Obituaries

Oct 23, 2019

Funeral services for Cortez resident Arthur Wayne Searcy will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 9, 2019at Cahone Church. Pastor Marvin Graves will officiate. Interment will follow at Cahone Cemetery. Military Honors will be performed by the Dove Creek VFW Post #5181. Arthur was born January 7, 1942 in Cahone, CO the son of Arthur and Oral (Neely) Searcy....

Oct 23, 2019

Arthua Donnalla “Artie” Mitchell was born September 7, 1953 in Eugene, OR the daughter of Donna Lee Wright. She passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at her residence in Cortez, CO at the age of 66. Surviving Artie are her daughters, Dauvina Romero of Enumclauw, WA, Maria Velarde of Loveland, CO, and Thea Wilson of Phoenix, AZ; seven grandchildren;...

Oct 21, 2019

Funeral services for Towaoc resident Shirley Ann Deer will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday November 2, 2019 at the Towaoc Recreation Center. Mr. Manuel Heart will officiate. Interment will follow at Towaoc Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, November 1, 2019 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Shirley was born June 1, 1958 in Cortez, CO the daughter...

Oct 18, 2019

Thelma Alice Hanson; mother, wife, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away at the Vista Grande Inn Nursing Home on Friday, October 18, 2019. Thelma was born in Amarillo, Texas on April 22, 1930. She was the youngest of four brothers and one sister. Thelma was married for 71 years to her husband, Paul who preceded her in death...

Oct 17, 2019

George Frank Phelps was born January 8, 1944 in Pueblo, CO the son of McKinley and Frances (Armstrong) Phelps. He passed away on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at his residence in Dolores, CO at the age of 75. Surviving Frank are his siblings, Fred Phelps of Cortez, CO, Roland Phelps of Grand Junction, CO, McKinley Phelps Jr. of Amsterdam, Netherlands,...

Oct 17, 2019

Casey Alan Zahorka was born February 1, 1969 in Auburn, WA the son of Ronald Emil and Cecelia Marie (Wilson) Zahorka. He passed away on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at his residence in Cortez, CO at the age of 50. Surviving Casey are his mother, Cecelia Penman (Ron) of Dolores, CO; his step mother, Terri Zahorka of Cortez, CO; his...

Oct 15, 2019

Ralph Lynn “Jim” Mitchell Jr. was born September 26, 1942 in Artesia, NM the son of Ralph Lynn Sr. and Ynaith Mable (Williams) Mitchell. He passed away on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at his residence in Mancos, CO at the age of 77. Jim married Frances Elizabeth Grace on June 14, 1997 in Colton, CA and soon moved to Mancos,...

Oct 10, 2019

Oct 9, 2019

Henry Don Lightenburger 1930 – 2019 The family of Don Lightenburger is grieved to announce his death on Wednesday October 9, 2019 in Dolores, Colorado at the age of 89. Don passed away from pancreatic cancer after bravely and courageously facing the disease. Henry Don Lightenburger was born on July 17, 1930, the son of Lorna Francis (Calhoon) and Henry...

Oct 9, 2019

(Albert) Wayne Wancura departed this life Tuesday, October 9, 2019 on the family homestead, his home for most of his 86 years. Wayne was born December 20, 1932 to Wayne Albert and Myrtle Wancura, joining brother Frank and sister Mackie on the farm. Wayne graduated high school in Dove Creek in 1950. He joined the Navy in 1951, serving as...

Oct 6, 2019

A public visitation will be held for Cortez resident Helen Nadine Crain from 5 -7 p.m. Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. The family will hold a private graveside service at Dove Creek Cemetery. Nadine was born August 19, 1922 in Dove Creek, CO the daughter of William L. and Watha E. (Cordell) Larrance. She passed away on...

Oct 4, 2019

Gordon Keith Dennison passed away in his home surrounded by his family on October 4, 2019 in Dolores, CO. Gordon is survived by his wife of 60 years, Maxine Dennison; his three children and their spouses, Janet and George Ochoa, Mitchell and Denise Dennison, and Laurie and Steve Doyon; 12 grandkids; and 21 great grandkids. He was an active member...

Sep 29, 2019

Donald Eugene “Gene” Carver was born March 13, 1937 in Cortez, CO the son of Donald Jefferson Carver and Georgia Roberta (Blair) Pyle. Gene passed away on Sunday, September 29, 2019 at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO at the age of 82. Gene had an adventurous spirit. He loved hunting, camping, horseback riding and spending time in the mountains....

Sep 29, 2019

Howard Duane Kirk of Cortez died at the age of 78 on September 29, 2019 at Southwest Memorial Hospital, with his wife, Maxine and his daughters, Kim and Cynthia by his side. His sister Shirley was there, as she had been daily to accompany him through his final journey. Howard was born on October 23, 1940 at the family home...

Sep 27, 2019

Graveside services for Cortez resident Freeda Alliane Hinton will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at Cortez Cemetery. Pastor Marvin Graves will officiate. Freeda was born December 22, 1933 in Egnar, CO the daughter of Raymond and Allie Belle (Ownby) Mooney. She passed away on Friday, September 27, 2019 at Vista Grande Inn at the age of...

Sep 25, 2019

Florence Helen McEwen was born February 24, 1931 in Praire View, AR the daughter of Robert Lee and Willie Mae (Weatherton) Fox. She passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at Vista Grande Inn in Cortez at the age of 88. Known by most as “Grammie” or “Bossy,” Florence loved her family, cooking, bingo, bowling, and the Dallas Cowboys. Not...

Sep 20, 2019

Deborah Marie “Debbie” Griffith was born in Cortez, CO on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1957, to George and Carolee Griffith. Debbie had a happy childhood with her younger sister, Cindy and younger brother, Marty. She helped take care of her younger siblings while her parents worked in family owned service stations and businesses. Debbie attended Manaugh and Downey Elementary, Cortez...

Sep 20, 2019

Memorial services for Cortez resident Roland Janis Alksnis will be held at 12 p.m. Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at Evangel Assembly of God Church. Pastor Jeff McDonell will officiate. Inurnment will follow at 2 p.m. at Cortez Cemetery. Military Honors will be performed by the Veterans of Montezuma County. Roland was born June 23, 1954 in Neenah, WI the son...

Sep 14, 2019

John T. Greenemeier, 76, of Cortez, CO passed away September 14 , 2019. Born in New Jersey, he was the son of George Greenemeier and Marie Dirks, and brother to Paul Greenemeier. He moved to his beloved Colorado 60 years ago, and was proud to call Montezuma County his home for over 4 decades. John loved people, and in 1979,...

Sep 12, 2019

Doug Maxwell passed away peacefully at home on September 11, 2019 at the age of 78. He was born to Elmer and Goldie (McBride) Maxwell on December 12, 1940 in Grand Junction, CO. Doug married his wife Evelena on Sept. 18, 1965 and together they had 4 children. Doug and Evelena had been married for 31 years at the time...