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Michael 'Pyrate Mike' Dwaine Thompson (4/18/2007)
A graveside memorial service for Michael "Pyrate Mike" Dwaine Thompson, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 2007, at the Pine River Cemetery.
Mr. Thompson died on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007.
Earl Franklin Updike (4/18/2007)
Former Bayfield resident Earl Franklin Updike died of heart failure on Wednesday, April 11, 2007, in Mesa, Ariz. He was 85.
Mr. Updike spent many of his later years at his home at Vallecito Reservoir, which he built in 1987. He moved to Arizona in 2004 for health reasons.
He was born to Lisle Chandler and Janet Jarvis Updike in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Feb. 16, 1922.
For about eight years in the early 1900s, his father was a professional photographer in Durango in partnership with William Pennington called Pen-Dike Studios.
The two men had the contract from the federal government to photograph the Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings. After their building was washed away by the Animas River during a flood, Mr. Updike's father went on to produce baby contests in numerous towns throughout the United States. Mr. Updike lived in 25 towns during his first 10 years of life.
He graduated from Phoenix Union High School in 1940.
On Sept. 26, 1944, he married Ethel Crosby in the Arizona Temple in Mesa, Ariz. In 1950, Mr. Updike bought his parents' photo studio in Phoenix and renamed it UpDike Studios and Camera Center.
He eventually operated a number of studios and school-photography operations in both Arizona and Utah.
In his later years, Mr. Updike became convinced that a proper diet would improve health and extend life. He developed a passion for maintaining good health through diet and exercise and wrote several successful books about nutrition and healthy eating. His titles included The Miracle Diet, Easy, Permanent Weight Loss and The Miracle Diet Cookbook.
He was also involved in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many capacities and giving a great deal of time to his religion. From 1942 to 1944, Mr. Updike served his church in the Southern States Mission.
Mrs. Updike died after a long illness in 1993. After months of grieving for his wife of almost 50 years, Mr. Updike met Cherrial Morris. The couple married in Mesa on Sept. 2, 1994.
Mr. Updike enjoyed traveling, and he drove around America in his recreational vehicle seven or eight times with his wife, Ethel, and four or five times with his wife, Cheri.
He was also athletic and walked five miles a day.
Mr. Updike is survived by his wife, Cheri, of Mesa; daughters Karen Grover of Bayfield and Lorraine Viccellio of Florence, S.C.; sons Jim Updike of Peoria, Ariz., and Alan Updike and David Updike, both of Sandy, Utah; stepchildren Stanley Morris of Tempe, Ariz., Dan Morris of Lima, Peru, and Marissa Harrell of Tampa, Fla.; 31 grandchildren; and 44 great-grandchildren.
A funeral will take place at 11 a.m. today, April 18, 2007, at the East Ridge Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel, 3025 S. Hawes Road in Mesa.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 23, 2007, at Pine River Cemetery in Bayfield.
Marian Reeder (4/17/2007)
Longtime Vallecito summer resident Marian Reeder died in Midland, Texas, on Sunday, April 15, 2007. She was 84.
Mrs. Reeder owned a second home called "Chief's Hideout" at Vallecito Reservoir, where she had spent every summer for the last 58 years. Mrs. Reeder was a member of the Vallecito Service League and worked as a volunteer during the Missionary Ridge Fire in 2002. She served as the pianist every Sunday night at Blue Spruce Park at the lake and was the organist/pianist during the summers for the Vallecito Baptist Mission Church.
Her family said her music talent was almost legendary, as she could walk up to any piano and play any religious piece of music or find herself in Silverton doing a quick interpretation of ragtime songs for tourists.
Mrs. Reeder was a twin, born to Horace G. and Lula J. Muns Newton on Feb. 11, 1923.
She graduated from Midland High School in 1940.
In 1982, she was one of about 50 people from the United States who were invited to Breda, Netherlands, to participate in the historic International Hand Bell Festival. Along with partner Monta Jo Johnson, Mrs. Reeder formed what her family called an acclaimed bell duet team known as "The Texas Ding-a Lings."
