Obituaries

Jan 21, 2015

Anna Richter of Durango passed away January 21st, 2015 at home after a battle with Alzheimer's Disease. She was 87. Anna was born June 11th, 1927 in Yugoslavia, to Michael and Rosalia Mereiter. She was married on March 29, 1948 in Austria to Joseph Richter. The young family moved to New York, in 1952. They later moved to Durango in...

Jan 16, 2015

Libradita (Liva) Pacheco, 89, from Tiffany, Colorado died peacefully on January 16, 2015 at the Sunshine Gardens Country Home with family at her side. Liva was born on July 8, 1925 in Governador, New Mexico to parents Santiago Madrid and Teodorita Sandoval-Madrid. The Madrid family was early settlers originating from the San Luis Valley in the 1800’s eventually settling in...

Jan 15, 2015

Virginia Chavez, 87, passed away on January 15, 2015, surrounded by family. She was born to Nemecio and Cleofes Vialpando in Ignacio, CO, on July 26, 1927. Virginia lived in Ignacio most of her life until she and her husband, Ben Chavez, moved to Pagosa Junction, CO, to farm. Virginia was a homemaker and wonderful cook, especially known for her...

Jan 14, 2015

Charlotte Humiston, 84, of Durango, joined her Heavenly Father peacefully 1/14/2014, in her home from renal failure. Charlotte was born and raised in Berlin, Germany. Charlotte married Lloyd Underwood, a U.S. army sergeant stationed in Berlin in 1950. From there they moved together to the U.S. where they had two children. They divorced and Charlotte married Don Humiston, in Albuquerque....

Jan 14, 2015

Joyel Eleighsha Burbul, a 20-year Pagosa Springs resident, passed away in her home on Wednesday, January 14, 2015. Joyel was born in Philadelphia, PA on January 12, 1943 and relocated as a young adult to Kensington, MD, where she lived for over 30 years. In 1995, she moved to Pagosa Springs with her husband, Joseph, where they enjoyed a happy...

Jan 12, 2015

Jan 11, 2015

Obituary for Grace Coolidge Rice (Marker) Grace Rice, 89, of Durango, passed away peacefully at Four Corners Nursing Home on January 11, 2015. Grace was a member of the “Ladies’ Auxiliary Club,” loved swimming for the “Mermaids,” and an avid lover of animals. Her beloved sisters included; Adah, Kappie and Marian. She was preceded in death by her loving husband,...

Jan 11, 2015

Travis Veaux Blackbird left to be with Our Heavenly Father on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at Mercy Medical Center in Durango, Colorado. Travis was born on August 20, 1973 to Dr. Russell and Mrs. Ann Blackbird. He lived most of his life in Lawrence and Manhattan, Kansas. Travis was a graduate of Lawrence High School; Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas,...

Jan 10, 2015

Obituary for Patricia Joan Mares (Espinosa) Patricia Joan Mares died peacefully on January 10, 2015, at the Sunshine Gardens Country Home memory care facility, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Patricia (Patsy) was born in Santa Fe, NM, March 23, 1936 to Orlando T. Espinosa and Elena Garcia Espinosa. Patsy graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1954 and...

Jan 9, 2015

Our beloved mother passed on during the evening of the 9th of January 2015 in Bayfield, Colorado after a courageous battle with cancer. Marie was born on the 3rd of July 1929 in Bisbee, Arizona to Quentin Walter and Marie Theresa Kane (Kaminski) of Bisbee. Quentin was a Pennsylvania native and an automobile mechanic and salesman. His wife was a...

Jan 8, 2015

Arthur Julius Olson, 77, of Durango, Colorado passed away on January 8, 2015 due to a cardiac arrest. At the time of heart failure he was hiking with his wife of 57­ years, Lucy Olson, love of his life and key to his multiple blessings. Art was born in Denver, Colorado to Paul Julius Olson and Waunita Jimmie Olson (Webb­Rath)...

Jan 7, 2015

The world lost a legend on January 7th, 2015. William (Bill) Ramsey was a native and lifelong resident of New Mexico, who traced his ancestry from Ireland to the hills of Kentucky, and to the cattle country west of the Texas panhandle. Born the youngest son to Frank and Louise Ramsey on May 23, 1944, he spent countless days in...

Jan 6, 2015

Jan 6, 2015

Jan 3, 2015

Clint Bessee , 61, of Durango, died 1/3/2015 peacefully . Born 12/29/1953. Clint lived in Durango for 60 years. He loved to play video games and enjoyed working at South City Market in the video department. Clint is survived by his brother Brian Bessee of Durango and sister Margie Lopez of Mesa AZ. A service will be held at 10:00...

Jan 3, 2015

Hattie Mary Hurchalla of Pagosa Springs died January 3rd, 2015, at Pine Ridge Extended Care Facility in Pagosa Springs, surrounded by her family. She was 87. Hattie was born in Casper, Wyoming on November 16th, 1927 to Albert and Rosamund McLellan. Hattie had 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Her early interests included pursuing her private pilots license, the...

Jan 1, 2015

William Fredrick "Bill" Binger died January 1st, 2015 in Durango. He was 69. Bill was born March 17th, 1945 in Rocky Ford, CO, to Wilfred and Maxine Binger. He grew up in Rocky Ford and his family moved to Durango in the 1950's. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. While serving, he was in the Honor...

Jan 1, 2015

Leland Bancroft Burr, 85, longtime Durangoan passed away on January 1, 2015. Leland was born July 10, 1929, in Colorado Springs to Leland and Marian Burr. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Donna, daughters Betty Aten, Loveland, Linda Gann, Denver, and 4 grandchildren. Moving to Durango in 1957 to work for Mountain Bell, he retired in 1990...

Jan 1, 2015

Bayfield resident Leon Newman was born July 18, 1962 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, to James and Louise Newman. He died on January 1, 2015, from a massive hemorrhagic bleed resulting from a collision. He was 52. Leon grew up in Dallas, Texas. He was a talented performer in stage productions in college and Dallas’ famed Theatre Three. His most recognized role...

Dec 30, 2014

Obituary for Antonio Jose "Tony" Gallegos Antonio "Tony" J. Gallegos , 86, of Ignacio, CO, died 12/30/2014 peacefully with family . Born 9/3/1928. Tony was an amazing carpenter. Survived by wife Mary, children Margaret, David, Cindy & Kathi, 13 grandchildren & 9 great grandchildren. His siblings Grace, Yolanda, Arturo & Ramon. He is preceded in death by sons Lonnie, Frank...