Obituaries

Xander Carl Sword

Xander Carl Sword

Dec 28, 2021

Xander was born August 31, 2007 in Cortez, CO to Nathan and Rachel (Gates) Sword. He passed away on December 28, 2021 at Southwest Memorial Hospital of a brain tumor at the age of 14 to be with our Heavenly Father. Xander is described as a sweet, smart, awkward, goofy, wonderful, helpful, thoughtful, kind young man. He was such a...

Bryce Benton Williford

Bryce Benton Williford

Dec 27, 2021

Bryce Benton Williford was born March 15, 1959 in Cortez, CO the son of Bruce Benton and June (Hollen) Williford. He passed away Monday, December 27, 2021 at his home in Dolores, CO at the age of 62. Surviving Bryce are his siblings, Dane Hately (Tracey) of Lewis, CO, Everitt Williford (Robin) of Dolores, CO, Robin Carver (Jeff) of Cortez,...

Melinda  Marlene 'Mindy' Becher

Melinda Marlene 'Mindy' Becher

Dec 27, 2021

Melinda Marlene ‘Mindy’ Becher was born May 12, 1954, in Westbrook, MN the daughter of John Leonard and Marlene Carol (Ackman) Thorsness. She passed away on Monday, December 27, 2021, at her residence in Dolores, CO at the age of 67. As Mindy grew up her family moved around a lot as her father was a minister. They lived in...

Tracey Ray Scott

Tracey Ray Scott

Dec 27, 2021

Memorial services for Towaoc resident Tracey Ray Scott will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Tracey was born August 17, 1984 in Cortez, CO the son of Herman Scott and Sherry Jean Clark. He passed away in December 2021 in Cortez, CO at the age of 37. Surviving Tracey are his siblings, Sherman...

Richard James Sanders

Richard James Sanders

Dec 25, 2021

Richard James Sanders was born September 29, 1939 in Paradox, CO the son of Benjamin Franklin and Lupita Sophia (Candelaria) Sanders. He passed away on Saturday, December 25, 2021 at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO. Surviving Richard are his loving spouse, Ellen Sanders of Cortez, CO; his children, Robert Venegas of Martinez, GA, Rita Higgins of Cortez, CO, Richard...

Gene Forest

Gene Forest

Dec 23, 2021

Gene Forest passed from this world on December 23, 2021 surrounded by his family. He passed at the Hospice of Mercy in Durango, CO after a short illness. Gene was born on his grandfather’s homestead near Lewis, CO on June 22, 1933 to Melvin and Eva (Jewell) Forest, the third of four children. He attended grade school in Lewis and...

Robert John  'Rj' Dunsten

Robert John 'Rj' Dunsten

Dec 22, 2021

Robert J. Dunsten (RJ, Bob, Bobby) died peacefully at home on December 22, 2021 surrounded with love. RJ was born in Pittsburgh, PA, where he lived for 50 years then moved to CO. He was a graduate of Baldwin High School in 1968 and the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in psychology. He served in the Air Force reserve...

Windy Mills Jr.

Windy Mills Jr.

Dec 22, 2021

A memorial service for Towaoc resident Windy Mills Jr. will be held Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 10 a.m. at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Windy was born January 27, 1968 in Cortez, CO the son of Susie House and Windy Mills Sr. He passed away on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO at the age of...

Nancy Marlene Andrews

Nancy Marlene Andrews

Dec 22, 2021

Nancy Marlene Cross Andrews Nancy Marlene Andrews died peacefully at home from cancer in the presence of her son on December 22, 2021. There will be a service at Evangel Assembly of God church in Cortez on Thursday January 13, 2022 at 11:00 AM. The service will be followed by interment at Summit Ridge Cemetery in Dolores. Nancy was born...

Lisa Rachel Clements

Lisa Rachel Clements

Dec 21, 2021

Lisa Rachel Clements was born November 17, 1968 in St. Louis, MO the daughter of Robert and Ingrid (Pourucker) Nuell. She passed away on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at her residence in Dolores, CO at the age of 53. Surviving Lisa are her loving spouse, Patrick Clements of Dolores, CO; and her siblings, Cathy Tucker Dawson (Bill) of Raleigh, NC,...

