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Sheree Kim Adams
Sheree Kim Adams, 42, a founder of the Children's Museum of Durango and a prominent advocate of home schooling, died Monday, Dec. 15, 2003, in Tucson. She died of a rare cancer that caused an infection of her lungs, said her husband, Jim Adams.
Mrs. Adams was born in Florida, the daughter of Angelina Hagan and Arthur Hagan. She grew up in San Diego, where she enjoyed the beach. Later, she graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in French.
She moved to Durango with her husband in 1988, where she actively participated in the family business. She enjoyed softball, racquetball, tennis and hiking.
When her daughters, Kalin and Lauren, were born in Durango in 1989 and 1994, the focus of her life shifted to her children, and it stayed that way until she died.
Mrs. Adams home-schooled both of her children because she loved being with them and watching them grow and thrive. Both children have become accomplished musicians because of her love of music and her ability to communicate that spirit to them.
She was an active participant with her children in many Durango childhood-education programs, including Home Educators for Excellence in Durango, a support group for secular and religious home-school philosophies.
"Kim was a special, one-on-one friend to a diverse network of Durango women, men and children," Mr. Adams said. "Her ability to focus on their individual feelings was a unique gift that we all will miss.
"Her beautiful, warm smile coupled with her passion for living, and her love of children will never be forgotten," he added.
Mrs. Adams is survived by her daughters and husband, of Durango; her mother and brothers, Doug and Brett Hagan, all of the San Diego area, and her father, of Stillwater, Okla.
A memorial service will be held in the San Diego area in late January.
Contributions may be made to The Kim Adams Memorial Fund for Child Education Purposes, The Bank of Durango, 125 Sawyer Drive, Durango, CO 81303.
John ‘Jack’ Mayron Hardin Jr.
John "Jack" Mayron Hardin Jr., 86, who retired to Durango in 1989, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2003, at Mercy Medical Center. He died of pneumonia, said his son, John M. Hardin III.
Mr. Hardin was born Dec. 6, 1917, in Jeffersonville, Ind., the son of Margaret (Ferguson) Hardin and John Hardin. He graduated from high school in Huntington, W.Va., and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
In Natchez, Miss., Mr. Hardin owned and operated his family’s farm and spent years in the bridge and heavy construction industry. He married Evelyn May Hardin in 1964 at Tylertown, Miss. The Hardins moved to Durango in 1989 after Mr. Hardin’s retirement from International Paper Co. after 27 years as a maintenance superintendent.
Mr. Hardin enjoyed scuba diving and traveling extensively.
His special friends, Ashley Dove and Susan Karraker, both of Durango, looked after him at the end of his life.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth Cobb Hardin, and his second wife, Evelyn May Hardin.
He is survived by his son, John M. Hardin, III of Natchez, Miss., and his brother, Edward M. Hardin of Cullman, Ala.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, at Hood Mortuary. The Rev. Myron Darmour will officiate. Cremation will take place at Hood Mortuary Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Health Foundation, Cornerstone Campaign, 375 E. Park Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Gertrude Ella Dunn
Gertrude Ella Dunn, 103, who turned down a chance to type the transcripts of the Nazi war criminal trials in Nuremberg, Germany, to move to Durango, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, in Fontana, Calif.
She died of pneumonia after several years of struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, said her daughter, Janet A. Timm.
Mrs. Dunn was born in England on June 28, 1900, where she worked in the War Office in London maintaining casualty records during World War II. She lived in London until she came to Durango as a war bride in January 1947. After more than four decades in Durango, Mrs. Dunn lived in Ignacio for several years before moving to California in 1996. "She just enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all of her family," Janet Timm said.
Mrs. Dunn was preceded in death by her first husband, Thomas Henry Scott of England, her second husband, Joseph Dunn of Durango, and her son, Thomas Charles Scott of Sydney, Australia.
She is survived by her daughter Janet of San Bernardino, Calif.; her grandchildren, John Timm of San Bernardino, Jay Timm of Hesperus and Judie Wilson of Escondido, Calif.; and five great-grandchildren.
A private service and cremation took place in San Bernardino, Calif.
Robert G. England
Dr. Robert G. England, the father of Andrew England of Durango, died Dec. 25, 2003, of natural causes at his home in Carlinville, Ill. He was 76.
