May Obituaries - 2008

JoAnne Harral

Memorial services for Lamar, Colo., resident JoAnne Harral, age 83, were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2008, at the Calvary Baptist Church of Lamar. Rev. Jeff Alexander officiated.

A family inurnment will follow at a later date in the veterans section of Fairmount Cemetery in Lamar. Per JoAnne’s request, there will be no public visitation.

JoAnne was born Dec. 17, 1924, in Pueblo, Colo., and departed this life Saturday May 3, 2008, at her home in Lamar.

Mrs. Harral was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Vanderbush of Santa Anna, Calif., and by her mother, Grace Cooper-Vanderbush, of Man cos.

JoAnne is survived by her husband of 60 years, William F. “Biff” Harral of their home in Lamar; by two children — Gary (Diane) Harral of Ottawa, Canada, and Marsha (Joseph) Backes of Lamar; by four grandchildren, Glenys Ransom of London, England, Kristina Cook of Alamosa, Colo., Melissa Backes of Alamosa, and Michael Backes of Lamar; by seven great-grandchildren; by two sisters, Sally Weaver of Mancos, and Marilyn Coffee of Kenbridge, Va.; and by one brother, Charles (Sherrill) Vanderbush of Irvine, Calif. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and a host of friends.

The family respectfully requests memorial contributions be made to the Lamar Area Hospice, the Lamar Elks Lodge, or to the charity of the donor’s choice, either directly or through Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel of Lamar.

Memorial services for JoAnne Harral are under the direction of Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel of Lamar as a celebration of Love and a celebration of Life.

For more information visit our Web site at www.valleymemorialfc.com.

Kevin Tice Vicary

Kevin Tice Vicary passed in El Cajon, Calif., on April 14, 2008, at the age of 38.

A semi careened out of control after being hit by a van at the intersection where he and his family lived. Kevin was working on his fence just where the semi broke through. He was a wonderful man. He spent many hours with his children, his wife and extended family. They all enjoyed many outings and many cookouts. Kevin went out of his way to make sure his family was well cared for and gave them many opportunities to have fun and learn new things.

Kevin graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 1988. After attending college in California, he went to Florida to become a dive instructor. He came back to Cortez, where he met his wife, Isabelle. They married and ran Oak Furniture sales before moving to Albuquerque, N.M., so Kevin could get back into the casino business. He ended up in El Cajon to continue his career as manager of slot operations at Sycuan Casino and Resort.

He was always busy doing something, whether it was working on projects around the house, scuba diving or coaching his twin daughters’ softball team. Kevin always found time for the little things that matter. He was an honorable and good person, respected at work and in the community.

Kevin leaves behind his wife of 10 years, Isabelle, and three daughters, Alondra, Brittany and Arianna. Also surviving are his mother, Karla Brown and husband Morrison, and his father, Bill Vicary and wife Sara, all of Cortez. He leaves his sisters, Kellie Vicary of Hemet, Calif., Helen Baker of Las Vegas, Nev., and Mary York and husband Brandon of Kewanee, Ill. He had one grandmother, Anna DeKraker, of Holland, Mich. Kevin was a brother and friend to all of Isabelle’s sisters and brothers. He was blessed with numerous nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all.

There will be a memorial service celebrating Kevin’s life at 6 p.m. Monday, May 12, at Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church, 350 S. Washington, Cortez. Refreshments will follow.

A Kevin Vicary memorial fund has been set up at First Pacific Bank of America, 343 E. Main St., El Cajon, CA 92020.

Charles Edward 'Chuck' Sluder Jr.

Services for Cortez resident Charles Edward “Chuck” Sluder Jr. will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 9 at the family home, 24058 Cty Rd. N.

Chuck was born the son of Charles Edward Sluder Sr. and Dianne Marie (Frazier) Sluder on July 10, 1971, in Cortez. He passed away Monday, May 5, 2008, near Arriola, Colo.

Chuck was a diesel mechanic for Nielsons Skanska. He was a dedicated worker and loved his job. He also enjoyed farming and welding.

Surviving Chuck are his mother, Dianne Sluder of Cortez; stepfather, Jerry Carvell; sister, Daisy Stenzel and husband Tom of Florence, Colo.; nieces and nephews, Desiray, Cobe and Charles; aunts, Doris Jacquez and husband Charles of Arriba, Colo., and Elsie Frazier of Lewis, Colo.; uncles, Donnie Sluder of Oregon and Donald Frazier of Cortez; cousin, Stanley Howell of Denver; numerous cousins; and extended family, Bernie and Gloria Stenzel, Ted and Kris Stenzel, and Annette and Clay Nimmo.

