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Brook LeAnn Wood (11/7/2006)
Brook LeAnn Wood died in Albuquerque on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006.
She was a stillborn infant.
The mother, Korin Wood, delivered the baby on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006.
"She lives in heaven and in our hearts," Korin Wood said.
Brook is survived by her parents, Nick and Korin Wood, of Aztec; brother, Levi Wood, of Aztec; grandparents Doug and Ty Wood of Hesperus and Barry and Dawn Mason of Marvel; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. today, Nov. 7, 2006, at Greenmount Cemetery.
Dovie Earnesteen Roberts (11/7/2006)
Durango resident Dovie Earnesteen Roberts, 88, died in Durango on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006.
The cause of death was chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
She had moved to Durango in March 1997.
Mrs. Roberts was born to Joshua and Ophelia Ford in Sardis, La., on March 1, 1918.
She was one of 14 children, and 12 of her siblings preceded her in death.
She graduated from Oak Grove High School in Sabine Parish, La.
She completed 3½ years at Northwestern State College in Nachitoches, La.
In 1941, she married Jack Roberts. Mrs. Roberts retired from Texas Instruments, where she had tested transistors.
"She was a loving, wonderful person," her granddaughter Laura Matchette said.
"Everyone that met her, liked her."
Mrs. Roberts was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Roberts, in 1997 and her infant daughter Wanda Sue Roberts.
She is survived by her daughter Betsy McVean of Durango; sister Betty Reimers of Waskum, Texas; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. today, Nov. 7, 2006, at Hood Mortuary Chapel.
The Rev. Gary Harpel will officiate.
Hayden Anne Simon (11/6/2006)
Durango resident Hayden Simon died at Children's Hospital in Denver on Wednesday, Nov. 1. She was 10 days old.
Hayden and her twin sister, Hailey Elizabeth, were born to Jennifer and Chip Simon at Mercy Regional Medical Center on Oct. 21, 2006.
"Precious little Hayden was in our lives for a very short time," her family wrote, "and we are blessed and honored to have shared that 10-day period with her.
It was evident from her dramatic entry into this earthly plane that she was strong, spirited and lively.
A hospital nurse named her 'Tiger Woman' the first day, and everyone who knew her laughed at how lively and feisty she was.
She had a mighty spirit, and she changed our lives in ways that we recount with great joy and emotion."
A celebration of Hayden's life will be held at 3 p.m. today, Nov. 6, 2006, at the Fort Lewis College Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to Hospice of Mercy, 375 E. Park Ave., Suite 100, Durango, CO 81301.
John Newton Higby II (11/6/2006)
John Newton Higby II, 78, who dedicated his life to fighting fires, died Friday, Nov. 3, 2006, at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango.
According to his son, John Higby III, the cause of death was complications from heart disease and diabetes.
Mr. Higby, the son of John and Hazel Higby, was born Oct. 30, 1928, in Whittier, Calif.
He attended schools in Glendale, Calif., and earned a degree from the University of Redlands in Redlands, Calif.
He had been married to Arvella Higby for 42 years.
Mr. Higby retired from Los Angeles County Fire Department as a training officer and never stopped working with young people who wanted to be a firefighter.
A one-time member of the Durango Fire Department board of directors, he taught fire science after his retirement at San Juan Basin Area Vocational-Technical School in Cortez.
He also taught at Ventura Community College.
"His legacy is the hundreds of firepersons he trained," wrote his son, a retired fire captain.
Mr. Higby's adopted son, Stanley Perkins, is also a retired fire captain.
Mr. Higby served as president of the Rotary Club in Ojai, Calif., and was a Paul Harris Fellow. The Higbys moved to Durango 20 years ago.
Mr. Higby was active in Big Brothers Big Sisters. He served in the Navy in World War II and was a member of the local American Legion.
Mr. Higby's son said his father was a cheerful and kind man, and Mr. Higby's wife always introduced him as the "World's Best Husband."
