Obituaries

Magdalena T. Hernandez

Magdalena T. Hernandez

Jul 25, 2019

Funeral services for Egnar resident Magdalena T. ‘Maga’ Hernandez will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, August 4, 2019 at the Community Center in Dove Creek, CO. Pastor John Clark will officiate. Interment will follow at Dove Creek Cemetery. Visitation will take place at 10 a.m. at the Pioneer Center prior to the service. Maga was born January 5, 1936...

Theodore Kent Schmitt

Theodore Kent Schmitt

Jul 22, 2019

Kent Schmitt was born on February 1, 1929 in Liberal, Kansas to Joseph H. and Hazel E. (Smith) Schmitt. He died on Monday, July 22, 2019 at his residence in Cortez, Co at the age of 90. Kent is survived by his wife of 68 years, Doris; sons, Robert (Lynette) of Grants, NM, Tim (Diane) of Dolores, CO, Gerald (Diane)...

Ursula Melitta Choate

Ursula Melitta Choate

Jul 21, 2019

Ursula Melitta Choate was born April 2, 1926 in Berlin, Germany the daughter of Bufettfraulein Klara Strzisch. She passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2019 at her residence in Dolores, CO at the age of 93. Surviving Ursula are her son, Chuck Choate (Jennifer) of Dolores, CO; and her grandchildren, Ruby Choate of Delta, CO, and Tyler Choate of Gunnison,...

Norma Joyce Turner

Norma Joyce Turner

Jul 19, 2019

A celebration of life for Cortez resident Norma Joyce Turner will be held from 2-4 p.m. Friday, July 26, 2019 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Pastor Jean Schwein will officiate. Memorial contributions can be made in Joyce’s name to Hospice of Montezuma, P.O. Drawer 740, Cortez, CO 81321 or to Hope’s Kitchen, P.O. Box 1016, Cortez, CO 81321. Norma Joyce Turner...

Jacob A. 'Jake' Colorow

Jacob A. 'Jake' Colorow

Jul 19, 2019

A wake for lifelong Towaoc resident Jacob A. ‘Jake’ Colorow will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at 1548 San Juan Turn, Towaoc, CO. Jake’s son, Walter Ridley will officiate. Jake was born September 30, 1974 in Cortez, CO the son of Raymond Colorow and Janice Mills Lopez. He entered into rest on Friday, July 19, 2019...

John Louis Paquin

John Louis Paquin

Jul 19, 2019

Graveside services for lifelong Mancos resident, John Louis Paquin, will be held at 10 am on Monday, July 29, 2019 at the Cedar Grove cemetery in Mancos, CO. John was born on November 2, 1935 in Mancos, Colorado to Lorna and Louis Paquin. He passed away on Friday, July 19, 2019 at the Valley Inn in Mancos, CO at the...

Frances Louise 'Franny Annie' Rank

Frances Louise 'Franny Annie' Rank

Jul 16, 2019

Cortez resident Frances Louise ‘Franny Annie’ Rank was born July 18, 1944 in Las Vegas, NV the daughter of Frank Louis and Berla Katherine (Troyer) Bosch. She passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at Vista Grande Inn at the age of 74. Surviving Franny Annie are her daughters, Eileen Rank of Cortez, CO and Cindy Busch of Kansas City,...

Wilbert 'Pluto' Root Sr.

Wilbert 'Pluto' Root Sr.

Jul 16, 2019

Graveside services for Towaoc resident Wilbert ‘Pluto’ Root Sr. will be held at 7 a.m. Friday, July 19, 2019 at Towaoc Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 5 – 7 p.m. Thursday, July 18, 2019 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Pluto was born April 6, 1941 in Towaoc, CO the son of Tom Root Jr. and Lizzie Shed Jacket. He passed...

Filomena 'Florence' Jansen

Filomena 'Florence' Jansen

Jul 15, 2019

Filomena ‘Florence’ Jansen was born March 23, 1924 in Newark, NJ the daughter of Addrico and Filomena (Ciasea) Petrosino. She passed away on Monday, July 15, 2019 at her residence in Dolores, CO at the age of 95. Surviving Florence are her son, Richard Jansen of Dolores, CO; her granddaughters, Tara Walker (Brent) of Dolores, CO, and Melissa Brown of...

