schools in the Chicago area.
On March 31, 1945, she married James Laughlin Byers in Chicago. They moved to the Four Corners area in October 1945. The couple was blessed with six children.
Mrs. Byers was a homemaker and formerly employed with City Market and Safeway in Cortez. She enjoyed going to the VFW and the American Legion functions with her husband.
Mrs. Byers was a scorekeeper for the Little League baseball games in the area. She was very involved with her children and enjoyed them very much. A young granddaughter used to call her "Mam."
Patricia "Murph" Ruth Byers is survived by her husband of 58 years, James, of Dolores; her children: Patricia Carrington and husband, Mike; Mike Byers and wife, Ginger, of Albuquerque; Peggy Smith and Ron Brooks of Phoenix, Ariz.; Bill Byers and wife, Mitzi, of Cortez; Kathleen Watters and husband, Rocky, of Clayton, N.M., and Jean Moore and husband, Randy, of Arriola; 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a sister, a brother and a granddaughter, Shaney Erin Watters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale & Gerkin is serving the family.
Ruth Garcia Chavez
Ruth Garcia Chavez, a long-time resident of Cortez, passed away Jan. 19, 2003, at her residence. She was 91.
A funeral service for Ruth Garcia Chavez is set for Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. in the St. Patricks Catholic Church in Silverton, Colo. Fr. Nathanall Foshage will officiate. Interment will follow in the Hillside Cemetery
in Silverton.
Mrs. Chavez is survived by her children: Ray P. Chavez of Lumbertos, N.M.; Fred Chavez and wife, Maggie, of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; Frank T. Chavez of Cortez; and Clodoveo Chavez of Ralston, Neb.; a sister, Lilly Gurule, of Pagosa Springs; a sister-in-law, Genevive Brice, of Cortez; 20 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; her life-long and constant companion, Puddles, and many other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Chavez is preceded in death by her husband, Porforio J. Chavez and one son, Harum Mitchell Chavez.
Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale & Gerken is serving the family.
Sarah Jane Hill
Memorial services for Cortez resident Sarah Jane Hill will be held at 2 p.m. today, May 6, at the Ertel Memorial Chapel.
Sarah was born March 10, 1923, in Berlen, N.D., to John and Wilhelmina (Wagner) Furdet. She passed away Saturday, May 3, 2003, at her sons home in Cortez. Sarah was 80.
Some of Sarahs favorite pastimes were reading, crocheting, watching television and doing crossword puzzles. She absolutely loved her dog, Mikey.
Her sons, Larry Hill and wife, Dolores, of Cedaredge, Colo.; Hubert Hill and wife, Sarah, of Oxford, Ga.; and Bob Hill and wife, Nancy, of Cortez, all survive Sarah. She leaves 13 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren, and 10 step-great-grandchildren. Her three sisters: Marion Naugle and Eileen Williams, both of Michigan; and Pudge Sneedon of Florida, also survive Sarah.
Preceding her in death are her parents; and her husband, Howard Thomas Hill.
Memorial contributions can be made in Sarah's name to Hospice of Montezuma.
Services are under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Ritanne Rita S. Wilber
Ritanne S. Wilber, a resident of Cortez, passed away May 2, 2003, at her residence. She was 56.
A family service was held Monday, May 5, at the Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel. Cremation will take place.
Mrs. Wilber was born to Myler and June Amrine Fogle Nov. 23, 1946 in Durango. She graduated form the Montezuma County High School in 1965.
Mrs. Wilber and her husband resided in Denver for 35 years.
Ritanne "Rita" S. Wilber is survived by her husband Leroy "Lee" of Cortez; a son Randy Wilber of Boulder, Colo.; a daughter Leighann Wilber of Cortez; and sisters: Sheree Valdez and husband, Rubin; and Connie Edwards and husband, Harold, all of Phoenix, Ariz.
Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale & Gerken served the family.
Wilhelmina Gertrude Schimpf Apple
Private family services will be held for longtime rural Dolores resident Wilhelmina Gertrude Schimpf Apple.
Wilhelmina was born the daughter of Alex and Emma (Meyer) Schimpf Nov. 5, 1916, at LaSalle, Colo. She passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2003, at the age of 86.
In Lewiston, Mont., Wilhelmina married Dudley Ferrell Apple Sept. 26, 1937. The couple shared 56 years of marriage until Dudleys death March 1, 1994.
For many years Wilhelmina worked as manager of the Far View Lodge Restaurant. Always ready to go, she loved fishing and traveling.
Surviving Wilhelmina are her five children: Ferrell Ann Apple of Congress, Ariz.; LaVeryle Apple and wife, Betty, of Cortez; Genevieve Apple of Bosque City, N.M.; Gary Apple of Dolores, and Dwayne Apple and wife, Anna, of Belen, N.M.; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; four brothers and three sisters.
