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Terry Gayle Nelson
Terry Gayle Nelson, an Ignacio area resident for 26 years, died Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, at his home in Allison from prostate cancer. He was 63.
Mr. Nelson was born June 7, 1940, in Claycenter, Kan., to Edwin and Gladys Nelson.
He moved to Colorado in 1960 to work for Ramsour Brothers Construction, building a bridge over the Piedra River in Arboles. Mr. Nelson also helped construct Navajo Reservoir.
He worked for Sower's Lumber Yard and Lewis Mercantile in Bayfield, and for La Plata County. He later worked in the Ignacio Shur Valu for about 30 years.
Mr. Nelson married Barbara Nelson on April 29, 1961, at the Allison Community Church in Allison.
He was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness in 1970, and he loved sharing Jehovah with everyone.
Mr. Nelson was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather, according to his family.
"My father was a person who never met a stranger, and he will be missed and remembered lovingly in many hearts," said his daughter, Stephanie.
He also enjoyed being with his Chihuahua, Loyal Protector Toro the Dog.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara of Allison; a daughter, Stephanie Tenorio of Allison; two granddaughters, Joanna and Andrea, both of Allison; a grandson, Daniel of Allison; a step-granddaughter, Lydia of Allison; six sisters; five brothers; one half-brother; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Leslie, and a grandson, Zachary.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Ignacio. Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary Crematory in Durango.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 120 County Road 319, Ignacio, CO 81137.
Charles Harold Radcliff
Charles Harold Radcliff, 93, of Pagosa Springs, died on Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, in Lakewood. He died of old age, his family said. His nicknames included "Rad" and "Gunsmoke."
A visitation will be held for Charles Harold Radcliff from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hood Mortuary. Mr. Radcliff, a longtime Pagosa Springs resident, died Monday, Feb. 2, 2004. He was 93.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Community United Methodist Church in Pagosa Springs.
The Rev. Cecil Brown, with the Church of the Nazarene, will officiate.
Burial will occur at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango after the funeral.
A reception at Dyke Ranch in Pagosa Springs will be held after the graveside service.
Mr. Radcliff was born Dec. 26, 1910, near Elida, N.M., in a half dugout house on the prairie, the son of Alberta Mary Barger and Charles Henry Radcliff. He was the fifth child in a family of nine children, seven natural and two adopted. In 1932, Mr. Radcliff married Ruby Mae Franke, his high school sweetheart. They were married 57 years until Mrs. Radcliff's death.
In 1946, he traded a ranch in Caņon City and $40,000 for what is known as the Dyke Ranch. Mr. Radcliff was a rancher his whole life, but for a few years he sold cars at Johnson Chevrolet in Pagosa Springs.
Since August 1999, after the death of his youngest daughter, Sharon Radcliff, he stayed with his daughter Wanda Chadwick in Lakewood so she could care for him. His philosophy in later years: Do the best you can and take one day at a time.
He wasn't a churchgoer; he said he felt closer to God riding a horse on top of a mountain.
He is survived by his daughter of Lakewood; his grandchildren, Shana, Shannon, Sharlene, Kristy, Tracy and Casey; and his great-grandchildren, Aja, Megen, Jade and Cody.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Community United Methodist Church in Pagosa Springs. A graveside service in Durango will follow the ceremony.
Van A. Willis
Van A. Willis, who was the mayor of Mancos for 12 years, died on Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at his home in Mancos at the age of 87. The cause of death was not disclosed
Mr. Willis was born on Aug. 19, 1916, in Snowflake, Ariz., the son of Wilmirth (Flake) Willis and Joseph Stratton; he was the grandson of the founders of Snowflake. He graduated from Snowflake Academy High School and the Army's Officer Candidate School. He worked hard from an early age until the end of his life, ranching, selling real estate, and operating grocery and hardware businesses.
On Sept. 25, 1935, Mr. Willis married his high school sweetheart, Selma Oveson, in the Mesa Temple.
In 1942, he joined the Army Ordnance Corps. He was honorably discharged in 1952 with the rank of first lieutenant.
