Wilbert George "Bud" Carriere Jr.

WILBERT GEORGE "BUDDY" CARRIERE JR. Memorial services for longtime Cortez resident Wilbert George "Buddy" Carriere Jr. will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, February 23 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Inurnment will follow at Summit Ridge Cemetery with Military Honors being provided by Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75. Lunch will be served at 12 p.m. at the American Legion. Bud passed away Friday, February 14, 2014 at his home in Cortez of natural causes. He was born April 12, 1931 at Pandora, Colo. to W.G. Carriere Sr. and Mildred (Midge) Irving. He attended school in Telluride, graduating with the class of 1949. He married Helen O'Conner in 1950, this union ended in divorce. He joined the Army in 1952 and was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Tex. for two years. He met and married Elizabeth Miller in 1965. They lived in El Paso until Bud's retirement from the National Guard in 1989. They moved to Cortez, where Bud has lived and served as the Veteran's Administrator for Montezuma County since August 1991 (22 1/2 years), until the time of his passing. Bud was well known among the Veterans that he worked for and with. He made many friends within the ranks of our servicemen, women, and their spouses. His family is truly grateful to Montezuma County for providing him the opportunity to help others and in return to make his life full and meaningful. He will be missed by the many lives he touched. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth, of 30 years; his grandson, Joshua Martin; his parents, Bud & Midge Carriere; and his step daughter, Gina E. Martin. Bud is survived by his granddaughter, Stacey Martin of Cortez; great grandson, Kayden; great granddaughter, Gina Marie Nelson and husband, Shane of Cortez; brothers, Robert Carriere of Norwood, Colo., Tom Carriere and wife, Margot of Denver, Colo., and Ron Carriere of Denver, Colo.; sister, Charlotte Royer and husband, Johnny of Norwood, Colo.; one very special uncle, Theron Irving of El Sobrante, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews who were very special to him and he to them. He is also survived by special cousins on both sides of his family and his extended Cortez family. Bud will be greatly missed by the many friends he grew up with in Telluride, served with in El Paso, and worked with in Cortez. Bud was a loving son, husband, brother, grandpa, uncle, cousin, and friend. He will be remembered for his quiet ways, his sense of family, his sense of humor, and his loyalty to those he held most dear. We are each better because of the example he set for all of us. Memorial contributions can be made to Cortez Veteran's Assistance, 320 N. Harrison Street, Cortez, Colo. 81321.