Obituaries
Lester Henry SunEagle
Feb 22, 2026
Henry SunEagle had many passions in his life. He loved rock music, basketball, going for walks, and the community of family, neighbors, and coworkers that he had around him. The foundation of his life was always his connection to his Native roots.
He was a member of the Pitahawirata Band of the Pawnee Tribe and was involved with the Four Corners...
Lucy Valencia Martinez
Dec 8, 2025
Lucy Valencia Martinez, aged 91, passed away on December 8, 2025, in Denver, CO. Born on June 30, 1934. Lucy was a beacon of love and joy to all who knew her.
Throughout her life, Lucy was dedicated to her work, having been employed at C.O.D. laundry, Plaza Pharmacy, and City Market.
Lucy was a woman of deep personal faith, maintaining a...
Joanne Elizabeth Brennan
Feb 26, 2026
Joanne Elizabeth Brennan passed peacefully on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Durango, Colorado. She had reached the incredible age of 93. Joanne was born February 17, 1933 to James Arthur and Kathleen Pearce (nee Brice) in her hometown of Durango.
She was proud of her Irish origins, proud to be a Durango pioneer and proud to be a lifelong Durango native....
Dr. Forrest Dean Brown
Feb 12, 2026
Dr. Forrest Dean Brown, DDS passed from complications with Lewy body dementia, surrounded by his family, on February 12, 2026.
Dean is remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend, and mentor to those in both his personal and professional orbit. A man of humor, intellect, business acumen, and quick wit, he lived fully and deliberately. An avid hunter and angler...
William Crawford Wall
Feb 8, 2026
William Crawford Wall, age 90, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2026, in Durango, Colorado. He was born in Commerce, Georgia, on July 17, 1935, to Crawford Lorenza Wall and Omie Lucille Smallwood Wall.
He spent his early childhood in Georgia, New Mexico and Arizona. Some of his favorite memories were on the Gila River and Sapillo. He moved to Pagosa...
Thomas David McSweeney
Jan 7, 2026
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Tom McSweeney, who died peacefully at home on the morning of January 7, with family and his sweet dog by his side.
Born Thomas David McSweeney in Elmhurst, Illinois on February 23, 1954, Tom (Tommy) lived life fully and generously. He was a wonderful son, best friend, brother, husband, father,...
Johanna Lenore Fusco
Feb 11, 2026
Johanna “Jo” Lenore (Lenz) Fusco passed away peacefully at home on February 11, 2026, surrounded by family. Jo was born on November 22, 1938, to Jean Elizabeth (Kirby) and Robert Carl Lenz in Omaha, Nebraska. She attended Southeast High School in Kansas City, graduating class of 1956, before moving on to Grinnell College to major in American Studies. After graduating...
Eli William Robinson
Feb 20, 2026
Eli William Robinson, 33, died on February 20, 2026, in a ski accident in Colorado — fittingly, doing something he loved. Born on November 9, 1992, in Ithaca, New York, Eli lived his life with uncommon energy, curiosity, and heart.
Raised in upstate New York by his loving parents, Lawrence and Marcie Robinson, Eli grew up with a deep appreciation for...
Stephen Michael Baukat
Dec 14, 2025
Stephen Michael Baukat, age 80, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2025, at Mercy Hospice, CommonSpirit Hospital in Durango, Colorado. He was born on May 14, 1945, in Northwood, North Dakota.
Steve was an intellectual, kind, and soft-spoken man with a keen mind and a strong sense of integrity. He was a good judge of character, thoughtfully opinionated, and deeply principled....
Katie O'Hara Barrett
Dec 12, 2025
Katie O’Hara Barrett passed away on December 12, 2025, with her husband Jim, of almost 40 years, by her side, in their winter home of Tucson, AZ.
Katie was born June 14th, 1955, to Donald and Helen O’Hara in Niagara Falls, NY. She was the 3rd oldest of the 8 O’Hara sisters. She graduated from Fredonia State with a major in...