He moved to Bayfield in 1947 to buy and operate a ranch. He and his family also owned The Boys Market in Mancos from 1959 until 1986.
Mr. Willis held a post command in the Veterans of Foreign Wars as well as serving the American Legion and chamber of commerce. He was president of Mancos Community Development.
He often brought flowers to the town's visitors' center and to his church from his gardens. His family will remember him as a generous husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his wife.
Mr. Willis is survived by his children, Linda Willis Enochs of Mancos and Dean Willis of Golden; his grandchildren, Phillip, Evan and Ginny; his great-grandsons, Gage and Jayden; and his sister, Margaret Willis Hamblin of Snowflake.
A funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Mancos Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 201 Montezuma. Visitation will be take place on Saturday from noon until the funeral service at the church. Bishop Melvyn Horrocks will officiate. Burial will follow at Webber Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Montezuma, 446 Main St., Cortez, CO 81321.
Velma Louise (Dunlap) Thompson
Velma Louise (Dunlap) Thompson, 94, who had lived in Durango since 1946, died Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center in Durango. She died of natural causes, said her daughter, Sheila Hegglund.
Ms. Thompson was born in Dolores on Jan. 9, 1910, the daughter of Leota Dunlap and William Wesley. She attended Dolores and Durango schools.
Ms. Thompson worked as a secretary for the Colorado Highway Department. She enjoyed gardening and tending her yard. She also loved to travel, especially to her daughter's home during the winter. She was a past member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha chapter of Durango. She held all of the sorority's offices and was active in its charitable work.
Ms. Thompson is survived by her daughter of North Las Vegas, Nev.; her grandchildren, Wesley Hegglund of Houston, Heidi Hegglund of Durango and Sharon Hegglund of North Las Vegas; her sisters, Helen Dunlap and Margaret "Peggy" Akin, both of Durango; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hood Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Larry Osborne, with Durango Christian Church, will officiate. Burial will take place at Greenmount Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Colorado Talking Book Library, 180 Sheridan Blvd., Denver, CO 80226.
Bertha B. Pautler
Bertha B. Pautler, 98, a housekeeper for the priests of Durango's St. Columba Church for 17 years, died on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, in Grand Junction. She died of natural causes, said her daughter, Jane Berger.
Mrs. Pautler was born on Jan. 4, 1906, in St. Benedict, Kan., one of 10 children of Margaret Koeloer and Francis Byrne.
She married the late Raymond A. Pautler in Stratton on June 11, 1929.
She completed two years of college at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, then went on to teach in a one-room school in Stratton. She rode a horse to school, lit the fire every morning, and even taught her own brothers and sisters, Berger said.
Mrs. Pautler went on to be one of the first cinnamon candy makers for The Jolly Rancher when it opened in Wheat Ridge. In the 1960s, she retired to Durango, but instead she worked as a housekeeper at St. Columba. She finally retired when she was in her 80s.
She is survived by her children, Benedict Pautler of Grand Junction, Alice Mendoza of Lakewood, Jane Berger of Grand Junction, Louise Troudt of Sidney, Mont., and Mary Klicsu of Las Vegas, Nev.; her sisters, Mary Gertig of Denver, Sister Nora Byrne of St. Louis, Mo., and Frances Johnson of Denver; 18 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will take place at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Presentation Parish in Denver.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 761 Rood Ave., Grand Junction, CO 81501.
Helen L. Smith
Helen L. Smith, 80, died Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kan. She died of natural causes, said a spokesman of Price & Sons Funeral Home in Garden City.
Mrs. Smith was born Oct. 13, 1923, in Haviland, Kan., the daughter of Erna Mae (Plunkett) Hecox and Glen Hecox.
She moved to Garden City in 1994 from Liberal, Kan. She owned and operated the Spudnut Shop and the Liberal Taxi Co. for several years. Mrs. Smith was a member of the First Church of God where she served as youth director. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for all of Liberal.
She married the late Alvin R. Smith in Meade, Kan., on April 18,1942.
