Marlene Joan Hazen

Memorial services for long-time Rico and Dolores area resident Marlene Joan Hazen (Fortik) will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at Johnson Memorial Church, 105 N. 8th St., Dolores, CO.
 
 Marlene was born November 24, 1934 in Mason City, Nebraska to Emil and Evelyn Fortik (Tiff-Hall). She passed to be with our Lord in her home with her daughters by her side.
 
 Marlene was raised in Steamboat Springs, CO and was an avid outdoor enthusiast. She was a competitive skier on the high school ski team and earned her place as an alternate downhill racer on the Junior Olympic team. She was known to jump off the famous Howelsen Hill ski jump on her downhill skis! She was crowned Winter Carnival queen her senior year of high school in 1952. Steamboat remained very special to her all her life.
 
 Marlene and Ken met in Steamboat and married April 16, 1966. She always said that he saved her. They spent many years raising their family in Phoenix, AZ until they retired to Rico, CO in 1988.
 
 Marlene was an exceptionally community-minded lady. She served many years with the Rico Women's Club, Rico Historical Society, Rico Community Church, and Dolores County Commodities and was a board member on the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway and Area Agency on Aging. She organized the Rico 4th of July parade in her famous clown suit. She wrote the "Rico Report" for the Cortez Journal and Dolores Star for over 20 years. Until her passing she still had followers of her column recognize her!
 
 Some of Marlene's fondest memories were with Ken and family and friends, fishing and camping in the mountains, spending time at the beach in Mexico, skiing, travelling and holidays. Her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and friends meant the world to her and she was very proud of them.
 
 So many people can learn from the way Marlene lived and loved life--love of the Lord, love of family and friends, love of country. She touched countless lives and will be truly missed. We will miss her famous cooking, laughter, and beautiful ever-present smile.
 
 Surviving Marlene are her daughters, Jennifer Marielle Nunley (TJ Johnston) of Rico/Dolores and Kimberly Ellen Jones (Todd) of Rico/Dolores; grandchildren, Kaitlin Hazen Boren (Justin) of Helena, MT; Kelby Rayellen Hazen Nunley (Patrick) of Durango, CO; Wyatt Matthew Jones (Taylor) of Rico/Mancos, CO; Adeline Marielle Jones (Tristan) of Rico/Dolores; and great-grandchildren Barlow Lane Jones and Barrett Carrington Boren; and her brother Dean Fortik.
 
 Marlene was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings Donna Bowerman and Bonnie Israel.
 
 Memorial contributions may be made in Marlene's name to the Johnson Memorial Church of Dolores, Denver Rescue Mission, and the Dolores and Rico Fire Departments.