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Edward Guy McRae
Former Cortez resident, Edward Guy McRae Jr., passed away in Bullhead City, Ariz., on Oct. 23, 1999 at the age of 73. He was cremated.
Eddie was born on June 17, 1926 in Pueblo, Colo., the son of Edward Guy McRae Sr. and Mary Jane (Bell) McRae. His family moved to Dolores in 1935.
Eddie married Vara Dazey in 1950. They raised their four children in Cortez while Eddie made a living as a realtor. After his retirement, Eddie and Vera moved to the Denver area to be closer to their children.
Eight years a ago, Eddie and Vera moved to Bullhead City, Ariz. He was a member of the Board of Realtors in Bullhead City and continued to hold his membership in the Cortez Elks Lodge.
He is survived by his wife, Vera McRae, of Bullhead City, Ariz., daughters, Colleen n Gibbs and Susan Nicely, both of Denver; a son Charlie McRae, of Las Vegas, Nev.; seven grandchildren and one great- grandchild.
Preceding him in death was his son, James McRae.
Memorial contributions can be made in Edward McRae's name to the Dolores Fire Protection Association, PO Box 599, Dolores, Colo. 81323.
Francis Raymond Stockdale
Funeral services for Francis Raymond Stockdale, a lifelong resident of Cortez will be held Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999, at St. Barnabas of the Valley Episcopal Church beginning at 2 p.m. Father Dennis Garrou will officiate. Interment will follow at the Cortez Cemetery.
Francis was born Oct. 25, 1912, in Norwood, Colo., to Francis Marion Stockdale and Laura Bell (Booth) Stockdale. He passed away on Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999, at the Vista Grande Nursing Home. He was 87 years old.
At the age of 15, Francis joined the National Guard and then in 1940 he enlisted with the Army and served his country during World War II. Francis married Josephine Mildred Jordan on May 1st in Abilene, Texas. He was a man of vision, founding the Basin Industrial Bank in Cortez, and developing the Paradise Village and McBride subdivisions. He also helped establish the first City Market store in Cortez.
Francis also held numerous memberships here in Cortez. He was a charter member of the Cortez Elks Lodge No. 1789, a member of the Rotary Club, Cortez Chamber of Commerce, and a longtime member of the St. Barnabas Church in Cortez.
His wife, Jo Stockdale, of Cortez survives him, as do his four children and their spouses, Charles and Peggy Stockdale, of Sun City, Ariz., Jon and Deidra Stockdale, Saundra and Garth Davies, and Cindy and Clay Dickson, all of Cortez. Francis leaves behind six grandchildren, Mike Stockdale, of Sheboygan, Wis., Stephanie Berger, of Denver, Colo., Chris Neal, of New Jersey, Kelly Neal, of Wyoming, and Brandon and Ashlee Dickson, both of Cortez; a sister, Celia Shultz, of Montrose, Colo., and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Memorial contributions can be made in Francis Stockdale's name with St. Barnabas of the Valley Episcopal Church. Services will be under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Myrtle Mae Meyer
Graveside services for longtime resident, Myrtle Mae Meyer, will be held Friday, Nov. 5, 1999 at the Cortez Cemetery
beginning at 2 p.m. Pastor Schwartz from the Seventh Day Adventist Church will officiate.
A visitation period has been scheduled for Thursday evening at the Ertel Memorial Chapel from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Born the daughter of Susie Elizabeth and Ruben Williams, Myrtle was born in Montrose, Colo., on Dec. 27, 1919. She passed away at the Vista Grande Nursing Home on Saturday, Oct. 30, 1999. She was 79 years old.
Myrtle is the beloved mother of eight children, Elizabeth, Ernest, Nancy, Lester, John, Jacquie, Art, and Herbie. Her children remember her as a very special mom, one they could always count on being there for them.
Trained as a Licensed Practical Nurse, Myrtle worked in the Montrose and Cortez areas caring for others. After she had given up nursing, Myrtle spent several years working as a motel maid.
Myrtle is survived by her children, Elizabeth Estep, and her husband, J.D., of Cortez, Ernest Whelchel, and his wife, Tanya, of Gillette, Wyo., Nancy Thurman, of Cortez, Lester Rice, and wife, Pat, of Morenci, Ariz., John Rice, of Dolores, Jacquie Allen, and her husband, Shannon, of Fernly, Nev., and Art Meyer, and his wife, Luann, of Cortez.
She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and five great great grandchildren; and a brother, Lee Williams, of Wasilla, Alaska.
Myrtle was preceded in death by her husband, Art M. Meyer, in August, 1978; her son, Herbie Meyer, in 1980; three sisters, Clara Steinquller, Vida Patterson, and Bertha Barns; and a brother, Charles Williams.
Memorial contributions can be made in Myrtle Meyers' name with Hospice of Montezuma, 1345 S. Broadway, Cortez. Ertel Funeral Home will be in charge of the services.
Mabel Higman
Funeral services for Mabel Higman, 82, of Cortez, will be held Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999, at the Ertel Memorial Chapel, beginning at 2 p.m. Burial will be at the Arriola Cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Suzanne Listemann of the Cortez First United Methodist Church.
Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday evening at the Ertel Memorial Chapel from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Mabel was born in Arriola, Colo., on July 9, 1917, to Frank and Ella (Parker) Milligan. She passed away at her home on Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999.
Mabel married Raymond Higman in Dolores on Sept. 8, 1935. They celebrated more that 55 years of marriage before Raymond passed away in August of 1990. Mabel was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for 50 years, as well as a lifelong member of the Methodist Church.
Mabel is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Janet and Leo Dennison and Judith and Mike Loyd, both of Cortez; six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren; her brother, Milford Milligan, of Dolores; and two sisters, Esther Reed and Norma Coppinger, both of Cortez.