Chuck was preceded in death by his father, Charles Sluder Sr., in 1974.

For further information, call Ertel Funeral Home at 565-3468 or log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.

Wendell Todd Harris

Wendell Todd Harris was born Feb. 15, 1969, in Granado, Ariz. He passed from this earth on April 26, 2008, in Cortez. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Kline Cemetery in Kline, Colo., for family and friends who wish to attend.

Wendell lived in the Dolores/Cortez area for 45 years and attended Dolores school. He loved the ways of the old West. He was a 20th century person with a 19th century spirit. His horse and faithful dog were always his best friends. He loved the cowboy life of rounding up cattle in the canyons for branding and riding the fence line in the mountains. Wendell was loved by many and will be missed by all.

Wendell is survived by his mother, Carol Harris of Blanding, Utah; stepmother Glenna Harris of Lewis; one brother, Gary Harris and wife Lori of Dolores; four sisters, Carol Brown of Blanding, Vicki Broderick and husband Earl of Cortez, Sandy Lard and husband Ralph of Dolores; stepsister Gayle Alexander and husband Phil of Lewis; and also numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Dodd Harris Sr., and brother, Thomas Dodd Harris Jr.

For more information, call Sandy at 564-0302 or any other family member.

Mr. Harris was in the care of Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale & Gerken.

James 'Jim' Ross Ford Jr.

James “Jim” Ross Ford Jr., a former resident of Pleasant View, passed away April 26, 2008, in the Valley Inn in Mancos. He was 62.

A memorial service is set for Saturday, May 3, 2008, at 11 a.m. in the Montelores Baptist Church, located at 18735 County Road 23.5 in Lewis. Mr. Ken Coates will officiate. Services will conclude at the church with a dinner to follow also at the church. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Jim Ford to a trust fund at the Community Bank of the Rockies, 305 S. Guyrene, Dove Creek, CO 81324.

James Ross Ford Jr. was born to James Ross and Evelyn (Barnes) Ford on Jan. 15, 1946, in Clovis, N.M. He graduated from Farmington High School in 1965. On May 10, 1975, in Aztec, N.M., he married Lorraine Leonard. They were blessed with four children.

 Jim lived in the Four Corners most of his life. He worked as a self-employed welder and owned an appliance repair shop locally. Jim loved mechanics, anything electronic. He also enjoyed building remote control airplanes, “hot rods” (he liked speed) and music.

James Ross Ford Jr. is survived by his children: Michael (Reggie) Ford of Pleasant View, Cori (Patrick) Archuleta of Clackamus, Ore., Mary (Rue) Green of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Heather Ford and Royal Yazzie of Cortez; a brother, Billy Ford of Durango; a sister, Vickie (Rusty) Greenleaf of Aztec, N.M.; grandchildren Ashley, Cody, JT, Alyssa, Royal James, Kyla and Jake; and his mother, Evelyn Nolan, of Farmington, N.M.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Ross Ford Sr.

Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel is handling the cremation services.

Delvern Jerome Gaustad

Services for Dolores resident Delvern Jerome Gaustad are pending with Ertel Funeral Home.

Delvern was born Oct. 6, 1940, and passed away Thursday, May 1, 2008, at the age of

67.

For further information, call Ertel Funeral Home at 565-3468 or log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.

Henrietta 'Penny' Fruci

Memorial services for Mancos resident Henrietta “Penny” Fruci was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mancos Chapel. Interment will take place at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Bishop Lyman Bayles will officiate.

Henrietta was born Dec. 6, 1929, in Vincennes, Ind., the daughter of John and Hilary (McEntire) Cobb. She passed away Friday, April 25, 2008, at her residence at the age of 78.

Henrietta was the youngest of nine children, including a half brother and sister. Her mother passed away when she was 4 months old. Henrietta’s son Terry died as a result of a heart defect when he was only 16 months old. Henrietta’s son Donald “Donny” passed away at the age of 52; it broke her heart to lose another son. Now she is with them and rejoicing.

