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Hazel Marie Degani
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Columba Catholic Church in Durango, for Hazel Marie Degani, who died Thursday, Aug. 9, 2001, at Valley Lutheran Hospital in Mesa, Ariz., from a brief illness. She was 65.
The Rev. Mike McCleary will officiate at the service. Burial will be at Ignacio Cemetery.
Ms. Degani was born Oct. 26, 1935, in Ignacio. She was a volunteer at St. Columba Catholic Church and on various school committees.
She enjoyed writing poetry, reading and playing the piano.
She is survived by a son, Gary Degani of Carl Junction, Mo.; a daughter, Dee Ann Baer of Westminster, Colo.; a brother, Walter Turner of Durango; two sisters, Faye Loe of Mesa, Ariz., and June Rehm of Abilene, Texas; and six grandchildren.
Dorothy Pierce Zelle
A funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Steed-Todd Chapel in Clovis, N.M., for Dorothy Pierce Zelle, who died Friday, Aug. 10, 2001, at her home in Clovis, N.M., of natural causes. She was 82.
The Rev. Gene Hawkins will officiate at the service. Burial will be at Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens in Clovis, N.M.
Mrs. Zelle was born July 11, 1919, in Claude, N.M. She married Dewey A. Pierce on July 30, 1947, and married George Zelle on Sept. 18, 1971.
She was a 4-H leader in Pleasant Hill, N.M., for many years. She was a member of the Women’s Extension Clubs in Claude and Pleasant Hill, and she bowled in several bowling leagues for more than 30 years. She was a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post No. 3280 Auxiliary.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Dewey Pierce and George Zelle; a son, Johnny Pierce; and a great-grandson.
She is survived by two sons, Dewey Gale Pierce of Texico, N.M., and Terry Lee Pierce of Roswell, N.M.; a daughter, Dona Kay Guy of Durango; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the March of Dimes or the American Cancer Society.
Paralee Putnam
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Durango for Paralee Putnam, a former teacher in Ignacio and Durango, who died Sunday, Aug. 5, 2001, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango. She was 86. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Pastor Steve Easterday-McPadden will officiate at the service.
Mrs. Putnam was born Nov. 29, 1914, in Maysville, Okla. She was a graduate of Central State College in Edmond, Okla. She taught school in Wiley, Colo. for three years, the Indian School in Ignacio for five years and in Durango for 20 years.
Mrs. Putnam is survived by a son, Michael E. Putnam, of Durango; three granddaughters, Lori Walters, of Post Falls, Idaho, Patty Casebier, of Palisade, Colo., and Paula Quiroz, of Phoenix, Ariz.; a grandson, Kenneth Putnam of Durango; and three great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Putnam was preceded in death by a son, Norman E. Putnam.
Memorial contributions may be made to Durango Foundation for Educational Excellence, 201 E. 12th St., Durango, CO 81301.
Irene Marie Brown
Private funeral services will be held in Colorado Springs for Irene Marie Brown, who died Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001, at her home in Hesperus. She was 90. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Mrs. Brown was born on April 24, 1911, in Edwardsburg, Mich. She was a resident of Tamarind Square for 15 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin S. Brown, and son Bruce D. Brown.
She is survived by her son, William R. Brown, of Hesperus; six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 3801 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Keith P. Harrison
A celebration of shared memories will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Odd Fellows Campground for Keith P. Harrison, a longtime Durango resident, who died Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001, in Durango. He was 95.
Friends and relatives are invited to join the family at the Odd Fellows campground six miles up La Plata Canyon.
Mr. Harrison was born June 25, 1906 in Wilton, Wisc. He married Gertrude Baird on Nov. 18, 1929, in Aztec, N.M.
After attending the University of Wisconsin, he pursued a career in agriculture. He was an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge for more than 50 years, was a School District 9-R board member and served for many years on the La Plata County Fair Board. He enjoyed geology and sharing his original poetry with family and friends.
Mr. Harrison is survived by four daughters, Marilyn Schlichting, Claudia Anesi and Jeanie Lauth, all of Durango, and Sue Fisher, of Golden; two sons, Phil Harrison, of Olathe, and Garry Harrison of Atlanta, Ga.; 15 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 3801 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Harold Thomas Riffle
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Hood Mortuary for Harold Thomas Riffle, a longtime Durango area resident, who died Sunday, Aug. 5, 2001, in La Junta.
He was 64.
The cause of death was not disclosed.
Don Smith will be officiating. Burial will be at the Riffle Family Cemetery
in Bondad.
Mr. Riffle was born Nov. 4, 1936, in Aztec. He married Betty L. Mahan in 1978.
Mr. Riffle lived in Farmington for much of his life. He worked at the Troy King Ranch before moving to the Durango area in 1978.
He was a farmer, rancher and mechanic in Hesperus for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Betty, of Redmesa; a son, Tom E. Riffle of Durango; a daughter, Cindy Riffle of Redmesa; three brothers, James Riffle of Palisade, and Marion Riffle and Donald Riffle, both of Gallup, N.M.; a sister, Lillian Riffle; and two grandchildren, Brianna Riffle and Elijah Riffle of Durango.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Harold Riffle Memorial Fund, First National Bank, P.O. Drawer L, Durango, CO 81302.
Clara I. Templeton
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Hood Mortuary for Clara I. Templeton, a Durango resident, who died Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango of natural causes.
She was 84.
The Rev. Stan Formby will officiate at the service. Burial will be at Greenmount Cemetery
in Durango.
Mrs. Templeton was born and raised in the Durango area. She attended school in Redmesa.
She was a former member of the La Plata County Cowbelles, Rebekah Lodge and the Navy Mother’s Club.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Dow Patterson and Billy M. Templeton; a son, George Leon Patterson; and a grandson, Shoen Patterson.
She is survived by a son, Gary Patterson of Santee, Calif.; three granddaughters, Sherry Patterson of Durango, Michelle Paolini of Lakeside, Calf., and Shannon Patterson of Las Vegas, Nev.; three sisters, Drucille Handley of Aztec, Ruby Osborne of Flora Vista and Billie Yeager of Aztec; two brothers, George Whitson and Jack Whitson, both of Farmington; a nephew and caregiver, Allan Bainter of Phoenix; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Paul Thomas Behr
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Columba Catholic Church for Paul Thomas Behr, a Hesperus resident, who died Sunday, Aug. 5, 2001, of natural causes. He was 83.
Mr. Behr was born Aug. 11, 1917, in Weehawken, N.J. He married Louise "Edna" Cheney on July 12, 1941.
Mr. Behr served in the Pacific Theater as a combat soldier during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
He was a member of the Typographical Union No. 6, the Knights of Columbus and was a lector at the St. John the Evangelist Church in Bergenfield, N.J., and a deacon at Our Lady of the Angels Church in Marion, N.C.
He moved to Hesperus in 1998 to be near his daughters.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Edna, and a son, James.
He is survived by four daughters, Jean, Cathy and Malia Behr, all of Hesperus, and Margaret DeLuca of Marion, N.C.; two sons, Michael Behr of Parsippany, N.J., and Paul T. Behr Jr. of York, S.C.; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mercy Home Health and Hospice, 3801 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301, or St. Columba Catholic Church, 1803 E. Second Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Albert E. Chandler
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Breen Community Building for Albert E. Chandler, a Hesperus resident, who died Friday, July 21, 2001, at Mercy Medical Center in Durango. He was 71.
The cause of death was not disclosed.
Mr. Chandler was born Dec. 13, 1929, in Powhattan, Kan.
He is survived by his wife, Velna Chandler, of Hesperus.
