Obituaries

Sep 26, 2022

Shelly Neely passed away at the age of 58 on September 26, 2022 in Dallas, Texas surrounded by her family.

Shelly was born August 14, 1964 in Cortez, Colorado. She spent most of her formative years in Dove Creek, Colorado and attended Dolores County High School, where she met her husband of 40 years, Dewey Neely. They had three children; Krystal,...

Sep 25, 2022

Lila Aileen Maxwell was born October 22, 1915, in a little town along the La Plata River called Pendleton, New Mexico, which doesn’t even exist today. Her father was Thomas Glennwood Funk, and her mother was Mary Roberts Hughes.

Aileen had two sisters: Dorothy Estalena (Tanner) and Gladys Marie (McBee). They moved to La Plata City, Colorado where their father was...

Sep 24, 2022

Charles “Chas” Stewart Cartwright passed away on September 24, 2022 at the age of 72 in Cortez, Colorado. His characteristic grit and strength shone through as he battled serious medical issues. While he finally succumbed to his health challenges, he was able to find relief surrounded by some of his loved ones at the time of his passing.

Chas had the...

Sep 20, 2022

While the world was in the second World War, in a small canyon enveloped in red rock and sandstone cliffs there was a young pretty lady Lila with her firstborn son, Sherman Zwicker. He was born on Saint Patrick’s Day, 1943. Eldon Emil Zwicker, his father, said the only thing he ever wanted to be was a cowboy, Sherm would...

Sep 18, 2022

Commander [retired] William "Harvey" Skidmore passed away September 18th. He is survived by wife Mitty (Huntsman) Skidmore and brother David Skidmore. 

Sep 15, 2022

Longtime Mancos resident Margaret Phillips Johnson-Gaddis was born June 26, 1936 in New Castle, Penn., the daughter of George Walter and Elizabeth (McCollough) Johnson. She passed away on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at her home in Mancos at the age of 86.

Margaret is survived by her sister, Winifred Sharp (Joel) of Windermere, Florida, and her brother, George W. Johnson of...

Sep 14, 2022

  On September 14, 2022, Robert "Bob" Clarence Heyder of Mancos, Colorado, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his family.

  

  Bob was the third son born to Heinrich and Emilie Heyder on December 27, 1928, in Oakland, California.

 Bob always enjoyed the outdoors. He joined the Forestry Division of Yosemite National Park in 1947 and left to serve in the...

Sep 14, 2022

FORREST RAHE WAGGONER

Forrest Rahe Waggoner was born to Henry Franklin and Ivah Maude (Armstrong) Waggoner on June 20, 1926 in Farmington, N.M. He spent his early years working on the family farm and attending local schools. He was a member of the track team at Farmington High School. He was anxious to join the Navy during WWII. He served on...

Sep 14, 2022

Navy Veteran Clarence Lafayette Calhoun made his journey home to be with the Lord on Wednesday,

September 14, 2022. Clarence passed peacefully in his home at the age of 94.

Clarence was born to John C, and Viola (Maddox) Calhoun on July 5, 1928, in Phoenix, Az.

Surviving Clarence are his Children, Lori Winemiller of Arizona; Clancy Calhoun (Charlotte) of Aztec, NM.

Sarah Miller...

Sep 9, 2022

RENATE ALICE MCCABE

Renate Alice Fix was born on March 1, 1937 to Martha and Eugene Fix in Pforzheim, Germany. She entered Heaven’s Gate on September 9, 2022 in Cahone, Colo. with family at her side.

Renate was one tough lady, a classy lady. She survived war-torn Germany (1939-1945) and the Cold War until moving to Sturgis, S.D. in 1960. She was...

Sep 9, 2022

TIMOTHY ALLEN LANIER

Timothy Allen Lanier, 65, of Pleasant View, CO passed away unexpectedly on Friday, September 9, 2022 at Mercy Medical Hospital in Durango, CO. He spent the last 4 years battling cancer and fought diligently to the end. Services will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Empire at...

Sep 3, 2022

Sep 2, 2022

LENORA MAE NELSON

A celebration of life for longtime Cortez resident Lenora Mae Nelson will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2022 at Flanders Park in Dolores, Colo. Visitation has been scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Ertel Memorial Chapel.

Lenora was born on March 8, 1933 the daughter of Floyd Milton and Sada Ethel (Murray) Barrick....

Aug 29, 2022

DOROTHY MARIE GREEN Dotty Green was born April 18, 1946 in Oneonta NY and died August 29, 2022 in Cortez, CO. She is survived by her niece, Mary Ambion and her children, Bryan and Katie Ambion, Fremont, CA, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by Elizabeth M. (Bergh) and Carl G. Green as well as...

Aug 28, 2022

MARGARET ANN WEESE Funeral Mass for Dove Creek resident Margaret Ann Weese will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 9, 2022 at St. Jude Catholic Church in Dove Creek. Reciting of the Rosary will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the church, prior to Mass. Interment will follow at Dove Creek Cemetery. Margaret was born January 18, 1955 in...

Aug 27, 2022

PEGGY JO SMITH

A celebration of life for Cortez resident, Peggy Jo Smith will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Services will be in the chapel at Ertel Funeral Home 42 N. Market Street Cortez, Colo. with Peggy’s dear friend, Anthony Maes officiating.

Peggy was born March 31, 1933 in Monte Vista, Colo. the daughter of Theodore Harold...

Aug 26, 2022

Callie Ann Burke was born March 13, 1926 in Marshall County, Kansas. She was the daughter of James G. and Daisy A. (Snook) Burke. Callie’s dad died when she was three years old and she and her mom went to live with a family on a farm. Daisy had a job helping the farm wife with the cooking, cleaning and...

Aug 23, 2022

LIBBY B. BAKER Funeral services for Cortez resident Libby B. Baker will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Livedita Baca, or more lovingly known as, Libby, was born in San Rafael, N.M. on February 2, 1934, to Procopio and Luz (Marino) Baca. Libby was born into...

Aug 21, 2022

ALMA “Polly” PAULINE CONNER A celebration of life for Dolores resident Alma “Polly” Pauline Conner will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at First Baptist Church of Cortez. Polly was born December 11, 1936 in Springer, New Mexico to John Harley and Maureen Elizabeth (Troutman) Howe. She passed away at her home on Sunday, August 21, 2022...

Aug 19, 2022

KAY JERRY BEGAY Graveside services for Kay Jerry Begay will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at Cortez Cemetery. Pastor Lynn J. Begay will officiate. Kay was born October 10, 1938 in Hatch, Utah the son of Cyrus J. and Madeline (Jones) Begay. He passed away on Friday, August 19, 2022 at Vista Grande Inn at...