Obituaries

Mar 19, 2018

Sam Mims Gaston passed away Monday, March 19, 2018, in Durango. He was 88 years old. Sam was born January 1, 1930, to Robert Lee and Edith (Mims) Gaston in Aztec, New Mexico. At the age of 18, he left the family ranch at Cedar Hill to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Force. He served during the Korean War...

Mar 16, 2018

Theresa G. Gallegos passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on March 16, 2018. Theresa was born in Prescott, AZ on February 18, 1942. Theresa was an active member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Ignacio, Colorado. She was proud of her work as a Certified Nurse at Four Corners Nursing Home in Durango, Colorado. She also worked as a Crossing...

Mar 13, 2018

Leta Irene (Mitchell) Sauer a lifetime resident of Durango passed away on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 (a day after her 90th birthday). She was born on March 12, 1928 to Gerald and Dora Mitchell. Leta was raised on a farm in Allison where she also attended school until her sophomore year. In her junior year she moved to Durango, where...

Mar 13, 2018

Joseph H. Martinez, lovingly known as Joe and Jody, passed away on March 13, 2018 surrounded by his wife (Barbara Martinez), his children (Ryan, Daniel, Joetta [Osborn], and Michael Martinez), and extended family. A rosary will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 16, 2018. A eulogy and mass service will be held...

Mar 12, 2018

Theola Geraldine “Jeri” Harper died on Monday, March 12, 2018 at Sunshine Gardens in Durango, Colorado. Mrs. Harper was born in Puxico, Missouri on March 18, 1923 to Raymond and Ethel Cardwell. She was one of eleven children. As the oldest girl, she began cooking at 9 years old. Cooking and serving others were her special God-given gifts. She loved...

Mar 11, 2018

Norma Helen Barnes of Durango Colorado died on March 11, 2018. Norma was born in July 1927 in Santa Monica, California. Norma met her future husband Jim when he was on liberty from the Navy. Norma and Jim were married in 1947. They had 3 children together, Mike, Carol an Lori. Since James was raised in Colorado, it became their...

Mar 5, 2018

Marijean "Jeanie" Riley passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 5th, 2018. Born July 22, 1967 in Wichita Falls, Texas she moved to Pagosa Springs at the age of 10. Since then, she has been a life-long resident of Pagosa Springs, raising two kids in the beautiful mountain town. Known for her amazing work ethic, she worked at various...

Mar 3, 2018

A loving husband, father, son and brother has been delivered into the hands of our loving Father and Savior. Paul L. Gervais passed away on March 3, 2018 with full love in his heart. Paul grew up in the Springfield, Massachusetts area where, as a young boy, he liked to dress up as Paul McCartney with a wig and toy...

Feb 28, 2018

Connie Hunt passed away on February 28th, 2018. She was born in Bonham, Texas on May 3rd, 1940. She graduated from Monterrey High School in Lubbock, Texas. She worked at the Texas Highway Department for several years. Connie was very talented and loved to decorate, sew, cook, make crafts and could paint with the best of painters. She loved to...

Feb 25, 2018

While holding the hand of his wife, Bob J. Tilllerson was taken home to God on February 25, 2018. Born September 16, 1926 to Varnie Maston and Julia Leo Tillerson in Wichita Falls, Texas. Bob was an active Boy Scout and graduated from Wichita Falls Senior High School in 1943. He attended Hardin Junior College (now Midwestern State University) for...

Feb 25, 2018

Feb 24, 2018

James M. Cornett Sr., 66 years, of Dayton, Ohio, died 2/24/2018 at his son's home in Bayfield, Colorado. Born 12/9/1951. James is survived by his two sons Jim & Mike Cornett and J.T., his grandson. Jim was a kind & generous man who enjoyed the outdoors. He will be missed dearly as a father, grandfather & friend. No public service...

Feb 24, 2018

Timothy J. Fogarty, 60, Bayfield, Colorado, formerly of Corrales, New Mexico, died February 24, 2018 with family and friends at his bedside. Tim was born June 23, 1957 in Breckenridge, Minnesota to Raymond and Catherine (Pearman) Fogarty. He was the sixth of 14 children and grew up helping on the grain and dairy farm of his parents. Through his mother...

Feb 23, 2018

Don Freemyer succumbed to an insidious and rare form of motor neuron disease known as Progressive Muscular Atrophy on February 23, 2018 in Durango, Colorado at the age of 76. Don was born Norman Don Freemyer on March 7, 1941, in Benkelman, Nebraska, the son of a share cropper. Growing up in Las Animas, CO, if you couldn’t find Don...

Feb 23, 2018

Roger Dennison passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on February 23, 2018, in his home in Farmington, NM, he was 78 years old. Roger was born August 11, 1939 in Mancos, CO to Bud Dennison and Mary Rowe. After his service of 4 years in the U.S. Navy, he met Rita Kimsey and they married October 5, 1962, in Durango,...

Feb 19, 2018

Gary Lee Talley passed away Monday, February 19, 2018, at his home, surrounded by family. He was 83 years old. He was born on Oct 30th' 1934 in Central City, Merrick County, Nebraska he began building electronics with his stepfather where acquired a love of electronics. Gary went to Inglewood High School in California. He became a HAM radio operator...

Feb 12, 2018

Josephine Vigil Small Owens, 96, left this earth peacefully on Monday, February 12, 2018 with her children by her side, to join her parents and be with her Lord and Savior in the glory of heaven. She was born to Jose Abran Vigil, a Basque sheepherder, and Bernarda de la Cruz Vigil, a homemaker and a psychic, on November 17,...

Feb 9, 2018

Betty Joanne Lamke , 91 of Ignacio, Colorado passed on February 9, 2018 in Apache Junction, Arizona due to pneumonia complications with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Betty was born May 12, 1926 in Noblesville, Indiana to Herbert Tishner and Rachel (Goodnight) Tishner. Betty was the only child born to Herbert and Rachel. They moved to Colorado in 1929. Betty graduated...

Feb 7, 2018

Clyde Leonard McFarlin left this Earth on February 7, 2018. He was born on April 3, 1937 on Gammon Ranch near Fondis, Colorado. He spent his childhood with his parents, Jessie Opal and Harry McFarlin, along with his sister, Ramona and brothers, Lloyd and Gary on a farm near Ellicott. He loved spending time with his siblings, playing sports, and...

Feb 6, 2018

Sylvia T. Valdez, 91 of Ignacio, Colorado passed on February 6, 2018 after a prolonged illness. He was the oldest living Southern Ute Indian Tribal member. He was surrounded by family and friends at his home. Sylvia was born March 2, 1926 on the family ranch in Ignacio, Colorado to Jose M. Valdez and Euterpe Taylor. He attended the government...