Obituaries

Jun 23, 2020

Mary Sue VandenBrink was born May 28, 1938 in Sioux City. The place she has always called home. She spent her childhood there with her loving parents George and Lucille VandenBrink and brother John. Then they lived in Omaha for a bit before moving to Towson, MD when she was in high school. That was where she met Don Loweree....

Jun 21, 2020

Jeremy John Cuthair passed away Sunday, June 21, 2020. He was 43 years old. Jeremy was born July 19, 1976 to Larry Floyd Cuthair and Evelyn Gay Shelton in Durango, CO. He was a member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Jeremy loved his people and his culture. He became the Catman for Southern Ute Bear Dance. Jeremy was known...

Jun 20, 2020

Mark Richard McWhirter October 16, 1959 - June 20, 2020 Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Uncle and Friend Mark Richard McWhirter, of Durango, Colorado, age 60, passed away unexpectedly at home on Saturday, June 20, 2020. Beloved husband of Machelle McWhirter. Cherished father of Matt McWhirter (Victoria), Jennifer McWhirter (Seth Kelly), and Madison McWhirter (Tanner Reidy). Respected Step-father of DJ Morris...

Jun 19, 2020

Margaret Jillian Short, who is known by most people as Jill Short, passed away on the evening of June 19th, 2020 surrounded by family and loved ones. She was 78. She was born in Leicester, England to Theresa May Idiens and Arthur Surch. When she was 17 she met her first husband Lyle R. Short. She followed him back to...

Jun 18, 2020

After a long, fulfilling life of 98 years, Betty Gale Hogan passed away on June, 18, 2020. She was born on November 22, 1921 in Ridgeway, Colorado. She married the love of her life, Gerald Hogan, on December 2, 1944. Together they had five children and she continued raising them with love and dedication after his death in 1961. Skiing...

Jun 14, 2020

Jun 14, 2020

Glen Daryl Rayburn went to be with Jesus on June 14, 2020. Glen was the son of Gerald and Sylva Rayburn, and he was born in Seaside, Oregon on December 11, 1952. Raised in Akron, Ohio, Glen was a graduate of North High School and received a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science from Youngstown State University. He served in the...

Jun 12, 2020

Celebrating the life of Louis Ruben Perez, Jr. also known as “Sonny” & “Ruben.” Born June 28, 1934 and passed peacefully in his sleep at home with family by his side on June 12, 2020 at 85 years old, he is now home with his Heavenly Father. Louis was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and had many friends and...

Jun 7, 2020

On June 7, 2020, at the age of 89, our beautiful mother, Juanita Jaramillo Gallegos passed from this life into the next to be with her Lord and Savior. Juanita was born May 18, 1931 to Eudoro and Pilar Jaramillo, near Lumberton, New Mexico. She was the fourth of nine children and the eldest daughter. Juanita was raised on a...

Jun 6, 2020

James “Jim” “Granny” Granflaten, 80, of Durango, Colorado passed away on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Jim was born in Madison, SD in 1940 to Glen and Gladys Granflaten. He grew up on the family farm in Franklin, SD. Jim married Doris DeBoer in May of 1960. In the fall of 1962, after the birth of their daughter, Lori, and the...

Jun 4, 2020

Jun 3, 2020

Mr. Richard "Rick" Lee Loether passed away peacefully on June 3, 2020, following a lengthy struggle with cancer. Rick was born September 1, 1946, in Wichita, KS, to Guy E. and Novella M. (Thompson) Loether. He moved to Durango with his family in 1952. After graduation from Durango High School in 1965, he joined the U.S. Air Force where he...

Jun 1, 2020

Clara Christine Slade Gillen, age 85, peacefully departed this world June 1st, 2020 at her home in Red Mesa, Colorado. Born in Durango Colorado on July 31st, 1934; married to Ronald LeRoy Gillen. Clara, or as most knew her, Christine was a woman of faith, family, and traditions. Born in the Community Hospital of Durango, the eldest child and daughter...

May 31, 2020

Chandler Herrera passed away Monday, May 31, 2020, at Mercy Medical Center. He was surrounded by his family. Chandler was born on December 28, 1962. He is preceded in death by his parents Vonestine William and Javin Herrera. Chandler was a life long resident of Ignacio. He worked for the Colorado Department of Transportation for 25 years from which he...

May 26, 2020

Francisco “Frank” Arthuro Lopez, Sr. passed away on May 26, 2020, he 69 years old. Frank was born in Durango, CO on Sept. 11, 1950 to Julian & Teofila Lopez. He was 1 of 7 children. He graduated Durango High School. He went to butcher school in Trinidad, CO. He went to police academy & became an officer for the...

May 23, 2020

Elmer Dean Hobson (Dean) passed away on May 23, 2020 of complications of congestive heart failure. Dean was born in Topeka, Kansas on May 29, 1945. Dean's family moved often in his childhood. By the time he graduated high school, he had lived in 36 residences across multiple states. After graduating high school, Dean entered the United States Air Force....

May 20, 2020

May 19, 2020

May 19, 2020

Kelly Wayne Turner, 61, of Durango Co, died 05.19.2020. Born to Cecil Turner and LaNeil Eikelman Turner 10.05.1958 in Durango. Kelly graduated from Durango High School. He was known for his distinct laugh and infectious smile and wicked sense of humor. Growing up, Kelly worked many years at Lori's Family Dining. Kelly was an excellent Line Cook who expected the...

May 14, 2020

Dad got a kick out of the saying: "The only bad luck in life is bad health, the rest is just inconvenience." This was a favorite quote of our father, Gerald Lynn Cochran, who passed away on Thursday, May 14th, 2020. 'Jerry,' loving Dad of two daughters, Natalie and Andrea, was 80 years young when he crossed over to be...