Mrs. Smith is survived by her children, Alvin Ross "Butch" Smith of Durango, Glenda May Gramling of Paragould, Ark., and Linda Lorraine Crain of Garden City; her brother, Vern Hecox of Tyrone, Okla.; 19 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. today at Price & Sons in Garden City, Kan. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. today at the Liberal Cemetery in Liberal, Kan.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, care of Price & Sons, 620 N. Main, Garden City, KS 67846.
Peggy Sue Gilmour
Peggy Sue Gilmour, 62, a native of Durango, died Friday, Jan. 30, 2004, in Las Vegas, where she lived. She died of cancer of the bladder, said Judy Rushton, who had been her friend since high school.
Mrs. Gilmour was born May 19, 1941, in Durango and lived here for 15 years. She went to school in Durango and was in the Durango High School class of 1959. Her maiden name was Chamblee.
She married her husband of 45 years, Jack Gilmour, in her junior year in high school. She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Gilmour is survived by her husband of Las Vegas; her sons, Steve Gilmour of Las Vegas and James Gilmour of Henderson; her half brothers, Robert Chamblee of Spokane, Wash., Andy Wilson of Fredericksburg, Va., Paul Wilson of Salem, Ore., and Joe Wilson of Mammoth, Ore.; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in St. Paul's Charismatic Episcopal Church, 141 Industrial Park Road, Henderson, Nev.
Iver D. Lornell
Iver D. Lornell, 80, of Durango, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, in Surprise, Ariz. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Mr. Lornell was born July 19, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minn., He enlisted in the Army Air Force in World War II, serving in the South Pacific in photo reconnaissance. He married Phyllis O. Westergard, in Fairmont, Minn., on Aug. 18, 1948, and they moved to Denver in 1950, where Mr. Lornell became a successful entrepreneur.
The Lornells retired to Durango in 1987, where they have been active in the First Presbyterian Church and enjoyed the cultural and recreational opportunities the area offers.
Mr. Lornell was a warm and friendly person who enjoyed getting to know people and was always ready to laugh, his family recalls. He was known as a gentle person, except by the geese who insisted on sampling the offerings of his yard.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years of Durango; his children, Robyn Lornell of Colorado Springs and Todd Lornell of Sutton, Mass.; his grandchildren, Cristina Burch of Kalispell, Mont., and Lindsey, Lauren, Logan and Luke Lornell of Sutton, Mass.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. April 24 at the First Presbyterian Church in Durango. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Southwest Safe House, P.O. Box 2107, Durango, CO 81302.
Marie Therese Mary' Lieb
Marie Therese "Mary" Lieb, the wife of La Plata County Commissioner Bob Lieb, died Friday, Jan. 23, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center. She was 60.
She died from complications from the chemotherapy she underwent to combat Hodgkin's disease.
Mrs. Lieb was born Jan. 4, 1944, in Santa Monica, Calif., the daughter of Leonard and Mary Crunelle.
Mrs. Lieb attended UCLA and Chouinard Art Institute. She married Bob Lieb on Sept. 5, 1964. She founded a swimwear business for which she was the designer in Newport Beach, Calif.
In 1976, the Liebs moved to Wengen, Switzerland. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1978, the family took up residence in Durango.
Mrs. Lieb founded and was the designer for Durango Threadworks. She was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church. She enjoyed golfing and cooking.
"Mary's favorite activity was helping her four kids and husband do whatever they were pursuing," Bob Lieb said. "She was always willing to put her activities on hold to help her family and friends.
"It always seemed her talents were endless whether she was using a watercolor paint brush, a cooking utensil, a hammer, a sewing machine or a golf club," Bob Lieb said.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Lieb is survived by two sons, Robert Lieb Jr. of Durango and John Lieb of Crystal Lake, Ill.; and two daughters, Tracy Rambusch of Austin, Texas, and Lisa Lieb of Durango. She also is survived by two sisters, Susanne Tichenor of Severna Park, Md., and Cecille Crunelle of Los Angeles; a brother, Leonard Crunelle Jr. of Cayucos, Calif.; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial Mass is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Columba Catholic Church, with the Rev. James Koenigsfeld officiating. After the Mass, all are welcome to a family reception at noon at the DoubleTree Hotel.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Health Foundation, 375 E. Park Ave., Durango CO 81301.
