Obituaries
Dean Jackson
Feb 1, 2019
Dean William Jackson, 57, of Durango (Bayfield) passed away on February 1, 2019, surrounded by family in Grand Junction, CO. Dean was born on April 14, 1961 to Buddy and Elsie in California at Travis Air Force Base where his father was stationed. Dean moved to Durango with his family in 1974 graduated high school in 1979, and served in...
Sarah Norton Pierce
Jan 27, 2019
Sarah Marguerite Price Norton Pierce was born on January 8, 1915. She passed away on January 27, 2019. She was preceded in death by two husbands: Carlton Carmont Norton (1975) and Joseph Earl Pierce (2008), her brothers and their spouses Paul (Lucille), Louis (Pet), Jack (Marguerite) and Donald (Louise), her daughter Judith A. Bennett, and step-daughter Jeanie Garcia. She is...
Judith Morris
Jan 26, 2019
Judith Eileen Morris, 72, of Cortez, Colorado, died 1/26/2019 at home, surrounded by family. Born 12/3/1946. Judy is survived by her husband, Don R. Morris; two children: Robert L. Morris (Tanya) & Michelle M. Morris; three grandchildren: Kendal Trujillo, Airoughn VanGrandt & Maddisyn VanGrandt. In lieu of flowers donations to Hospice of Montezuma 512 N. Broadway, Cortez, CO 81321. A...
Barbara Toan Denk
Jan 22, 2019
Barbara Jeanette Toan Denk died peacefully on January 22, 2019 at Hospice of Mercy House in Durango, CO after a brief illness. Born April 28,1925, in Perry, NY to Lewis Austin Toan and Jessie Scott Toan, Barbara graduated from Perry High School, and attended Cornell University (1946), where she majored in Home Economics and met the love of her life,...
Jolean Scott
Jan 21, 2019
Jolean, born on August 27, 2009, was diagnosed last August with DIPG, an aggressive brain tumor. She was on the Durango Swim team, Bayfield Baseball, skier, Bayfield and Durango Gymnastics. She fought for her life with the same intensity she played all her sports. Jolean is survived by her parents, Eric and Mia Scott, her siblings Cassidy and Cecil of...
Betty Beasley
Jan 19, 2019
Betty Jean (Harrover) Beasley, 92, of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, passed away on January 19, 2019 at Pine Ridge Extended Care Center. She was born on October 31, 1926 in Alva, Oklahoma, to Benjamin Franklin Harrover and Mary Lockhart Vest. She is survived by her children: son Mark Beasley of Pagosa Springs, daughters Jan Beasley of Pagosa Springs, and Sue Jackson...
Josephine Matthews
Jan 13, 2019
Josephine (Joey) Hayes Matthews was born in Seneca Falls, N.Y. on Nov. 7, 1931 to Marjorie Fisher and Howard Hayes. She met her future husband, George (Matt) Matthews in Miami on vacation. They married and had 3 children, Melissa Evans, Marc Randolph and Darcy Jo. The Matthews family also “adopted” a friend of the family in 1976, Mark (Shorty) Hersh,...
Lynn Mohney
Jan 11, 2019
Lynn W Mohney, a longtime Durango resident, passed away January 11th surrounded by family at the age of 83. Lynn was born in Durango Colorado on October 8th 1935. Lynn attended Animas City school and graduated from Silverton High School in 1953. He joined the US Air Force in 1953 and was stationed in Germany until 1957 when he was...
Donald "Don" Ruth
Jan 8, 2019
Don Ruth passed away at his home on January 8, 2018 with his wife of 54 years by his side. Don was born in Greensburg, KS on August 14, 1941, the third son of Verle and Vila Ruth. When Don was almost four years old, they moved to a farm near Johnson, KS. Don grew up on the family farm....
Orville Hood
Jan 7, 2019
Orville George Hood was born on March 4th 1936 to George Emerson Hood and Edna Shoshoni-Gunn-Hood in Tuba City, Arizona. He is preceded in death by both parents, sister, Lorraine Madelyn Duran and brother, Don Emerson Hood. Orville is survived by one son, Richard Hood, one daughter Debra Hood-Grayley, a younger sister, Joyce Willemina Duran, his grandson, Calvin Hood and...
