Ernest Warren "Ernie" Baxstrom

ERNEST WARREN "ERNIE" BAXSTROM Graveside inurnment services will be held for lifelong Cortez resident Ernest Warren "Ernie" Baxstrom at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 at the Cortez Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75. A reception will follow the graveside service on Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Ute Mountain American Legion Hall. Ernie was born on February 11, 1921 in McElmo, Colo. the son of Anthony Harry and Bernice Estelle (Sayler) Baxstrom. He passed away on Friday, April 25, 2008 at the 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 CDOT 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; 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 may be made in Ernie's memory to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Cortez divison.