Paul Dutchie III

Paul Whiskers Dutchie III, died Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, in Ignacio, Colo. He was 21.

Mr. Dutchie was born January 17, 1990, in Shiprock, N.M., son of Benda Kaye Watts and Paul Dutchie. He grew up in Towaoc and attended Cortez Elementary, Manaugh and Mesa School while living in Cortez. In 1998 he moved to Ignacio, where he played football during his junior high and high school years. He also wrestled for the USA Wrestling Team. He worked at various jobs, including as a flagger and he worked for the highway department building fences. He also went to Job Corp in Wyoming and became a certified heavy equipment operator. As a young boy of 13, he became a Sundancer and finished his four years.

He is predeceased by his brother Delroy Bendall Watts Johnson.

He is survived by his mother Benda Kay Watts of Ignacio, and his father Paul Whiskers Dutchie, Jr., of Towaoc; siblings Deroy Shawn Watts of Ignacio and Ephraim Dutchie of Towaoc, cousin sister Bendora and husband Arvin Wall, Cassandra Laner, Adrian and Julie Lane, and Phillip Laner Jr., all of Towaoc; uncle Benjamin and wife Trudy of Farm Creek, Utah; and great-great-grandmother Lola Mike of White Mesa, Utah; aunt Sandra Watts and uncle Joe Hulligan, Jr.; and aunt Jody Hulligan of Towaoc; grandparents, the Santios of Fort Duchesne, Utah; stepfather Wayne Cuthair of Towaoc; and his pride and joy niece Karma Rae Watts of Ignacio; and many uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces of Towaoc and Ignacio.

At 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 10, 2011, friends and family will meet at Hood Mortuary in Durango to escort Paul to 28 Burning Cedar Ave. in Ignacio for a wake. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 11, 2011, at Southern Ute Chapel. Burial will occur at Ouray Cemetery after the service.