Preceding Mabel in death were her husband, parents, a daughter, Shirley Bard, and a son, Douglas Higman.
Services will be conducted by the Ertel Funeral Home.
Norman Henry Darland
Graveside services for Norman Henry Darland, a lifelong resident of this area, will be held Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999 at the Cortez Cemetery
beginning at 10 a.m. Pastor Bob Cogburn of the Friendship Assembly of God Church will officiate. Visitation has been set for Tuesday afternoon at the Ertel Memorial Chapel between the hours of 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Mr. Darland was born in Jetmore, Kans., to William Darland and Sophia (Kelch) Darland on May 14, 1909. He passed away at the Vista Grande Nursing Home on Monday, Nov. 1, 1999, at the age of 90.
Norman is survived by his four daughters and their husbands, Guyrene and Gene Graffis, of Cortez, Pam and Gary Jordan, of Cortez, Debbie and Bill Oakes, of Dolores, and Rosemary and Keith Sperry, of Cortez; 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and six step-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Ruth Branson, on Jan. 1, 1981; a son, Walter D. Darland; a grandson, Edward Graffis; his parents; one sister; and a half-brother.
Memorial contributions can be made in Norman Darland's name to the Gideons International, P.O. Box 62, Cortez. The Ertel Funeral Home will conduct services.
Orpha Willie Throckmorton Smith
Orpha Willie Throckmorton Smith died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at the Valley Inn Care Center in Mancos at the age of 87. A memorial service under the direction of Hood Mortuary of Durango will be held at the Highway Church of Christ, Hwy. 666, at CR 23, northwest of Cortez at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, 1999.
She was born near Elk City, Okla., the eleventh child of Marion Edmond Throckmorton and Ollie Cordelia Bills Throckmorton. Her father, born at Friendship, Tenn. in 1870, and her mother, born in Ripley, Miss., also in 1870, were true covered-wagon pioneers. They homesteaded a farm in the Cheyenne-Arapaho territory of Southwest Oklahoma in 1893.
Orpha was born at the farm on June 14, 1912. After graduating from high school Orpha worked as a reporter for the newspaper in Blackwell, Okla. She was later trained to work as a tissue tech in the histology lab at St. Mary’s hospital in Enid, Okla., a job she truly loved.
She married Carl Raymond Smith in October of 1932. He passed away in 1971.
In 1975, she moved to Durango, and then to Cortez in 1994. She had been a member of the Church of Christ and faithful Christian believer for 73 years.
She is survived by sons Shelby and wife Roberta Smith of Cortez and Kirby Smith and his wife Carol, of San Diego, Calif.; six grandchildren, Arthur and wife Renee of Athens, Ohio; Annette and husband Chuck of Pima, Ariz.; Bradley Paul of New York City; Mathew, Andrew and Kathryn Smith of Sand Diego, Calif.; and four great-grandchildren, Kayla, Kami, Koby and Kole Cotter of Pima.
She will be buried beside her beloved husband, Carl, in Enid, Okla.
Kayla Lynn Grauberger
Kayla Lynn Grauberger, precious daughter, granddaughter and sister, passed away on Oct. 27, 1999 in the University of Michigan Medical Center, Annarbor, Mich. She was born Jan. 14, 1999, and was 9 1/2 months of age.
Funeral services are set for Monday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. in the Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel. Reverend Pat Booth will officiate the services. Interment will follow the services in the Cortez Cemetery. A visitation will take place Sunday, Oct. 31 at the funeral chapel.
Little Kayla, even though her time on this earth was short, brought great happiness to those she met. She loved being with people, especially other babies. Adolescents were captivated by her wonderful personality. Her love for others was always there. Kayla enjoyed and loved her nurses and doctors and all those who cared for her in the hospitals. Her favorite color was "Wal-Mart blue -- she also liked the water.
Kayla Lynn Grauberger brought a full lifetime of smiles and happiness in just 9 1/2 months.
She is survived by her loving mother, Terrie Ann Grauberger; loving grandparents Joel and Judy Grauberger; brothers David and Travis; uncle Lee Grauberger, all of Cortez.
She is also survived by great-grandfather Leslie Grauberger of Sterling, Colo.; great aunts and uncles Bill and Loni Stampff of Sterling; Willie Grauberger of Arvada, Colo.; Chris Dagley of Connell, Wash.; Jane Schaffer of Sterling; Jennings and Connie Grauberger of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Ila and Clarence Scott of Cheyenne; Dorothy and Brian Chittendon of Berthoud, Colo.; Vella Moore of Rifle, Colo.; and Sylvia and Elwood Binnings of Texarkana, Texas; great-grandmothers Elsie Medlin of Denver and Florence Collier, also of Denver.
Her "self-appointed" grandparents, aunts and uncles also survive Kayla Lynn: Clem and Berneice Lewis; Francis and Woody Hughes; KaraLee, Ardella, Dessie, Pam, Doreen, Carol, Judy, Dennis, Randy, Larry, Areda, Karen, Jody and Cindy; and numerous other relatives.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Kayla Lynn Grauberger to the Denver Children’s Hospital in care of Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, 219 N. Linden Street, Cortez, Colo. 81321.
Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale and Gerken Funeral Directors serving the family.
Charles E. Gorman
Charles E. Gorman, longtime Mancos resident, passed away Oct. 27, 1999 at the VA Hospital in Grand Junction.
Mr. Gorman served his country in World War II, in the U.S. Army. He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Reynolds, and her husband, of Stillwater, Okla.
Services are pending, with cremation tentatively planned. Interment will follow in Oklahoma, where his daughter resides.
