Obituaries

Aug 27, 2022

Donald William “Billy” Rock was born on March 27, 1933 at Taylor Hospital in Ignacio Colorado. Donald passed away on August 27, 2022 surrounded by family. He attended the Ute Vocational school in Ignacio. He then enlisted in the US Army as a medic and was stationed in France. Donald worked for the Southern Ute Tribal Maintenance for 30 years....

Aug 25, 2022

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 10am at Madrid Cemetery. Questions or directions, email daughter, Emberle at emberle_montoya@yahoo.com.

Aug 25, 2022

Christina Leigh Vaughan May 16, 1975 - August 25, 2022 Christie flew to be with her angels during the early morning of August 25th at the young age of 47 after succumbing to cancer. Affectionately known to those who knew and loved her as Tiny, Chrissy-tina and "Christie Sol", she was definitely a ray of sunshine in our lives. Born...

Aug 23, 2022

Jeanne N. Vaala, (Olson) 86, of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, peacefully passed away on August 23rd, 2022. In Lieu of Flowers, the family has requested that you consider making a donation to the Pagosa Springs Humane Society in honor of her life. The donation Link is: InMemoryPagosa.com Jeanne was born to Nathan and Cora (Michaelson) Olson on June 19, 1936 in...

Aug 23, 2022

Dennis Patrick Brennan, 68, of Durango, Colorado, passed away on August 23, 2022. Denny was born in Durango to Charles and Joanne Brennan on May 21, 1954. Denny worked for the Brennan Oil Company for nearly 50 years. He loved golf and football (especially the Colorado Buffaloes and the Denver Broncos.) Denny was an athlete in his youth. He often...

Aug 23, 2022

Opal M. Morgenthaler passed away on 8/23/ 2022, at Jacob’s Care Center in Rogersville, MO after a long battle with dementia. Opal was born on October 12, 1925, in Tiffany, Colorado to Walter and Gladys Morris. She was the 5th of 8 children born to the family. Opal grew up on a small farm near Tiffany, CO during the Great...

Aug 21, 2022

She was a loving mother, grandmother, daughter and friend. She loved to help anyone she came in contact with, which made nursing the perfect career for her. She showed her patients the same care and compassion that she shared with her loved ones. She loved to adventure and explore, scuba diving and seeing live music. Karen is survived by her...

Aug 19, 2022

Doris Evelyn Babb Andrews was born in Fort Worth, TX on November 10, 1931 to Foy and Winnie Babb. She graduated from Northside High School in Fort Worth and got a degree in teaching at Texas Weslyan College in 1953. She was married in 1952 to Jay Andrews and raised a daughter and two sons. She taught school for several...

Aug 19, 2022

Josette Chacon, 58, a lifelong resident of Durango passed away peacefully on August 19, 2022, surrounded by her beloved family. Josette was born in Durango on October 28, 1963 to Max and Joyce Chacon. She went to Needham Elementary, Miller Middle School and graduated from Durango High School. She then completed 2 years at Fort Lewis College. She met her...

Aug 18, 2022

Warren “Joe” Brown graduated from this life peacefully August 18th at his Bayfield home with loving family including grandson/caregiver Coltin Duran and wife Bree by his side. Joe was born May 31st 1927, second of two sons to Raymond & Faye Brown in Pagosa Springs. Joe was an avid hunter and fisherman and was always known as a jokester. He...

Aug 14, 2022

Larry Simmons, 82, passed away surrounded by his sons and family, on August 14, 2022 in Phoenix, AZ. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Greenmount Cemetery. Larry was born on August 29, 1939 in Dolores, Colorado to J.D. and Elda Simmons. He grew up in Durango, graduated from Durango High School,...

Aug 13, 2022

John Robert Poer, 86, of Yacolt, Washington, died 8/13/2022 surrounded by family in Battle Ground, Washington. Born 1/28/1936. He is survived by his wife, Diane & her sons, Bryan & Michael Kelly & their families; siblings: Nancy Ryan, Marie (John) Malarsie, Helen Gardiner, Patty (Butch) Prior, Margaret Poer (Allen Small), Jerry (Kris) Poer, Tom (Shawn) Poer and Rick Poer; and many extended family and friends; He was...

Aug 7, 2022

Sophia (Sophie) Marie Horvath was born June 11, 1987 in Durango, Colorado to Dale and Frances Horvath. The second of five children, she grew up and lived on the Dryside, west of Marvel, Colorado and attended school at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary, Escalante Middle School and Durango High School. Sophie grew up in a close knit family and community. She...

Aug 5, 2022

Elizabeth Ann Leidy left us to walk with Jesus on August 5, 2022, at 10:44 pm, in her home with her husband, Kent, and daughter, Trinette, by her side. She was born and raised in Farmington, New Mexico, on March 18, 1958, to Bradford Weldon and Barbara Jean Willis (Bowman). She grew up with her older brothers, Joe, Al, and...

Aug 5, 2022

John William West of Durango, Colorado, a devoted Colorado outdoors enthusiast, passed away after a hard-fought battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) on August 5th, 2022. He was 76. John was born in Wichita, Kansas on May 6, 1946 to James and Mary Lou West. His family made the fortunate decision to move to Durango in 1957 where John eventually...

Aug 2, 2022

Carl Elmer Strohecker went to live with his Savior in the early morning of August 2, 2022. He was born on February 25, 1936 in Halifax, PA to Elmer and Dorothy Strohecker. He was the second of four children, he has an older sister and a younger brother and sister. He was a proud veteran having served in the Air...

Jul 25, 2022

Nichole Shannon Thames of Pagosa Springs, passed on July 25, 2022, she was 39 years old. Nichole was born September 21, 1982 in California. After graduating Pagosa Springs High School in 2000, she enjoyed a life with her family, friends, and adventures as often as life would allow. Her love of the outdoors led to family camping trips to the...

Jul 22, 2022

A Life Well Lived! Leslie C. Lynch (Les) was born in1950 in Illinois to Owen and Janet Lynch, the eldest of four children. He was gathered into the arms of his Heavenly Father July 2022. For over two years he battled cancer, but the cancer did not define him. Rather his experiences and accomplishments shaped his life. Les was a...

Jul 20, 2022

Frederick W. Sorenson, Jr, age 85, of Pagosa Springs, CO, passed away suddenly on July 20, 2022. Junior, also affectionately known as “Pa,” was born on September 2, 1936, to Frederick W. Sorenson (Billy) and Gertrude Kingsley in Pagosa Springs, CO. The Sorenson family came to Pagosa Springs in 1902 from Kankakee, Illinois, settling near Chimney Rock. Junior was an...

Jul 19, 2022