Mckinly Ryan Yellow

Mckinly Ryan Yellow

Dec 21, 2021

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, December 24, 2021 at Ertel Memorial Chapel for Towaoc resident McKinly Ryan Yellow. Ryan was born March 18, 1979 in Monticello, UT the son of Jimmy Yellow and Julie Posey. He passed away on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO at the age of 42....

Betty Lou Stanley

Betty Lou Stanley

Dec 21, 2021

Betty Lou Kidman Stanley was born on September 7, 1932 in a small community west of Logan, Utah called Beaver Dam. She was the fourth child of six born to Delbert Kidman Sr. and Elizabeth B. Andrew-Kidman. She was also the first girl, so she was relentlessly teased by her three older brothers. Her mother died of cancer when Betty...

Patricia Faye Schmidt

Patricia Faye Schmidt

Dec 20, 2021

Patricia Faye Schmidt, age 65, passed away on December 20, 2021 at UC Health Hospital in Denver, Colorado. She was born on April 29, 1956 in Austin, Texas. She is survived by her husband Kit Schmidt, daughter Callie Sprague (Doug Sprague), granddaughter Ashlyn Velarde, son Blaine Schmidt, grandson Beckett, son Kent Schmidt, granddaughter Dallie, mother Billie Floyd, sister Darlene Johnson...

Paul  Wright

Paul Wright

Dec 20, 2021

Paul Junior Wright was born May 31, 1929 in Ryan, Oklahoma, the son of Joseph Tilden and Ruby Viola (Cole) Wright. He passed away on Monday, December 20, 2021, at his home at the age of 92. Surviving Paul are his wife of 73 years, Vivian Lucille Wright of Mancos, CO, daughter Trudi Rose (Dan) of Mancos, Teresa Wood of...

Tharon Floyd 'Ted' Baskett

Tharon Floyd 'Ted' Baskett

Dec 19, 2021

Tharon Floyd “Ted” Basket was born June 26, 1930 in his family home on South Washington Street in Cortez, CO. His father built this home. It was the beginning of a lifelong relationship for both father and son with building and woodworking. Ted was the third child and only son born to Floyd Edward Baskett and Fern Emma (McBroom) Baskett....

Virginia Ann  'G-Ann' Jessup

Virginia Ann 'G-Ann' Jessup

Dec 18, 2021

Virginia Ann ‘G-Ann’ Jessup was born July 30, 1945 in Kansas City, MO the daughter of George Thomas and Ada Helen (Wilson) Worman. She passed away on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO at the age of 76. Surviving G-Ann are her loving husband, Donald Eugene Jessup of Cortez, CO; her children, Kelly Jackson (Art)...

Charlotte Sharer Hutchison

Charlotte Sharer Hutchison

Dec 17, 2021

Longtime Cortez resident, Charlotte Hutchison, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 17, 2021 at Vista Grande Inn in Cortez at the age of 95. Charlotte was born on April 21, 1926 in Arkansas City, KS, to Verna and Raymond Sharer. She married William Chester “Bill” Hutchison on August 17, 1948 in Arkansas City, KS, and they shared nearly 63 years...

Eddie Dean Oliver

Eddie Dean Oliver

Dec 16, 2021

EDDIE DEAN OLIVER Our beloved Eddie Dean Oliver. Eddie was the New Year’s baby in Cortez, CO January 1, 1950. He moved on from his earthly life on December 16, 2021. Eddie was born to Lester and Berna Dean Oliver, the eldest of five children. Eddie spent his early years in Delta, CO on a mountain place that was dear...

Ondalan Wolfgang Hunter Wells

Ondalan Wolfgang Hunter Wells

Dec 15, 2021

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2 – 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at Ertel Memorial Chapel for Ondalan Wolfgang Hunter Wells. Ondalan was born May 30, 1997 in Salt Lake City, UT the son of Orelan John Wells and Alvina Vera Yellow. He passed away on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand...

Merna Belle Konyndyk

Merna Belle Konyndyk

Dec 14, 2021

Merna Belle Konyndyk was born March 2, 1926 in Marion, Michigan, the daughter of Claire and Teresa (Thrilher) Merritt. She passed away peacefully on Tuesday December 14, 2021 at her son’s home in Mancos at the age of 95. Merna was an avid traveler in her younger years and flew around the world during her career as a travel agent....