Dr. England was born July 31, 1927, in Denver to Charles Edward England and Emma Grace (Gale) England. He started a family practice in Carlinville in the 1950s, and he worked in the emergency room at Carlinville Area Hospital.
Dr. England served in the Navy during World War II.
He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Carlinville, the Carlinville Volunteer Fire Department, and the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. England's wife, Helen Marie (Meyer) England, died Nov. 21, 2003. The couple married June 2, 1963, in Carlinville.
Dr. England is survived by sons, Andrew England of Durango, Edward England of Chicago and Fred England of Springfield, Ill.; daughters, Dr. Gale England of Hinsdale, Ill., and Susan Cosenza of Carlinville; and grandchildren, Elvira England, Owen England, Katherine Cosenza, Irene England, Robert England and Annamarie Cosenza.
A funeral service is scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Carlinville. The Rev. John Bettman will officiate.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Heinz Funeral Home, 212 E. Main St. in Carlinville.
Kenneth Leslie Hicks
Kenneth Leslie Hicks, 71, who lived in Durango during the 1950s and 1960s, died Monday, Dec. 21, 2003, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albuquerque. He died of natural causes, said his sister-in-law, Iva Peterson.
Mr. Hicks was born on March 13, 1932, in Bayfield, the son of Nora and Edward Hicks. He attended Durango schools.
Mr. Hicks' last job before he retired in 1989 was as foreman in the General Mills chemical plant in Kankakee, Ill. At the time of his death, Mr. Hicks lived in Farmington.
He enjoyed working in the yard, sharing craft projects with his wife, Evelyn Hicks, and visiting with his friends and relatives.
Mr. Hicks is survived by his wife, of Farmington; his daughters: Sheryl Furtado of Farmington, Linda Frick of South Bend, Ind., Laura Lea Swann of Farmington, and Lenette Thompson of Clifton, Ill.; his sisters: Barbara Allison and Deborah Melton, both of Rocky Ford, Sandra Bind of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Ella Neiman of Phoenix; his grandchildren: Terry Hicks of Orlando, Fla., Danielle Furtado of Farmington, Daniel Furtado of Gustine, Calif., Candice Mason, Mark Frick and Jammie Wagers of South Bend, Tina James of Annezville, Ill., Tamara Stief of O'Fallon, Ill., Donald Swann of Fairview Heights, Ill., Beverly Benz of Oranga, Ill.; his 15 great- grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Cope Memorial Chapel, 404 West Arlington, Farmington. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, also at Cope Memorial Chapel. Burial will take place at Memory Gardens after the funeral.
Margaret Annelly "Peg" Eger Temme
Margaret Annelly "Peg" Eger Temme, 79, who lived in Durango for many years, died on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2003, at Memorial Hospice of Chattanooga, Tenn.
She died of natural causes, said her friend Ginny Elder.
She was the daughter of Nancy "Annie" (Farmer) Eger and Lewis Elvin Eger.
Mrs. Temme served as a Women's Air Service Pilot, in the unit WASP 44-10, ferrying military aircraft during World War II. She learned how to fly a plane before she had ever driven a car.
She was an accomplished horsewoman, an animal lover and a homemaker. She was one of the first people to build in Edgemont Ranch and the ranch's black horse logo was designed after her late, beloved horse, Gambler. Mrs. Temme and Gambler spent many years enjoying riding the trails at Edgemont.
Mrs. Temme was one of the founders of the Hozhoni Riding Program for the disabled. She also volunteered at the La Plata County Humane Society and taught reading for an adult-literacy program.
She was of the Missouri Synod Lutheran faith. She had also lived in Leawood, Kan., when she was younger.
"A true and loyal friend, her sharp wit and sparkling eyes will be missed. She will always be held in loving memory in our hearts," Elder said.
Her husband, Herbert C. Temme, preceded her in death.
She is survived by her sisters, Wilda Newbold of Royal Oak, Mich., and Ona Aten of Miami Shores, Fla.; her children, Linda Wenger of Dayton, Tenn., Dr. Mark Temme of Medford, Wis., and David Temme of Salt Lake City, Utah; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral service and burial took place at Mount Moriah Freeman Cemetery in Kansas City, Mo.
