Obituaries
Nita Darlene Casto
Feb 8, 2024
Nita was born on September 9, 1932, to the late John and Mable Cline. She and her siblings were raised in Littleton Colorado where she graduated from High School in 1949. Nita was a Soda Jerk at a Drug store on South Broadway in Denver in High School. Nita Enlisted in the US Army in November 1950 and achieved the...
Joe Barney Caranta
Feb 8, 2024
Born March 29, 1946 in Durango, Colorado to Joseph Thomas Caranta and Evelyn Francis Caranta. The family lived in Monero, New Mexico. When Joe was fourteen his three sisters (Irene, Burnadette, Mary Francis), and mother moved to Durango after his father’s passing. Joe attended and graduated from Durango High school. He also attended Fort Lewis College and served in the...
Charlene Joy "Grammy" Illg
Feb 8, 2024
Charlene Joy "Grammy" Illg passed away Thursday, February 8, 2024, in Durango. She was 88 years old. A Funeral Service will be held Friday, February 16, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., at Hood Mortuary Chapel. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery.
Charlene was born March 7, 1935, to David Austin Turner and Caroline Amelia Russell in Johnson City, New York. She grew...
William "Bill" Roberts
Feb 8, 2024
From Durango Herald Article 2/11/2024Former Durango Herald editorial page editor dies at 73
Colleagues remember Bill Roberts for his thoughtfulness, sense of humor and persuasive approach to opinion pages
By Christian Burney Herald Staff Writer
Saturday, Feb 10, 2024 4:00 PM Updated Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 7:33 PM
Bill Roberts, former editorial page editor for The Durango Herald, died on Thursday after he fell...
Lila Cruz Rivas
Feb 3, 2024
Lila C. Rivas, aka lollipop, was born Candelaria Cruz Chavez in Lone Tree, CO on 4/17/1938 to Joe Bernabè Chavez and Juanita Martinez Chavez. She had 1 sister, Precilla, and six brothers, Bernie, Ray, Doro (Jean), Ted (Bonnie), David, and Jerry.
She loved to share stories about living in Monte Vista, playing in a cow pasture, traveling around picking fruit while...
Edward Lee Brown
Jan 30, 2024
Lee was proud to be the 4th generation of the Brown family born and raised in the Durango area. He grew up on Reservoir Hill near the college and reminisced about good times with his sisters and cousins. Lee served in the Army from 1970-1972 as a Combat Engineer with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. He met Wilma Fulks when...
Kelly Keith Winlock
Jan 28, 2024
Rev. Kelly Keith Winlock was born on February 9th, 1943, in the small town of Talihina, Oklahoma to Myrtle and Tony Winlock. He peacefully passed away at home on January 28th, 2024. He was 80 years old. He is survived by his wife Teresa Winlock. his three children Kellie Perry, Michael Winlock, and Terence Winlock, 7 grandkids, 15 great grandkids,...
Bobbie Joy Day Smith
Jan 27, 2024
Born in Hamlin Texas in 1935. She married her childhood sweetheart, Glenn, in 1952. She was the first in her family to receive Christ as her savior. Joy went on to convert her husband, Glenn, who then became a minister and she then served as a minister's wife for 48 years and helped Glenn to start several new churches in...
Gerald 'Jerry' Allen Loeb
Jan 27, 2024
It is with sad hearts that we say goodbye to our beloved Gerald Allen Loeb. He went by Jerry. Jerry was born on January 2nd, 1958 in San Diego, California to Gerald K. and Sue Ann Loeb. He climbed the ranks to Captain in the Army and we're so thankful for his service and sacrifices. He was a journalist, editor...
Michael Christian Kukuk
Jan 24, 2024
Michael was born August 26th, 1995, at Gunnison Valley Hospital to Robert and Janelle Kukuk.
He was a miracle baby that they had waited so long to have and hold, and really had given up hope on conceiving a child prior to his conception. As a young boy he enjoyed playing around Santa Maria Reservoir with his little sister Melanie and...
Mary Maxine Lattin
Jan 23, 2024
Mary Maxine Lattin passed away Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at home, surrounded by family. She was 91 years old. A Rosary will be recited Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. and Eulogy to be read at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. all at Pope John Paul II Catholic Church on South Pagosa...
Douglas Allen Rock
Jan 23, 2024
Douglas A. Rock (81) passed away on January 23, 2024, in Ignacio, Colorado. Doug was born to Ralph and Charlotte Rock on May 28, 1942, in Pennsylvania. They moved to Wyoming when he was 6, and he grew up in Dubois and Lander. He was a welder by trade, working in powerplants and the oil field. He enjoyed the outdoors,...
LaVonne M. Newman
Jan 23, 2024
Life-long resident LaVonne M. Newman passed away peacefully on January 23, 2024, at the age of 88. Born on July 20, 1935, in the Logging Camps in the high timber up north, La Vonne’s life was a tapestry of love, family, and hard work.
LaVonne was an avid outdoors woman, in her prime, and was dedicated to her family. She was...
Kathi Creech
Jan 17, 2024
Kathi Lou Creech passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2024, in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. She was 69 years old. Kathi was born April 28, 1954, to Frank and Melba Salerno at the Alameda Naval Air Force base in California. As a child Kathi loved being with her parents and traveling the world (as an Air Force brat). Her biggest love...
Harry E. Fassett, Jr.
Jan 12, 2024
Harry E. Fassett Jr., 96, of Durango, passed away on January 12, 2024 at home surrounded by his family. Harry was born in Durango to Harry Edmond and Nella Elvera (Carr) Fassett on December 27, 1927. At 16 he got his pilot’s license and later joined the Air Force and fought in the Korean War. He met Glenda Murray in...
John Alex Cugnini
Jan 11, 2024
John was born in Durango Colorado on April 24, 1954 to John and Edna Pearl (Gilchrist) Cugnini. He was raised on his parents’ Florida Mesa ranch and was a life-long resident of the area. He died January 11, 2024 at Mercy Hospice Home surrounded by family. John attended Durango High School and San Juan Vocational-Technical school. John joined the United...
George Ronald Capehart
Jan 11, 2024
George is survived by his loving wife Sandee Capehart and children, Callee Wells (Mark), Aztec , NM, Jamie Boone (Eric), Aztec, NM, Joshua Capehart (Juli Christy), Farmington, NM, Daniel Capehart (Daisy), Bloomfield, NM, Caleb Capehart, Greeley, CO; grandchildren, Emily Boone, Hoquiam, WA, Lauren Boone, Durango, CO, Keaton Christy, Farmington, NM, Margaret Horne (Steven), Farmington, NM, Henry Boone (Bailey Chavez), Switzerland, Olivia Wells, Aztec, NM, Dawson...
Clara Mae Schmitt
Jan 10, 2024
Clara Mae was born in Blanca, Colorado to Carl and Dorothy (Tyson) Asay. She was raised in the San Luis Valley, and the oldest of 4 children. Clara Mae was raised with a strong belief in her Lord Jesus Christ and a love for her family and community. She instilled these traits in her children and family throughout life. Clara...

