Otis Briggs

Otis Edison Briggs, 93, died Saturday, November 23, 2013 at Homelake Veterans Facility in Monte Vista, Colorado. Private family services will be held and burial will occur at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango. Mr. Briggs was born April 16, 1920 in Paris, Texas the son of Ervin Delany and Ora Ethel Briggs. He grew up in Paris and his family moved to Dove Creek, Colorado, in his teen years. Edison, as he was known, enlisted in the US Army Corp on December 19, 1941 during World War II after being denied entry into the Navy due to his weight. He spent five months in aircraft mechanics school. After that he trained bomber crews on B-17s and B-24s. He was discharged on November 28, 1945, but then reenlisted in 1948. He was sent to the Korean War to maintain the B-29s and was station in Japan for four years. He was discharged May 5, 1953. One of Briggs’ greatest memories was getting the B-29 bombers ready for the Berlin Airlift in 1948. After his honorable discharge from the Air Corp, he continued his aircraft maintenance skills with Boeing Aircraft, then he began working as a civilian at Hill Air Force Base in Layton, Utah. He was married to Marilyn Smith on December 18, 1945 in Vale, Oregon. Edison retired in 1973 and moved to Hesperus, Colorado, near the old Ft. Lewis Campus. He and Marilyn moved to Aztec – Just south of the Colorado State line in the early 1980’s. He made the move to Monte Vista, Homelake Veterans Center in March 2013. He enjoyed collecting guns and weaponry as well as re-loading and crafting custom made shells. Also, he was an avid “metal detector” and enjoyed fishing and the outdoors. Edison hand built his homes in Hesperus and Aztec and excelled in and enjoyed carpentry crafts. He was an active member of the Faith Church of the Nazarene in Durango until his move to Monte Vista. He is survived by his children: Judy Edgerly of Spokane, Wash., Cathy Briggs of Cedar Hill, N.M., and Tammie Coe of Liberty Lake, Wash.: Siblings: Donald Briggs of Durango, Nola Faye Clouse of Oakland, Calif., and Lee Briggs of Cedar Hill, N.M., 13 Grandchildren, and 17 Great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn in 1990, two Daughters: Loretta Briggs and Mae Rodes, a brother, Elzie Briggs, and his parents. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Faith Nazarene Church, 1400 Highway 172, Durango, CO. 81301