Lana Wilson

Lana Margaret Barrett Wilson died in the early morning hours of March 24, 2018. Although she had congestive heart failure, breast cancer which should have killed her 3 years ago, arthritis in every known joint and then some, her death was the culmination of having lived 95 plus years. She was the third child born to P.A. and Maud Walker Barrett on August 10, 1922, in Charleston, Arkansas. Her family moved to Cañon City, Colorado in time for her to start first grade. She was preceded in death by her two siblings, Nina Rockhold of Durango and Fred Barrett of Vancouver, WA.

After high school graduation and after she had just turned 18 years old, she married T. Harold Wilson. At the time, Harold was the ripe old age of 23. They had been engaged ever since Lana was 15! They honeymooned in Mexico, driving a 1932 Plymouth, which had a flat tire every ten miles, then settled in Durango in the house on Third Avenue where they lived and reared their family until their respective deaths. The Wilson family has been in continual residence there since 1926. This was where Lana began her progression from a non-cook who only knew how to fix salads for her starving husband to an excellent and adventurous cook who entertained frequently and taught her children how to be good little scullery workers. Many a Sunday dinner was started in the oven before church so that friends and visitors to church could be invited home for the meal. They made many new friends this way and also stayed in touch with life-long friends.

Music always was a major factor in Lana’s life. (And that’s “Lana” pronounced, “Layna!”) She began in grade school singing and playing the piano and continued with many performances during school and the rest of her life. She lost track of the number of weddings, funerals and church events for which she and sometimes she and Harold sang. The commitments she made were long term: God and church, her family, her friends. Shortly after coming to Durango, she was invited by Eleanor Kroeger to join a women’s sewing club where they sometimes even sewed. She remained a member for close to 65 years and was the last original member. She was the driving force behind getting the funding, permits and artisans for restoring the beautiful stained glass windows in the First Baptist Church. She and Harold fulfilled many roles there during their years of membership.

After selling their store, Wilson Furniture on Camino del Rio, Lana and Harold enjoyed international travel and extensive travel in the U.S. in order to visit their far-flung children and families.

Lana was able to stay in her home until eleven days before her death at Hospice House at Mercy, where she was lovingly and tenderly cared for. She is survived by her eldest daughter, Teddy Snow (Carl) of Twin Falls, ID, her middle daughter Nancy Mills of Durango, and her youngest, son Mark Wilson of New York City. She also is survived by four grandchildren: Robyn (Norman) Wright of Filer, ID, and their two sons, Isaac and Noah; Ryan (Rhonda) Snow of Twin Falls, McKenna Mills, Brent Mills (Sara Ghafouri) of Portland, OR. She also leaves several nieces and nephews who were dear to her and friends—her many, wonderful friends. Her youngest daughter, Michal Elizabeth, died in 1974, her son-in-law, Kent Mills in 2006 and her husband, Harold, in 2007.

A service will be held at the First Baptist church on Third Avenue in Durango at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 14, 2018. A reception will be held there following the service. Any donations in Lana’s memory may be made to First Baptist Church of Durango, Hospice of Mercy or a place of your choice.