Preceding Wilhelmina in death are her husband and four siblings.
Memorial contributions can be made in the name of Wilhelmina Apple with the Alzheimers Association, SW Colorado Region of Rocky Mountain Chapter, 701 Camino Del Rio, Durango, 81301.
Services will be conducted by the Ertel Funeral Home.
Esther Warren Daniel
Funeral services for Esther Warren Daniel, a resident of the Valley Inn Nursing Home, will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 3, at the Mancos First Baptist Church. Pastors Jimmy Burton and Paul Schultz will officiate. Interment will follow at the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Visitation will take place Saturday afternoon from 1:30 p.m. until service time.
Esther was born Sept. 23, 1903, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the daughter of Frank and Della (Conquest) Warren. She passed away at the Valley Inn Nursing Home Tuesday, April 29, 2003, five months short of her 100th birthday.
Esther married Chester A. Baker in Sapulpa, Okla., in 1921. She became a widow in 1971. April 1973 in Phoenix, Ariz., Esther married Earl W. Daniel.
After Earls death, Esther continued to live in Phoenix until her move to the Mancos Valley and the Valley Inn.
She was active in Baptist churches wherever she lived, teaching Sunday school classes until the year 2000, when her health forced her to retire from more than 50 years of Bible teaching.
Surviving Esther are her son, Curtis C. Baker and wife, Fay, of Mancos; stepson, Gayle Daniel and wife, Adri; grandchildren: Bob Baker and wife, Karen, of Phoenix; Susie Frantz and husband, Jim, of Loma, Colo.; Becky Klocker and husband, Greg, of Glade Park, Colo., and Peggy Samora and husband, Tommy, of Cortez; great-grandchildren: Bobby Baker Jr.; and Valerie Gibson, of Phoenix, and Carmen and Cody Samora of Cortez; step-grandchildren: Chris Daniel and wife, Lisa; Vicki Galarneau and husband, Bob; Gary Daniel; and Michelle Adler and husband, Bob; great-great-grandchildren: Lance and Victoria; five step-great-grandchildren; and her sister, Dorothea Adams, of Durango.
Services will be under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Thomas Horace Gilliland
Funeral services for Thomas Horace Gilliland, a lifelong area resident, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 3, at the Trinity Lutheran Church. Pastor David Dahl will officiate. Interment will follow at the Lewis Cemetery.
Visitation has been set for Friday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Ertel Memorial Chapel.
Tom was born in Yellow Jacket April 27, 1919, the son of Thomas William and Eva (Stevenson) Gilliland. He passed away at Southwest Memorial Hospital Tuesday, April 29, 2003. Tom had just celebrated his 84th birthday.
Tom earned his livelihood farming and ranching, raising beans, wheat, alfalfa and cattle. He helped found the Lewis Arriola Fire Department and served that organization for 20 years. Tom was a Mason for 52 years and was a member of the Lewis Grange, which he served as Grange Master for several terms.
Surviving Tom are his children: Judy Vogel and husband, Ron, of Denver; and Bill Gilliland and wife, Laura Jane, of Lewis; grandchildren: T. W. Gilliland, James Gilliland and Brenda Gilliland, all of Lewis; Jole Sorenson of Phoenix, and Seth Sorenson of Denver. His brother and sisters: Bill Duncan of Lewis; Peggy Roe of Cortez; Pat Ashbaugh of Grants, N.M.; and Daisy King of Cortez; as well as many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews also survive Tom.
Preceding Tom in death were his parents, and his beloved wife, Dorothy (Toles) Gilliland in December, 1994.
Memorial contributions can be made in the name of Tom Gilliland with the Lewis Arriola Fire Department. Service will be under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Karl Alfred Howell
Karl Alfred Howell was born Nov. 4, 1929, to Karl and Margaret Howell at Ucola, Utah. He passed away April 23, 2002, at the age of 73.
Karls mother soon nicknamed him "Mickey," which remained with him all his life.
Mickey attended school in the Ucola area then went on to high school in Moab, Utah. He soon decided high school was not the thing he wanted so he went to work for area farmers and ranchers.
Mickey joined the Army in 1949, he completed tours in Korea and Vietnam. He was wounded in battle during his third tour in Korea and was denied when he requested a fourth tour. He retired from the Army in 1969 and moved to Colorado.
Mickey Howell is survived by a daughter, Wanda Irene Murray and husband, Bill, of Moody, Texas; sons: Herbert Karl Howell and wife, Cathy, of St. Charles, Mo.; Richard Howell and wife, Tina, of Cortez; and Robert "Chuck" Howell of Dove Creek; a brother, Bob Howell of Bluff, Utah; seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a sister.
Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale & Gerken is serving the family.
Jose "Henry" Enriques Martinez
Jose "Henry" Enriques Martinez passed away April 14, 2003, in Caldwell, Idaho.