William "Billy" Joseph Cooper
Feb 24, 2026
Leaving behind his two precious sons, Jungle Cooper, wife Heather, and their children Ian and Zabella Cooper, and Liam Cooper, wife, Uriah, and daughter Evelyn Cooper; sister, Patricia Benavidez, and her children Beau Beckham, Chelsea, and Alexa; brother, Robert Cooper, wife Janice, and their children, Madison and Zacheriah (Cooper) Wilson. His nieces, Kayla and Tawnie Benavidez; and his nephew, Talon...
Michael Wayne Vanover
Feb 24, 2026
Michael was born in Baltimore, MD but was reared in south Louisiana. He was often identified as a “Cajun with a Strange Last Name”! He and his wife, Renee, have been together for 49 years successfully merging their diverse south Louisiana/Colorado cultures while living in three Louisiana cities (New Orleans, Berwick, and Morgan City), Houston, TX, and Pagosa Springs, CO....
Denise Marie Santille
Feb 19, 2026
At the age of 60, Denise Marie Santille passed away at the Pagosa Springs Medical Center after a year-and-a-half-long battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was surrounded by the love, presence, and support of her family-those she cherished above all else. Born in Elmira, New York, on September 18, 1965, Denise was the daughter of the late Robert M. Woods...
Benny Lee Cordova
Feb 13, 2026
Benny Lee Cordova born July 21, 1951, in Cortez Colorado. He went to school in Cortez and moved to Oregon for a few years where he met and married his first wife and had 2 children. Benny returned to Cortez and met and married Sondra Hover who had 3 children, which they raised the 5 children as 1 happy unit....
Carolyn Elaine Dooley
Feb 6, 2026
Carolyn Elaine Dooley passed from this world February 6, 2026, in her home in Durango, Colorado, with her husband of 68 years by her side.
Carolyn was a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
She was born in Illinois in the town of Phillipstown to James Jordan Doty and Esther Allena (Clifford) Doty.
In her 93 years she saw many changes in the world,...
Michael "Mike" Layfield
Feb 1, 2026
Michael “Mike” Layfield was the kind of man people loved immediately—and then loved more deeply the longer they knew him. He was tender-hearted, generous to a fault, quietly accomplished, and guided always by his love for people. To be loved by Mike was to feel encouraged, accepted, and genuinely seen.
Mike was many things over the course of his life: a...
Melody "Dee Dee" Kay Hedin Blevins
Jan 30, 2026
Melody “Dee Dee” Kay Hedin Blevins was born in 1956 to Donna and Leslie Hedin, and she was raised in Bloomington, Minnesota. She passed away on January 30th, 2026, in Durango, Colorado at the age of 69. She was the eldest of three, including her brothers, Brice and Arin Hedin. Melody always loved art and was introduced to drawing at...
Patricia Ana "Trisha" Salazar
Jan 29, 2026
Patricia Ana "Trisha"Salazar, 66,of Durango, Colorado,died 1/29/2026at her home. Born 9/21/1959. She is survived by her mother, Phyllis Salazar; Siblings: Leslie and David (Nancy) Salazar; and many extended family and wonderful friends. She was preceded in death by her father: Conrad Salazar, and a sister: Janet Tucson. Patricia had a heart of gold. She grew up in Durango and loved...
Jeanne Elizabeth Cole
Jan 29, 2026
Jeanne Elizabeth Cole, born August 6, 1943, in Illinois, was the second-born of identical “mirror twins,” sharing a lifelong bond with her sister, Cheryal Ann Cole. The girls were the beloved daughters of Robert Peter Cole and Ruth Kerner Cole and were raised in Palatine, Illinois. Jeanne graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Illinois Masonic Hospital Association on September...
Anthony Gabriel Scarpa
Jan 27, 2026
Anthony Gabriel Scarpa, known to all as Tony, passed away on January 27, 2026, at the age of 88, surrounded by his family.
Tony was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he grew up with a deep love for family, faith, and the game of baseball. A talented athlete, he played baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization—an achievement he remained...
Subscribe
Get alerts when new obituaries are posted
