Annabel Stickle

Annabel Stickle passed away Saturday, August 7th, from complications of aspiration pneumonia. Annabel was born to George and Grace Lyen on September 17, 1921 in Quaker Street, NY. In 1923, they moved to their family's McCall ranch in Arriola, CO, where they farmed and raised cattle. The family moved to Mancos in 1926 where her father became the local Ford Dealer and also operated a cottage camp for travelers. Annabel and her sister Betty Lou attended Mancos schools until the family moved to Dolores, CO to own and operate the Ford Dealership. In 1939, Annabel graduated from Dolores High School and, in June, she married Gale Plumlee. Into that union Sharon and Ron were born. The family moved to Durango in 1953 where Annabel began a career in school administration for all of District 9-R and after a 24-year stint at Fort Lewis College as the Secretary to the Dean of Students, she retired. In 1970, she married Don Stickle. This loving marriage lasted until Don's passing in 2005.

Annabel is survived by daughter Sharon and son Ron, stepsons Bryan and Eric Stickle, stepdaughter Cindy Dobbs, as well as 5 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Having spent more than thirty-five years in the education sector, Annabel had a positive impact on thousands of students, many of whom stayed in touch over the decades.

Closest to her heart, for all her life, was music. The Big Band era music constantly filled her house. "Keep the music playing", she said often, and it did, through her Alexa during the daytime and in concert on YouTube in the evenings. Some of her favorite memories were of times spent in her 1959 MGA sports car, cruising the mountains of Colorado and driving in Gymkana events.

A memorial service/celebration of life will be held on September 17, which would have been her 100th birthday, at 2:00pm, at Hood Mortuary. It will be live-streamed on Hood Mortuary's YouTube channel for viewing of friends who cannot attend.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to
Fort Lewis College Foundation
1000 Rim Drive
Durango CO 81301

Checks can be made payable to the “Fort Lewis College Foundation” with a note/memo designating the gift for the Music Scholarship/A. Stickle.