Norma Lucero
Jan 4, 2019
Norma Lucero, 91 passed away peacefully on the morning of January 4th, 2019. She was surrounded by her loving family and caregivers during the last days of her life. Norma was born in Lumberton, New Mexico, on November 28, 1927 to Celso and Rebecca Lucero. She married her loving husband Ruben Lucero, on January 31, 1946. They made Pagosa Springs,...
Max Martinez
Jan 3, 2019
Max Martinez, 52 years , of Tucson, Arizona, died 1/3/2019 at his home. Born 9/24/1966. He is survived by his siblings Dennis Washington, John Washington, Clara Lucero-Washington, Gilbert Washington Jr., Irvin Casias, Valentino Vasquez, Phillip Martinez, Chris Winterhawk, Matthew Martinez, Mary Jane Martinez, Fabio Martinez, & Mary Martinez. A service will be held at Southern Ute Memorial Chapel, Ignacio, Colorado....
Ruby Loran
Jan 1, 2019
On January 1, 2019, Ruby Maxine Loran of Pagosa Springs went to be with her Lord. She is preceded in death by her parents Reverend C.C and Ruby Lamb and brother Lawrence. She was born October 3, 1929, in Shannon, Texas. She is survived by three children: Tericia Albright of Abilene, Steve Loran of Austin, and Greg Loran (wife Diane)...
Debra Lehl
Dec 31, 2018
Debra Lehl passed away at her home in Durango with her parents by her side on December 31, 2018. Debra was born in Hugo, CO August 10, 1980 to Jerry & Shirley Lehl. Debra moved from the Hugo farm to a ranch in Crawford, CO. Debra attended Crawford Middle School & Hotchkiss High School, where she graduated with honors. She...
Antoinette Perue
Dec 28, 2018
Durango, CO - Toni passed away on December 28, 2018 at Mercy Hospice House in Durango, CO with her daughter Lisa by her side. She was born 84 years ago in Minneapolis, MN where her mother Elizabeth and step-father, George Alt raised her. She graduated from Northrup Collegiate School, MN and went on study at many colleges. She and her...
Lucille Holyoak
Dec 25, 2018
Longtime Durango resident Lucille “Boots” Marie Holyoak died Tuesday, Dec 25th, 2018 at her home. She was 83. Boots was born on September 2nd, 1935 in Yorktown, TX. Later in childhood her family moved to Bisbee, AZ, where she graduated high school. She raised three children in Bisbee before meeting the love of her life, Lyle Holyoak, Boots and Lyle...
Dennis Johnson
Dec 24, 2018
Anyone hearing Dennis Johnson's booming, powerful voice never forgot it. Onstage as King Lear, his "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow!" startled theatre-goers right out of their seats. Dennis's acting days began in 1959 right here in Durango, under Orvis Grout at the Diamond Circle Theatre in our historic Strater Hotel, where his thundering vocal cords often landed...
Twila Brown
Dec 22, 2018
Twila Faye Brown was born February 28, 1958. Twila passed away in her home in the loving arms of her partner, Donna Merchant-Crooks, on December 22, 2018. Twila is the proud granddaughter of the late Faye Brown of Pagosa Springs and the daughter of Warren Joe Brown of Bayfield and Nadine Eva Clouse, deceased. She tended her grandmother’s ranch for...
Roger Kopp
Dec 20, 2018
Roger Alan Kopp, our beloved husband, dad, and grandpa, passed away in his home in Santa Fe on December 20, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; his three children, Greg, Lori, and Duane; and seven grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brother, Glen. Roger was born on February 17, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan to Walter and Dena Kopp....
Bonnie Baker
Dec 15, 2018
Bonnie Jean Baker, 86,of Durango, Colorado, died 12/15/2018 at Mercy Hospice House in Durango, surrounded by family. She was born January 11, 1932 to Don and Sarah Grundvig in Utah. She is survived by sons: Alvin (Jan), Don (Michelle) and Robert Baker; her brother: John Knight; grandchildren: Isaiah, Dustin, Ryan, Casey & Frankie Baker; great-grandson: Rowan Baker. Preceded in death...