"She could fish from a boat, hammer nails, was a beautiful seamstress," her family wrote, "could run a wood splitter, was competitive at board games, was a musician extraordinaire and was famous for burning the toast."
Mrs. Reeder was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Charles Reeder.
She is survived by her daughters Lu'Ann Reeder of Denver and Gail Reeder Spivey of Lubbock, Texas; twin sister, Marie Newton Culver of Topeka, Kan.; three grandsons; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
Visitation will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. today, April 17, 2007, at Ellis Funeral Home, 801 Andrews Highway in Midland.
A graveside service will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at Resthaven Memorial Park. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, at First United Methodist Church, 301 N. Main St. in Midland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Music Ministry at First United Methodist Church, 301 N. Main St., Midland, TX 79701; or Hospice of Midland, P.O. Box 2621, Midland, TX 79702; or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.
Willard Arthur 'Bill' Brown (4/15/2007)
Willard Arthur "Bill" Brown passed away at his home on Thursday, April 12, 2007. He was 67.
Mr. Brown was born July 21, 1939 at Mercy hospital in Durango to Percy and Maude Brown. He was the eighth of nine children. He was raised in Animas City and attended St. Columba and Durango High schools.
Mr. Brown married Diana Colton on May 31, 1958. The marriage ended in divorce in 1978.
He then served in the Army National Guard from which he was honorably discharged.
Mr. Brown's family roots in Durango date to the 1880s, and many of his relatives still ranch, mine and teach today.
While attending Fort Lewis College and the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley, Mr. Brown worked for the Colorado Department of Transportation. He went on to fulfill a career in construction and construction management.
His family wrote that Mr. Brown was blessed by many loving relationships and was known for his exuberance and love of life. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, sports, telling stories, traveling and he cherished his "mountain time." He especially loved time spent with his grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and was a friend to all he met, his family said.
Mr. Brown is survived by his daughters Cathy Benefiel of Durango and Barbara Wigton of Superior; sons Tim Brown of Durango and Casey Brown of Pueblo; brothers Ed Brown of Arizona, John Brown of Sun City, Ariz., and Don Brown of Cortez; sisters Thelma Hotter and Margie Ledford, both of Durango, Marylou Hupf of Mancos and Barbara Brown of Gilbert, Ariz.; five grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Burial will take place on Monday, April 16, 2007, at Greenmount Cemetery, and will be followed by a reception at the Animas Valley Grange.
Jerry Dean Lloyd Jr. (4/15/2007)
Former Durango resident Jerry Dean Lloyd Jr. died of a massive heart attack in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 7, 2007. He was 48.
Mr. Lloyd was born to Corinne and Jerry Dean Lloyd Sr. in East Texas on Oct. 10, 1958. He lived in Durango from 1968 to 1979. Mr. Lloyd played football for Durango High School, where he earned the nickname "Beef" during his freshman year. He graduated from DHS in 1977.
His grandfather Gilbert Pritchard of Bayfield was in the construction industry, and Mr. Lloyd began his interest in construction with him. He worked in construction for the rest of his life, most recently in Las Vegas.
Mr. Lloyd is survived by his stepmother and father, Mary and Jerry Dean Lloyd Sr., of Texarkana Texas; mother Corinne Lloyd of Rio Rancho, N.M.; sister Kathy Lloyd of Rio Rancho; brother John Lloyd of Rio Rancho; two nieces; and two great-nieces and one great-nephew.
Cremation has occurred. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 2007, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Durango.
Burial of his ashes next to his Pritchard grandparents will take place in a private family service in Bayfield following the service.
Joe Prather (4/15/2007)
Former Durango resident Joe Prather died in Mesa, Ariz., on Wednesday, April 11, 2007. He was 76.
Mr. Prather was born to Jesse and Blanche Prather in Urbana, Ill., on Feb. 27, 1931. He attended a one-room schoolhouse for eight years and graduated from Urbana High School in 1949.
Mr. Prather attended Beloit College in Wisconsin for two years. He graduated from the University of Illinois with bachelor's and master's degrees in landscape architecture.
In 1951, Mr. Prather married his childhood sweetheart, Betty Taft. He served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean War.
