Obituaries

Aug 24, 2021

Rodney Martin Ems was born April 15, 1947 in San Bernardino, CA to Wesley and Eleanor Ems. He died August 24, 2021 in Durango, CO after a courageous battle with cancer. Rod graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 1970 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He married Joan, the love of his life, in 1975, and together they moved to...

Aug 24, 2021

Carlos Alires, 32,of Cortez, Colorado, died 8/24/2021in Durango. Born 12/31/1988. He is predeceased by his Grandpa's: Tommy Alires & Bob Perez. He is survived by his children: Lazaro, Leticia, Losita, Aaliyah , Jeremiah, Whiley, Josiah; his wife: Jessika Alires; his parents: Jeannette & Chris Alires; Sisters: Khrissy, Sheniqua, Xeviera; Grandparents: Josie & Charlie Martinez: Grandma: Anna Mae Alires and numerous...

Aug 23, 2021

Nick grew up in Ontario, CA. He left "the land of fruits and nuts" (CA) in the mid 60s and ventured toward the mountains, eventually settling in Durango in the mid 70's. He had a love of cars and an affinity for fixing things. He owned his own automotive shop ("Car Sick? Call Nick!) for several years before opting to...

Aug 21, 2021

Carolyn Bernice Bowra (Bernice) passed away on August 21, 2021 in Durango. She was born on June 30, 1927 in Aztec, New Mexico to Jack B. and Reola (Sharp) Gardner. Raised in the farming community of Cedar Hill, she attended the Cedar Hill School. In the 6th grade she began attending school in Aztec, graduating from high school there in...

Aug 20, 2021

Becky was born in Durango on May 21, 1943, to Rachel and Charles Probst. Becky was raised in Durango and Silverton, graduating Durango High School in 1961 and leaving Durango shortly after, to move to California as her first husband Joe Aber was in the Navy. While in California Becky gave birth to her first son Edward J. Aber, and...

Aug 20, 2021

Paul George Reed passed away on August 20th, 2021 at his home north of Durango. He was born September 26th, 1950 to Edith and Ed Reed in Fort Worth, Texas. He came to the San Juan Mountains as a child, when his parents would vacation at the Columbine Guest Ranch just south of Purgatory Ski Resort. They loved the area...

Aug 19, 2021

Laverne was born November 17, 1948 to Gladys & Elmer Davies in Durango. She graduated from Durango High School in 1968. She married in 1969 and had her daughter Brenda Jones the joy of her life. The marriage ended in divorce. In 1994 she married the love of her life Richard Madrid. She was a loving, giving soul. Laverne loved...

Aug 19, 2021

James O. Fisher passed away on August 19, 2021 at the age of 91 in Durango, CO. He was born April 20, 1930 in Flint, MI to Daniel and Rosamonde (Outwater) Fisher. The family moved to Aurora, IL in approximately 1940 where he was raised with his younger brother, Daniel. During his childhood, his grandfather and parents taught him to...

Aug 18, 2021

Stephen Joseph Schlageter, 76, of Durango, Colorado, died 8/18/2021, at his home, Born 11/17/1944. A service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, August 28, 2021 at Hood Mortuary Chapel, Durango, Colorado. He was a deputy at the La Plata County Jail, served in the U.S. Navy and has been actively involved in the Kiwanis Club of Durango, having served...

Aug 16, 2021

On the sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord, two thousand twenty-one, Lloyd Joe Lucero, Sr., of Ignacio, CO, was called to be with our Heavenly Father. Lloyd was born February 7 1950 in Monte Vista CO to John and Macedonia Lucero. He was born 3rd out of 9 siblings. He grew up in Bay fi el...

Aug 10, 2021

Born on November 21, 1978, Jeff went to be with the Lord on August 10, 2021. He was born in Durango, Colorado on November 21, 1978. Where does a Mother begin to tell a story of her son Jeffrey. On the day he was born in Durango, November 21, 1978, he had to fight hard to live, as he contracted...

Aug 8, 2021

Aug 7, 2021

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...

Aug 5, 2021

Toniette Rea Baca-Lopez left mother earth to join her family on August 5, 2021 in Denver Colorado, she was 48 years old. Toniette Baca-Lopez was born at Mercy Medical Hospital on September 21, 1972, to Renee Cloud of Ignacio Colorado and late Father Robert "Larry" Baca of Seattle Washington. She was married to late Felipe Lopez, they have three children,...

Aug 3, 2021

Mary Ramona Archuleta, 66, of Durango, Colorado, died 8/3/2021, surrounded by family, Born 3/28/1955. She is survived by her children: Malissa Shefferd and Matthew (Marquetta Cloud) Archuleta; siblings: Gilbert, John and Irene Archuleta; grandchildren: Chad, Jordan and Devin Shefferd and Mark Cotton-Archuleta. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; Parents: Alfonso and Mary B. Archuleta; and brother: Gabriel...

Aug 2, 2021

Durango resident Dr. Harrold S. Shipps, Jr., 98, died in Durango, on the morning of August 2, 2021, of natural causes. Dr. Shipps often reflected with pleasure on his two separate careers, military and academic, and his service as an elected member of the Durango City Council. He was born to Harrold and Mary Wimberly Shipps in Macon, Georgia, on...

Aug 2, 2021

Jadah Ann Willmett passed away Monday, August 2, 2021. She was 21 years old. Jadah was born July 14, 2000, in Denver, Colorado. She grew up in Durango and attended Durango Schools. She was active in the choir and played the guitar. Jadah was a servant at heart as she always worked in different service related jobs. She touched so...

Aug 1, 2021

Saxche Nanne O’Keefe Jones, 86, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home, Sunday, August 01, 2021. She was born December 24, 1934 in Pampa, Texas to Rufus Earl O’Keefe and Saxche Simms O’Keefe. Nanne is preceded in death by both of her parents and her sister Kitty “Tinka” Simms O’Keefe. She is survived by her husband of 65 years...

Jul 27, 2021

Donald E. Briggs passed away peacefully in Colorado Springs, Colorado on July 27, 2021 at the age of 92. Don was born in Tigertown, Texas on July 10, 1929 to Ervin Delany and Ora Ethel Hudgens Briggs. In 1934, he moved with his parents and four siblings to Dove Creek, Colorado. In 1948, he joined the U.S. Navy and spent...

Jul 20, 2021

Wilford "Willy" Reynolds, 79, of Durango, CO died on July 20, 2021, while at his home with family at his side. He was born on July 31, 1941. He is survived by his wife, Dixie Baker; his sons: Jeffrey and Randolph; daughter-in-law Patricia; grandchildren: Joshua and Jessica and his sister, Annette Anthony. Willy was an avid hunter and fisherman and...