His best friends, Deputy Fire Chief Dan Noonan and Pat Kelley, were with him when he died.
Survivors include his wife, Arvella Higby of Durango; daughters, Chessa Gill of Durango and Donna Galli; son, John N. Higby III; 12 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and his adopted son, Stanley Perkins.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, 2501 West Burbank Blvd., Suite 201, Burbank, CA 91505. The phone number is (800) 242-BURN.
A graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006, at Hermosa Cemetery.
A celebration of his life will follow at 6 p.m. at the Higby home in North Dalton Ranch, 48 Inverness Place.
Phyllis Schools Case (11/5/2006)
Durango native Phyllis Schools Case died in Albany, Ore., on Friday, Oct. 27, 2006.
She was 86.
She was born in Durango on Nov. 12, 1919 and graduated from Durango High School in 1937.
Mrs. Case went on to study at the college level in Denver.
Her family said that when she was young, Mrs. Case was "vibrant and driven."
She left Durango at the age of 21 to go to Washington D.C., where she worked for several U.S. representatives as well as a U.S. senator.
She remained there through World War II.
After the war, Mrs. Case moved to Greensboro, N.C., where she assisted clients in building industrial plants.
Her family said she got to travel all over the country influencing governors and industry leaders.
In 1965, she met and married Bernard C. Case.
The couple moved to Chicago, where Mr. Case was president of Sunbeam Corporation.
Mrs. Case worked for Continental National Bank and Trust Co. in the area-development division.
The family said that both Mr. and Mrs. Case were "extremely successful" in their careers.
Although Mrs. Case had no children of her own, she adopted Mr. Case's family.
In 1971, the Cases decided to slow things down and moved to a 5-acre tract in Logsden, Ore.
While in Oregon, Mrs. Case worked in the personnel and development departments at Pacific Community Hospital for more than 15 years.
She also worked her way up to the presidency of the hospital's foundation and was made an honorary member.
Her family said she was most proud of that honor, and was glad she was able to do so much for her community.
Mrs. Case moved to Quail Run in Albany, Ore., in 2001.
"She was a loving wife, devoted Christian and a loyal friend," her family wrote.
"She lived well in ways not measured by wealth or possessions.
She laughed often.
She loved much. She gave back to her church and community.
She was educated and devoted to sharing of that knowledge.
She always looked for the best in others and gave the best she had."
Mrs. Case was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard C. Case.
She is survived by two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; several nieces; one grandniece and one grandnephew.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006, at Logsden Neighborhood Church,
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Logsden Neighborhood Church, 6631 Logsden Road, Logsden, OR 97357.
Jean Elizabeth Lenz (11/5/2006)
The mother of Durango resident Johanna Fusco, Jean Elizabeth Lenz, died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, at Brandon Woods Retirement Community in Lawrence, Kan. She was 90.
Mrs. Lenz was born Aug. 5, 1916, in St. Joseph, Mo., the daughter of Edgar and Opal (Pepper) Kirby.
She was an avid bridge player, an excellent hostess and loved being with her family.
She was a member of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church. Previously, she was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Overland Park, Kan., the Linwood Boulevard First Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., and the Carriage Club in Kansas City.
She married Robert C. Lenz on Jan. 9, 1937, in St. Joseph, Mo. He preceded her in death.
Mrs. Lenz is survived by her daughters Johanna Fusco of Durango, Marilyn Imel of Goodland, Kan., and Carolyn Crawford of Lawrence, Kan.; son Robert C. Lenz, Jr., of Tacoma, Wash.; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006, at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Lawrence, Kan.
A private burial will take place at a later date.
Family will greet friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006, at the church.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th St., Lawrence, KS, 66044-3402 and designated for either the Children's Center for the Visually Impaired (www.ccvi.org) or Midland Hospice Care (www.midlandhospice.org).
Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com with the subject line "Lenz."
