Keaeira Jewel Cuthair
Mar 1, 2026
Celebration of life for Keaeira Jewel Cuthair will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday March 13, 2026 at Ertel Memorial Chapel.
Keaeira was born April 24, 1995 in Cortez, Colorado the daughter of Kendall Cuthair and Rhoda Surveyor. She passed away on March 1, 2026, at the Community Hospital, Arapahoe County, Aurora, Colorado.
Keaeria was an office worker in Denver, Colorado. A...
Sally Ann Marie Gleason
Mar 1, 2026
Funeral Mass for Cortez resident Sally Ann Marie Gleason will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 (Rosary at 9:30) at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.
Sally was born on August 14th, 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio the daughter of James John and Sally Jean (Sandor) Cerny. She passed away on Sunday, March 1st, 2026 at Mercy Regional Medical Center...
Breyer James Betts
Feb 26, 2026
“Today, we gather to honor Breyer Betts, whose life was taken far too soon. He grew up in the Cortez area, and it was there that his love of adventure was rooted—something sparked early on in the canyons and hills around him. From a young age, he couldn’t be kept off a bike or skateboard. He had boundless energy, and...
Frederick Christopher Kail
Feb 24, 2026
Frederick Christopher Kail passed away at his home in Cortez, Colorado on February 24th, 2026. He was 80 years old.
Fred was born to Maye (Davie) and Philip Kail in Gettysburg, PA and grew up in Wheat Ridge, CO. He attended Wheat Ridge High School and enrolled at Colorado State University before joining the Peace Corps. He served three years in...
Carmelita Marie Sanchez
Feb 24, 2026
Carmelita Marie Sanchez, lovingly known as Carma, of Dove Creek, Colorado, entered Heaven on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Carma was born on October 3, 1952, in Eagle, Colorado, to Mel and Adeline Montano. She grew up with her two younger sisters, Donna and Lorraine, and a beloved older brother who passed at a young age.
On June 14,...
Renee Lemons
Feb 23, 2026
Renee Lemons, of Cortez, Colorado, was born on March 27, 1960, and passed away on February 23, 2026, following a car accident on February 20, 2026.
Renee graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 1978. She went on to attend Colorado Mesa University, where she earned her degree in 1990 as a Radiologic Technologist. Throughout her career, she worked in various locations,...
Rayola Bagwell
Feb 22, 2026
Rayola Bagwell of Cortez, Colorado died February 22, 2026 with loved ones by her side. She was born August 27, 1938 to Bunn and Blanch Turnbow.
Rayola was an active member of St. Barnabas of the Valley Episcopal Church, volunteered with Special Olympics, loved to read and travel.
Surviving Rayola are her son John Bagwell of Cortez, Colorado, a sister BertAnn Deline...
Larry Roscoe Tevault
Feb 20, 2026
T1965 to the Celebration of life for Larry Roscoe Tevault will be held at the American Legion in Cortez, CO on Friday Feb 27th at 1pm.
Larry was born October 28th, 1941 (Even though his birth certificate says the 29th, no one knows for sure) in Cortez, CO. He was the son of Russel Tevault and Viola Denny. He passed away...
Ricky Espinoza
Feb 19, 2026
A service for Ricky Espinoza will be held on March 7th, 2026 at 10:00 am at Ertel Memorial Chapel.
Ricky was born on April 23rd, 1958 in Cortez, CO the son of Lino and Della Espinoza. He passed away on February 19th, 2026 at the age 67.
Ricky was an outdoorsman; he loved being outdoors, fishing, hunting, and spending his time with...
Casey Jo Brooks II
Feb 15, 2026
A private service will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 1:00 PM to honor and celebrate the life of Casey Jo Brooks II, a precious little boy taken far too soon.Though his time on earth was brief, Casey filled the hearts of those around him with immeasurable love, joy, and light. His sweet smile, curious spirit, and gentle...
Melvin Eugene Heath
Feb 13, 2026
Mel grew up in and around Carbon County Utah, he shared with us countless stories of adventure and misadventure, He then served a hitch in the United States Navy during the Korean war. All this was just the preamble, on October 16, 1954, Mel married his sweetheart, Eva May Hopkins in Elko Nevada.
Mel and Eva settled down in the mining...
Wilma Lillie Randolph
Feb 9, 2026
Wilma Lillie Springmeyer was born September 20, 1931 to Clifford and Bertha Springmeyer of Gray, OK. She was born in Perryton, TX, the closest hospital to Gray, so she always said she was a Texan and she was proud of it. She was the youngest of 6 children.
In 1932 her family packed up and moved from the panhandle of Oklahoma...
Lori Elizabeth Harris
Feb 8, 2026
Lori Elizabeth Harris, of Dolores, Colorado, passed into the arms of Jesus on February 8, 2026 in Durango, Colorado after a hard-fought battle with breast cancer.
Born and raised in with a deep love for family and the outdoors, Lori touched the lives of many through her kindness, generosity, love of children, and unwavering faith in God.
Lori was born January 22,...
Donnie Lin Leavell
Feb 6, 2026
After a lifetime of chasing bass and scouting the perfect hunting spot, Donnie Lin Leavell, of Cortez, Colorado, passed away peacefully at his home on February 6, 2026, at the age of 72. Donnie was a loyal friend, devoted husband, and loving father.
Born April 6, 1953, in Cortez to Merle Everett and Ruby Rae (Lewis) Leavell, Donnie grew up locally...
Trudy Ann Strong
Feb 4, 2026
This world lost a brilliant light in the early morning of February 4th 2026 as Trudy Ann Strong (Umphryes) left us in the presence of her Lord. No services are planned at this time, but a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Indiana where Trudy was born and spent most of her life.
Trudy was born...
Judith Anne Pierce
Jan 29, 2026
Judith Anne Pierce was born and raised in Missouri. She was a current resident of Cortez, Colorado. Judy had four sons, Denny (wife Sandi), Bradley (wife Heather) and Brian (wife Mitzi). She is preceded in death by her youngest son, David. Judy had many grandchildren and several great grandchildren, which she adored very much. Judy worked as a nurse for...
Julie Watson Carey
Jan 26, 2026
Julie Carey will always be known as a seeker of adventure and a bright light who inspired people to live their best, most passionate lives. She devoted her life to helping people grow through transformational wilderness experiences and experiential education in the classroom and beyond. She flowed like water between passions and projects, bringing her unique perspectives, playful sense of...
Verna Lou Martin
Jan 24, 2026
Verna Martin, 91, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Cortez, Colorado.
Verna Lou Baldwin was born on February 25, 1934, in Snyder, Kiowa County, Oklahoma, to Jess and Mabel (Leffel) Baldwin. She was the ninth of fourteen children.
The Baldwin family moved from Oklahoma when Verna was an infant. They eventually settled in Montrose, Colorado, and later moved to Cortez....
Wester Messinger
Jan 17, 2026
Wester Messinger, 87, of Cortez, Colorado, was born on August 25, 1938 in Arizona and passed away on January 17 2026, in Cortez. Wester was a long-time resident of Cortez, living here for 85 years. He enjoyed hunting, studying the Constitution of the United States, and most importantly working on his ranch.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years,...
Kenneth Ray Brackett
Jan 13, 2026
Kenneth Ray Brackett, of Egnar, CO, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026, at age 71 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Kenny, as he was called by most family and friends, was a loyal friend, devoted husband, and loving father.
Kenny was born on August 9, 1954 in Monticello, UT to Roy Kenneth and Nada (Harvey) Brackett. He graduated from...