Ignacio  Theodore 'Ted' Gallegos

Ignacio Theodore 'Ted' Gallegos

Jul 15, 2019

Funeral services for Cortez resident Ignacio Theodore ‘Ted’ Gallegos will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at the First Assembly of God church. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Ertel Memorial Chapel from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, July 19, 2019. Ted was born July 31, 1930 in Edith,...

Marilyn Ann Colyer

Marilyn Ann Colyer

Jul 14, 2019

Marilyn Colyer was born February 26, 1939 on the Ritter Ranch in Dolores, CO to John Walter and Maurice Charlotte (Thomas) Ritter. She enjoyed living on the ranch with her dogs, horses, cattle, sheep and many other animals. During this time she visited the many scenic areas of the San Juan Mountains as well as the vast desert areas, often...

Raymond Calvin Evans

Raymond Calvin Evans

Jul 14, 2019

Memorial services for Cortez resident Raymond Calvin Evans will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2019 at the Calvin Denton Room. Pastor Marvin Graves will officiate. Calvin was born October 11, 1933 in Lawton, OK the son of Andrew and Dolly (Burkett) Evans. He passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019 at Mercy Regional Medical Center in...

Trista Ann Hope Murdock

Trista Ann Hope Murdock

Jul 11, 2019

A visitation for Mancos resident Trista Ann Hope Murdock will be held from 12 – 3 p.m. on Friday, July 19, 2019 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Trista was born December 5, 1988 in Salt Lake City, UT the daughter of Christopher Phillips and Teresa Nadine (Black) Murdock. She passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at her residence at the...

Jack Bryan Moore

Jack Bryan Moore

Jul 11, 2019

Jack Bryan Moore was born June 23, 1956 in Greeley, CO the son of Earl Eldon and Glenda Gayle (Howard) Moore. He passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at Vista Grande Inn at the age of 63. Jack married Carma Fahrion on July 27, 1991 in Cortez, CO. He spent his early days in Meeker, CO, Cedaredge, CO and...

Gary Edgar Shaw

Gary Edgar Shaw

Jul 11, 2019

Longtime resident, Gary Edgar Shaw 68, passed away Thursday, July 11, 2019 in Durango, CO. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Nancy Dickerson Shaw of Mancos, CO; his son, Garan Shaw of Durango, CO; his brother, David Shaw; his sister, Marche Whitworth; and step mother, Bonnie Shaw, all of Oklahoma; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Gary’s...

Madeline Rita Rhodes

Madeline Rita Rhodes

Jul 6, 2019

Memorial services for Cortez resident Madeline Rita Rhodes will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18, 2019 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Madeline was born October 14, 1940 in Cromer, Norfolk, England the daughter of Elijah Samuel and Elsie Alice (Hudson) Ayton. She passed away on Saturday, July 6, 2019 at the Valley Inn at the age of 78. Surviving...

Laura Lee Fitzgerald

Laura Lee Fitzgerald

Jul 5, 2019

Laura Lee Fitzgerald was born August 12, 1945 in McPherson, KS the daughter of Edward Eugene and Mary Ellen (Lewellen) Chaffin. She passed away on Friday, July 5, 2019 at her residence in Mancos, CO at the age of 73. Laura is survived by her son, Ray Harrison of Farmington, NM. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Elwin Horton Caldwell

Elwin Horton Caldwell

Jul 4, 2019

Private family services will be held in AZ for Cortez resident Elwin Horton ‘Bob’ Caldwell. Bob was born March 26, 1918 in Phoenix, AZ the son of Elwin Lowell and Florence Mary (Dowd) Caldwell. He passed away on Thursday, July 4, 2019 at Vista Mesa Assisted Living at the age of 101. Surviving Bob are his wife, Thelma Caldwell of...

Robert Lee Gundersen

Robert Lee Gundersen

Jul 1, 2019

Memorial services for Cortez resident Robert Lee Gundersen will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 8, 2019 at the Church of the Nazarene. Robert was born August 31, 1942 in Urbana, IL the son of Rodney L. and Stella E. (Raney) Gundersen. He passed away on Monday, July 1, 2019 at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, CO...

Harold Leroy 'Chode' Baxstrom

Harold Leroy 'Chode' Baxstrom

Jun 30, 2019

Memorial Services for Harold L. ‘Chode’ Baxstrom will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Pastor Marvin Graves will officiate.There will be a fellowship reception at Ertel Funeral Home following the service before proceeding to the cemetery. A graveside service with military honors will follow at 2 p.m. at Cortez Cemetery. Harold, 85,...