Obituaries
John "George" Etz, Jr.
Mar 11, 2026
John “George” Etz, Jr., 66, of Oxford, Colorado, unexpectedly passed into the arms of Jesus on March 11, 2026. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona to John and Arlene Etz on July 15, 1959. He married his wife, Danene, on August 16, 1980 and had two beautiful daughters, Kathryn “Katie” and Kellie.
He’d been a resident of La Plata County since...
Oracio Juan Montoya
Mar 16, 2026
November 26,1944 -March 16, 2026
Affectionately known as Johnny (John), was a lifetime resident of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, growing up with a deep connection to his community. Born on November 26, 1944, to José Eugenio and Glorificia Montoya.
After graduating from Pagosa Springs High School, he attended Trinidad Junior College. He loved sports and working out. Throughout his life, he held various...
David Alexander
Mar 18, 2026
David Eugene Alexander was born on March 11, 1959, in La Junta, Colorado. He passed away suddenly on March 18, 2026, at the age of 57. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ken and Rose Alexander, and his sister, Lisa Raye Alexander.
He is survived by his loving wife, Carol Alexander; his daughter, Liza Williams (Jason Williams); his two...
Marilyn Ann Fitzpatrick
Mar 17, 2026
Marilyn Ann (Vernon) Fitzpatrick, age 84, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in Pontiac, Michigan, and spent most of her life in Ann Arbor, where she built a life centered on love, faith, and community. A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, music was truly the language of her...
Richard (Rick) Dana Shaw
Mar 3, 2026
Rick died peacefully on March 3, 2026, in Durango, Colorado. Rick was known for his warm smile and the unmistakable twinkle in his blue eyes. He loved gathering around great bonfires, traveling down dusty back roads, and embracing every adventure life had to offer.
Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there remains a trail of beautiful memories.
Rick will be deeply missed...
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,...
Kenneth Edward Zipperer
Mar 1, 2026
Kenneth Zipperer, passed away peacefully in Durango, CO, on March 1, 2026, after a long and full life. He was 96.
Kenneth was born on September 28th, 1929, in Savanah, GA, to Christian and Addie Zipperer. He was the middle child and only son, with both an older and younger sister. He was raised in Miami, FL, where he graduated high...
Ann Perkins-Parrott
Mar 10, 2026
Ann Perkins-Parrott (O’Brien) was born to Barbara (Miller) O’Brien and Chilton O’Brien in Beaumont, TX, on December 11, 1950. After growing up in Beaumont, Ann met Steve Perkins whom she married in 1971 and was the father to six of her seven biological children. In 1991, she moved to Durango with Steve and their five boys (Christopher, Steven, Robert, Benjamin,...
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...
Deacon John Joseph O'Hare
Mar 13, 2026
Deacon John Joseph O’Hare, 89, of Bayfield, CO, died peacefully in his home on Friday, March 13, 2026. John was born on August 26, 1936, in Milwaukee, WI.
John was ordained a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church in May of 1987. He faithfully served numerous parishes for over 40 years. He was also a member of the Knights of Colombus...
Laura Elguezabal-Hickman
Mar 4, 2026
Laura Elguezabal-Hickman of Pagosa Springs, CO passed away peacefully on March 4th, 2026 in Durango, CO.Born in Boise, ID, Laura's adventurous spirit led her to live in Alaska and Louisiana before finally settling in Pagosa Springs in 2007. But wherever she went, her trademark warmth followed. In Pagosa, she became a pillar of the community - caring for animals at...
Sally Florence
Feb 26, 2026
Sally Florence passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on Thursday, February 26, 2026. She was 73.
Born September 16, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio, to John and Winnie-Fred Doeg, she grew up playing tennis in California and later settled in Southwest Colorado, where she cared for her horse, Hungry, and her family. She had a natural gift for hospitality and...
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....
Larry "Tank Scott" Wayne Newsome
Feb 25, 2026
Tank Scott passed away in Durango in the compassionate care of Mercy Hospice on February 25, 2026. Tank was raised on a ranch in Leander, TX. He loved horses and had a connection to them and other animals. They loved him. He was a big guy with a big heart and a deep well of feelings. When you got to...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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