Mr. Prather retired from the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department after 20 years as head park planner in 1987 and moved to Durango with his wife. They lived here for nearly 18 years. Because of ill health, the Prathers moved to Mesa, Ariz., in 2004.
Mr. Prather was a member of the Culver Palms YMCA, the Y's Men Association and was named the Y's Man of the Year. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, National Rifle Association, Los Angeles County Retired Employees Association, the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 507 and Hillcrest Golf Club.
He enjoyed camping, fishing, golf and trap shooting.
Mr. Prather is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty Prather, of Mesa, Ariz.; sons Steve Prather of Durango and Mike Prather of Culver City, Calif.; daughter Suzanne Singley of Durango; brother Don Prather of Villa Grove, Ill.; and five grandchildren.
At his request, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, 61 Broadway, New York City, NY 10006; or Banner Gardens Hospice House, 7231 E. Broadway, Mesa, AZ 85208.
Benjamin Edward Lucero (4/13/2007)
Longtime Durango resident Benjamin Edward Lucero died at his home on Tuesday, April 10, 2007. He was 80.
Mr. Lucero was born to Emeterio and Adelina Madrid Lucero in Trujillo on April 15, 1926. He was one of 10 children.
From November 1944 to March 1946, Mr. Lucero served in the Navy. He was honorably discharged.
On June 12, 1950, he married Mary Elizabeth Garcia at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Durango.
Mr. Lucero worked construction for most of his life. After his retirement, he worked in restaurants. The last of those was Griego's.
He enjoyed playing bingo and gambling at the casinos.
Mr. Lucero was preceded in death by his son, Teddy Lucero; and grandson Brandon Padilla.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Lucero, of Durango; daughters Becky Padilla of Durango and Earlene Olguin, Loretta Romero and Barbara Garcia, all of Aztec; sons Leroy Lucero, Ben Lucero Jr. and Orlando Lucero, all of Durango, and Leonard Lucero of Bayfield; 23 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 15, 2007, at Hood Mortuary Chapel. A rosary will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, beginning at 6 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, April 16, 2007, also at Sacred Heart. The Rev. Antonio Flores will be the celebrant. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery.
David B. Angelo (4/13/2007)
Durango resident David B. Angelo died on Monday, April 2, 2007, at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood. He was 49.
Mr. Angelo is survived by his parents Tim and Eveleen Angelo of Pueblo; sister Elizabeth Angelo of Thornton; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Cremation has occurred. A rosary will be recited at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at Comi Funeral Home Chapel, 1804 East Main St. in Trinidad. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at the Holy Trinity Church in Trinidad. The Rev. Richard Becker will be the celebrant.
Burial will follow at the Trinidad Catholic Cemetery.
Franklin Dean Carel Sr. (4/11/2007)
Ignacio resident Franklin Dean Carel Sr. died at his home on Friday, April 6, 2007. He was 55.
Mr. Carel was born to Allen Norris Carel and Artie Ketchum at the Taylor Hospital in Ignacio on July 17, 1951. He graduated from Ignacio High School, where he played basketball under Coach Wayne Cope. The team went to the state championships one year, and Mr. Carel talked about Limon beating them by one point.
After high school, he attended trade school, first at San Juan VoTech in Mancos and later in Denver.
He went to work for the Southern Ute Tribe as a heavy-equipment operator with Custom Farm. He worked his way up to being director of Custom Farm, a position he held until he retired.
He married Deborah Mills in Durango.
Mr. Carel was a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, drawing pictures of wildlife and flowers and going for rides.
Mr. Carel is survived by his daughter, Tonyel Carel, of Flagstaff, Ariz.; sons Franky Carel and Richard Carel, both of Ignacio; sister Glenda Price of Ignacio; wife, Deborah Carel, of Ignacio; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and other relatives from Towaoc.
A wake will be held this evening after 6 p.m. at Mr. Carel's home, 4586 County Road 334 in Ignacio. A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 12, 2007, at Hood Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Don Strait and tribal spiritual leader Kenny Frost will officiate. Cremation will follow the service.
