Obituaries

Dec 9, 2020

Charles Raymond “Charlie” Baskett was born November 15, 1937 in Ackmen, CO the son of John Perry and Myrtel Matilda (Tewell) Baskett. He passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at his residence in Cortez, CO at the age of 83. Surviving Charlie are his loving wife, Billie Jean Baskett of Cortez, CO; his children, Roxanne Herrmann of Gracemont, OK,...

Dec 7, 2020

William Donald Tortoriello Jr. was born April 28, 1949 in Waterloo, IA the son of William D. and Betty Ann (Mabb) Tortoriello. He passed away on Monday, December 7, 2020 at his residence at the age of 71. Surviving William is his loving wife, Nila Tortoriello of Cortez, CO. William was preceded in death by his parents.

Dec 7, 2020

Emery Lovett, Jr was born on Feb 4,1926 in Pensacola Florida to Emery, Sr. and Helen Paton Lovett. He passed away on Dec 7, 2020, just short of his 95th Birthday. Emery graduated from Chadwick High School in Palos Verde, California in 1943 and spent 1 year at the University of Colorado Boulder before enlisting in the army at the...

Dec 6, 2020

Deanne' J. Acott passed away at home on Sunday, December 6, 2020. Deanne' was born in Fleming, CO to Orville and Opal Heath on Nov. 19, 1938. Deanne' and Howard were married on Feb.8, 1958. She spent much of her life supporting Howard in his educational and agricultural pursuits. Howard passed away in 2000. Deanne' was a well known Agricultural...

Dec 2, 2020

Betty Jane ‘Janie’ Hennessee was born February 3, 1939 in Windber, PA the daughter of Joseph Michael and Helen Anna (Kochis) Zabrosky. She passed away on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO, at the age of 81, with her daughter by her side. Janie was a sweet and kind lady who loved her family and...

Nov 30, 2020

WILLIAM TROY LICHLITER Lifelong Cortez resident William Troy Lichliter died at St. Mary’s Medical Center on November 30, 2020. He was 76. Troy Lichliter was born to Art Lichliter and Reva Brown Lichliter on November 4, 1944 in Durango, Colorado. He graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 1962. He worked at Cortez Livestock Auction as head foreman. His childhood was...

Nov 30, 2020

Alta Nadine Rhodes was born November 3, 1940 in Montrose, CO to Dewey and Ida (Smith) Drinnen. She passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020 at her home in Dolores, CO after a long and courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Alta was preceded in death by her parents; and her son, Don Rhodes. She is survived by her husband...

Nov 30, 2020

Patty Dian Ives (Knuckles) was born August 9, 1953 in Monticello, Utah to Doyle (Doc) and Eva (Short) Knuckles. She was the youngest of six children. She liked being a tomboy and growing up on a farm in Colorado. In her adulthood, she enjoyed cooking, crocheting, watching movies, gardening, and growing flowers. Patty is survived by daughter Wendy (Jerry) Howard...

Nov 28, 2020

Nov 28, 2020

Graveside services for Cortez resident Jimmy Lee ‘Jim’ Spurlock will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, December 14, 2020 at Cortez Cemetery. Mr. Aaron Galyon will officiate. Jim was born December 21, 1937 in Stratford, OK the son of John and Ruth (Abney) Spurlock. He passed away on Saturday, November 28, 2020 at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO at...

Nov 27, 2020

Cody John DuFrene was born in Cortez, Colorado on February 22, 1984 to Ron and Dana DuFrene. He passed peacefully on November 27, 2020 in Grand Junction, Colorado at the age of 36. Cody is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Harmon Eugene DuFrene and Patricia Rose West DuFrene. Cody is survived by his parents, Ron and Dana DuFrene;...

Nov 27, 2020

Vesta Ilene Butler of Dolores passed away Friday evening, November 27, 2020, at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO. She was 89. Vesta was born to Elree and Noble Chasten in Ellington, Missouri on November 4, 1931. She was a long-time resident of the Montezuma County area, moving there in the mid-1930’s from Missouri as a young girl with her...

Nov 27, 2020

Janet Layman Brown was born July 26, 1934 in Delta, CO to John William and Glenna C. (Poe) Layman. She passed from this life to be reunited with her husband, Belmear on Friday, November 27, 2020. Janet and her parents moved to Cortez in 1938, opening up the Main Street business of Layman Hardware. She grew up helping in the...

Nov 26, 2020

Johnnie Willis Dukeminier was born August 19, 1933 in Roswell, NM the son of John Price and Ethel R. (Sugge) Dukeminier. He passed away on Thursday, November 26, 2020 at his residence at the age of 87. Surviving Johnnie are his children, John Dukeminier of Cortez, CO, and Sherry Willis of Cary, NC. Johnnie was preceded in death by his...

Nov 25, 2020

Services will be held at a later date for Cortez resident Kevin Cyrus Johnson. Kevin was born November 3, 1948 in Cortez, CO the son of Charles Joseph and Janice Lavina (Baker) Johnson. He passed away on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, NM at the age of 72. Kevin was a proud Vietnam...

Nov 25, 2020

Graveside services for Towaoc resident Glynis Jay Wall will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 30, 2020. Only immediate family will be in attendance at the graveside. All other friends and family are invited to gather outside of the cemetery. Glynis was born September 8, 1963 in Cortez, CO the daughter of Mary Hammond and John Wing. She...

Nov 24, 2020

Graveside services for Rob Mellott of Pleasant View, Colo. will be held on Monday, November 30 at Dove Creek Cemetery. Rob was born October 20, 1946 at Mercy Hospital in Durango, Colo. to Nathan and Mary Mellott. Rob attended Dove Creek schools graduating in 1963. He attended college in Rangely, Colo. on a baseball scholarship, later transferring to Fort Lewis...

Nov 24, 2020

Harvey Dearl “Darrell” Dill was born April 4, 1943 in Non, OK the son of Harvey and Cora Louise (Moorman) Dill. He passed away on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at Vista Grande Inn in Cortez, CO at the age of 77. Surviving Harvey is his daughter, Christie Winkler of Ignacio, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Nov 23, 2020

Maxine Estelle Chappell, 78, of Glendale, Arizona, entered heaven on November 23, 2020. She succumbed to a five-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Maxine was born on January 23, 1942 in Ashtabula, Ohio. In high school, she accepted Jesus as her personal savior. This most important decision led her to Pillsbury Bible College where she met her life partner, Dr. Larry...

Nov 22, 2020

William Boyd Cole, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday November 22, 2020. “Bud” Cole was born to Boxley Hooper, Florance Lydia Cole ‘’Rundquist,’’ on April 12, 1927 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Our dad, “Bud”, was known by many in our community, but for our family, he was “Grandpa” and to one he was called “Punkin.” He was...