Memorial contributions may be made to the La Plata County Humane Society Equine Relief Fund, P.O. Box 2164, Durango, CO 81302.
Mary Posey Archuleta
Mary Posey Archuleta, a longtime resident of Durango, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003, in Garland, Texas, after a long illness. She was 81.
Mrs. Archuleta, born March 7, 1922, in Archuleta County, was raised by Jack and Emelia (Anaya) Posey. Her biological mother was Maria Romero, of Durango.
She married Kenneth Archuleta on Feb. 1, 1941, in South Fork. The couple lived for many years in Durango. Mrs. Archuleta moved to Garland in 1995. Her husband died in 1990.
Mrs. Archuleta is survived by daughter, Lenora Olguin of Garland; and her sons Kenneth Archuleta Jr., and Marvin Archuleta, both of Garland. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Maureen Gibson of Lewisville, Texas; Don Olguin of Garland; Troy Archuleta of Moberly, Mo.; and Wendy Norris of Forney, Texas. Also surviving Mrs. Archuleta are sister, Veronica Cordova of Durango; and brothers Walter Romero of Ignacio, and Bacilio Romero of Durango. Other survivors include six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Columba Catholic Church. The Rev. James Koenigsfeld will officiate. A rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the church. Burial will occur at Crestview Cemetery in Durango. Visitation will be from noon to 5 p.m. Monday at Hood Mortuary.
Annie C. Gallegos
Annie C. Gallegos, a former resident of Durango, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003, of natural causes at her home in Delta. She was 72.
Mrs. Gallegos was born March 5, 1931, in Durango, the daughter of Lizardo and Francisquita Gallegos. She graduated from Durango High School in 1952 and lived in Durango for several years.
Mrs. Gallegos was a retired civil servant, working for the Forest Service in Pagosa Springs and the Internal Revenue Service in Ogden, Utah. She spent the past 15 years in Delta.
Mrs. Gallegos enjoyed traveling, crocheting, listening to music and making beaded rosaries.
"I'll bet she made a million rosaries," said nephew Rufe Romero. "They were sent to overseas missions."
Mrs. Gallegos was preceded in death by five brothers and two sisters. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with the Rev. Joseph Gallegos officiating. Burial will occur at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango. A rosary service is set at 6 p.m. today.
Tony Onofre Atencio
Tony Onofre Atencio, 75, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003, at his home in Ignacio. He died of a heart condition, said his sister, Tommie Kinney.
Mr. Atencio was born May 21, 1928, in Ignacio, the son of Amelindra (Martinez) Atencio and Abel Atencio. He grew up in Ignacio and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and Korea.
He lived in California and Colorado where he worked as a carpenter.
He married Rhea Kness. The couple later divorced but they remained close.
He then married and divorced Esther Valencia. Again, they stayed in touch.
He retired to ranching in Blanco, N.M., and in Ignacio.
Mr. Atencio was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and loved his pets his dog, Muchito Cabron, and his Jersey cow, the late Willy Tillie hunting and gardening.
"He was a caring person, and he liked to tease the younger kids," Tommie Kinney said.
"He forever had a battle about how to grow trees and retain the putting green on his ranch," said his daughter, Pam Atencio. "He was a very generous man to family and friends."
He was preceded in death by two of his stepchildren, Tina and Manuel Valencia.
He is survived by his mother, of Ignacio; his former wives, Rhea Atencio of Grand Junction and Esther Atencio of Aztec; his sisters: Carmen Della Bosca of Lucerne, Calif., Lucille Reid of Dallas, Tommie Kinney of Ignacio, Ruth Golden of Las Vegas, and Lillian Casias of Clearfield, Utah; his brother, Joe Atencio of Sterling; his daughters: Margaret Pacheco of Marvel, Cindy Svatos, of Glenwood Springs, and Pam Atencio of Louisville; his stepsons: Tommy and Jerry Valencia of New Mexico; his stepdaughters: Connie Herrara, Rose Stoddard, Gloria Valencia and Joann Valencia, all of New Mexico; his 31 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10 a.m. today in St. Ignatius Catholic Church. The Rev. James Koenigsfeld, with St. Columba Catholic Church, will officiate.
Burial will take place at Ignacio Cemetery in Ignacio, with the service performed by Deacon John O'Hare.
