Obituaries

May 15, 2017

Obituary for Kathryn Ruth "Kit" Kaufman (Sawyers) Kathryn Ruth Kaufman, a 30 plus year resident of Durango, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her loving family, the evening of May 15, 2017 at the age of 94 years. Kit, as she was known by everyone, was born in Ainsworth, Nebraska on March 3, 1923 to Tillman and Bess...

May 14, 2017

Obituary for Harry Lee Jarrell Harry Lee Jarrell, 101 years, of Durango, Colorado, died Sunday, May 14, 2017 at Cottonwood Inn Rehabilitation & Extended Care Center. Mr. Jarrell was born November 29, 1915, in Delagua, Colorado (a small coal camp near Trinidad), the son of Ricahrd Lee and Stella Mae (Gillen) Jarrell. He graduated high school in 1934, married Dorothy...

May 11, 2017

Joe R. Candelaria, a 48 year resident of Durango, peacefully passed away surrounded by his loving family on the evening of May 11, 2017 at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, CO, he was 78. Joe was known to most people as “Rudy.” Rudy was born on November 19, 1938 in Rosa, NM. He studied at Fort Lewis College and...

May 10, 2017

Wanda Lee Williams , 81 years, of Aztec, New Mexico, died 5/10/2017 at San Juan Regional Medical Center . Born 11/29/1935. Wanda grew up and attended school in Silverton, CO with her 12 brothers and sisters. She is survived by her 3 boys; Ed, Bob, & Hank Williams. Wanda was preceded in death by her husband Edward Williams. A service...

May 8, 2017

Obituary for William Gardner Church William Gardner Church passed away on May 8, 2017 at home with his beloved family gathered together. We know that we will all be together again and this is only a temporary separation. Bill’s passing is just good-bye for now. Bill was born and raised in Santa Ana by Clarence and Persus Church along with...

May 8, 2017

Gilbert Frank Reinhardt passed away Monday, May 8, 2017, at home with his family by his side. He was 86 years old. Gilbert was born on December 19, 1930, to August Frank Reinhardt & Eva M. Reid in Bloomfield, NM. After high school, he served in the U.S. Army where he received a silver star. August 15, 1955 he married...

May 6, 2017

Obituary for Jennie Lee Phillips (Sipe) JENNIE LEE PHILLIPS- Born March 28, 1931, Passed May 6, 2017.Homemaker, longtime Durango resident. Survived by husband of 50 years, Thomas M. Phillips; sons, Steve (Mary), David (Lori), & Richard (Susan) Larsen; daughters Linda (Tom) Mitchell, Shirley (Dennis) Maugherman, and Ruth Larsen. She leaves a legacy of 19 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren....

May 4, 2017

Obituary for Eva Martinez She asked for her Rosary, it was perhaps the last intelligible words she uttered. She was nothing if she was not a Catholic woman of strong faith. As she made the peaceful transition just before sunrise on May 4, 2017, Eva Martinez was in the hands of her loved ones and passed to be with God...

May 3, 2017

Obituary for Dorothy Hinsley (Friddle) Dorothy Hinsley passed away Wednesday, May 3, 2017, surrounded by family. She was 88 years old. Dorothy was born June 3, 1928, to Herbert Guy Friddle and Myrtle Brown in Borger, TX. She met Jimmie Lee Hinsley in Lubbock, TX, while working at a walk-in theater where she sold tickets. They married on September 14,...

May 2, 2017

Cody Ledford was born on April 17, 2003 and was called to heaven on May 2, 2017. God needed an angel and what a wonderful caring angel He got. Cody had a zest for life and a smile that engaged all those around him. He was loved by all who knew him. He was affectionately known as, “Monkey Boy” by...

Apr 28, 2017

Gay Smith was born on November 15, 1937, Glasgow, Montana. Born a twin to Evelyn Johns Woodruff and Seth Ritch Woodruff. The family spent 2 years in the Panama Canal Zone where her father was an engineer on the locks. School years were spent in Mississippi, Omaha and Las Vegas where she was the top of her senior class in...

Apr 27, 2017

Apr 22, 2017

Life Story for Rachelle Iverson

Apr 22, 2017

Life Story for Elroy A. Vigil

Apr 22, 2017

Obituary for Norma Belle Melcher (Herrick) Norma Belle Melcher, age 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Sunshine Gardens. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday April 29, 2017 at Hood Mortuary Chapel, Earl Caudill will officiate. Norma was born September 27, 1924 to Gerold Herrick and Faye Adams in...

Apr 17, 2017

Obituary for Priscilla Flores Rock Priscilla Flores Rock passed away on April 17, 2017, she was 80 years old. Mrs. Rock was born in Ignacio, Colorado on October 14, 1936 at the Taylor Hospital. She attended the Ute Vocational School, where she met her future husband, Donald and Priscilla would be together for 60 years. She loved cracking jokes, spending...

Apr 17, 2017

Obituary for Susan Bea Wright (Wiprud) Susan Bea Wright, 87, died at Sunshine Gardens on Monday, April 17, 2017. Sue moved to Durango with her husband, Bill, in 1994 after the couple retired from the travel agency they ran in Maryland for 30 years. Bill Wright died in 2007. Sue was a beloved fixture at The Ranch, where she enjoyed...

Apr 16, 2017

Obituary for Loren Lee Hopkins Loren Lee Hopkins, son of William M. and Wilma Wells Hopkins, died peacefully at home at 1:45pm on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017. He was born on the family farm near Jet, OK in the early hours of February 14, 1930. He is survived by Sandra, his wife of 63 years, and children Lorie Ann...

Apr 15, 2017

Obituary for Robert "Larry" Baca Robert "Larry" Baca passed away Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Seattle Washington. He was 67 years old. Robert was born May 21, 1949 in Ignacio, Colorado. His parents were Sadie and Jerry Rivas. He graduated from Ignacio High School. Robert worked for Boeing Aircraft Corp. and for the City of Seattle in the maintenance department....

Apr 14, 2017

On Good Friday, April 14, 2017, Bayfield resident Ernest 'Wayne' Siner passed away suddenly at home. Dad turned a young 93 in December. Wayne was born on Dec 18th, 1923 in Terre Haute, Indiana to Earl and Lou Siner, share-crop farmers. The family left for Southern California for better times when dad was 10 years old. He graduated from Montebello...