Henrietta loved her children and was a good mother and full- time homemaker while raising her children. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, embroidering and canning. She also loved animals and always had a fondness for small children. Henrietta was a wonderful cook who cooked from her own recipes. She liked crossword puzzles and watching game shows. She was friendly and liked to talk, liked looking words up in the dictionary, had a wonderful sense of humor and was always able to make people laugh.

Later in her life, Henrietta helped to run a mattress factory in Ignacio, Colo. She also ran a Laundromat in Farmington, N.M., and the Blue Spruce Motel in Mancos. Henrietta lived in various states: Indiana, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado.

Surviving Henrietta are her daughter, Penny (Fruci) Lashinsky and husband Timothy of Cortez; her sisters, Lavera (Love) Hennon of Phoenix, Ariz., and Betty Lambiotte and husband Elmer of Vincennes, Ind.; her grandchildren, Glendon Dixon of Tulsa, Okla., Ashley Basile and husband Sean of North Carolina; and her great-grandchildren, Arianna and Scott and one on the way in October.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sons, Terry Easter and Donald “Donny” Dixon; her sisters, Thelma Cobb, Theda Lavely, Martha Pickett and Agnes Twitty; her brothers, Floyd Cobb and John Cobb Jr.; her half-brother, Paul; her half-sister, Pearl; and her stepmother, Edna Cobb.

Memorial contributions can be made in Henrietta’s name to the Mancos Valley Bank.

Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.

Ernest Warren 'Ernie' Baxstrom

Graveside inurnment services will be held for lifelong Cortez resident Ernest Warren “Ernie” Baxstrom at 1 p.m. today, May 1, at the Cortez Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by Ute Mountain American Legion Post 75.

A potluck reception will follow the graveside service Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Ute Mountain American Legion Hall.

Ernie was born Feb. 11, 1921, in McElmo, Colo., the son of Anthony Harry and Bernice Estelle (Sayler) Baxstrom. He passed away Friday, April 25, 2008, at Southwest Memorial Hospital at the age of 87.

Ernie attended grade school in McElmo Canyon and went on to high school in Cortez. On April 12, 1947, he married Verda Fay Hopper in Aztec, N.M. Ernie worked for the Colorado Department of Transportation, and after many years of hard work he retired in 1981. He was a proud member of the Ute Mountain American Legion Post 75. In his spare time, Ernie loved gardening, hunting and fishing. Playing the fiddle was a talent that he shared with his friends and family.

Surviving Ernie are his wife of 61 years, Verda Baxstrom of Cortez; his children, Lenda Hurst and Tom Wilkerson of Mancos, and Bette Lewis and husband Edward of Mancos and daughter-in-law Sherry Salsgaver- Baxstrom-Payne; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; his brother, Mervin Baxstrom and wife Charlotte of Mancos; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Roy Leon Baxstrom in 1975; four brothers; two sisters; and his great-grandchild, Mia Baxstrom.

Memorial contributions can be made in Ernie’s memory to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Cortez division.

Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.

Pressie J. Brewer

Funeral Mass for Pressie J. Brewer, a longtime resident of Cortez, was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery.

Visitation has been set for Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ertel Memorial Chapel. A Rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Pressie was born July 19, 1933, in McPhee, Colo., the daughter of Jose E. and Bernice (Sanchez) Jaramillo. She passed away at her home in Cortez on Thursday, April 24, 2008, at the age of 74.

Pressie attended school through the 10th grade at Montezuma-Cortez High School. In 1975, she married Stanley J. Brewer in Las Vegas, Nev.

Pressie provided wonderful care and love to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Being with her family brought her much happiness.

Surviving Pressie are her husband, Stanley Brewer of Cortez; and her children, Andy Sanchez, Bobby Sanchez, Viola Foti, Paul Sanchez, Louie Sanchez, Heather Brewer, and Cindy Rodriguez. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Priscilla Gentry, Micheal Gentry, Michelle Sanchez, Robbie Sanchez, Rico Sanchez, Isaac Sanchez, Pat Sanchez, Andy Sanchez, and Jeremiah Netherington; her siblings, David Jaramillo and wife Nadawah of Pueblo, Colo., Johnny Jaramillo and wife Delfa of Farmington, N.M., Crucy Wilson of Cortez, Jane Lobato of Montrose, Colo., and Patty Samora of Cortez; many great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pressie was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Earl Jaramillo and Manuel Jaramillo; and Ben Jaramillo.

Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.