Durango Herald Memorials and Obituaries

All Memorials and Obituaries (1720)

Oxford, Colorado Arlene Etz 1939 — 2024 She is survived by her husband: John G. Etz; sons: John (Danene) and Ronald (Linda) Etz; sister: Donna (John) Urban; grandchildren: Katie (Cole), Kellie (Jared), Shannon & David (Madyson); great-grandchildren: Peyton, Harper, Thea & Della; and many extended family and wonderful friends. She was preceded by her parents: Bruce and Fay Elliott. Complete obituary at hoodmortuary.com

Helen Craig 1926 — 2024 Helen Craig passed away June 25, 2024 at Evenings Porch Assisted Living Home. She was one week shy of her 98th birthday. She was born July 2, 1926 in Kansas City, Kansas. Her family moved to Santa Paula, California soon after, and she spent her youth there. While in high school during World War II, she and her best friend volunteered on weekends as civilian plane spotters. They would report all plane sightings to the military, as there was a fear of Japanese attack on the coast during the war. After high school, she took flying lessons and learned to fly in an old fabric covered Aeronca airplane. At the same time, she took photography classes, and used that skill later in life when working...

Tim Woods 1954 — 2024 Timothy Chandler Woods left this world on June 22, 2024, but also left all who knew him with loving memories and a sense of inspiration for our lives based on how he lived his. He lived his last several years in Durango, Colorado, making new friends on the Animas River Trail during his daily 7-mile walks with his best dog friend, Bronco. He was born on January 23, 1954 in New Hampshire and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his parents, Jean and Robert Woods, and his two younger sisters, Marsha and Kathy. He attended college at Miami University of Ohio and obtained his BA in Public Administration in 1976. After college, he served in AmeriCorps combating poverty before moving west and...

Celina Valdez 2024 — 2024 Celina Valdez passed away peacefully at home with her two children at her side on June 17, 2024 at the age of 91. Celina was born in Tiffany, CO on February 13, 1933. She liked cooking for her family and was also a big fan of the Broncos. Celina had been a business woman in the Durango area for many years managing hotels, making jewlery, silversmithing and much more. Later in life she enjoyed hanging out with her senior group in Arboles. Celina is survived by her daughter Loretta Mestas (Johnny) her son Ron Valdez, daughter Patricia Martinez, sister Emma Herrera (Jesus), sister Claudine Garcia, Rick (Lilly) Duran, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great...

Durango James "Jim" Hopper 1941 — 2024 For full obituary please visit Hoodmortuary.com

Elbert (Eb) H. Redford 1940 — 2024 Elbert (Eb) H. Redford passed away on June 14, 2024, after a long battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). He died peacefully at home in Durango, Colorado, surrounded by family. Eb was born July 3, 1940 in Grass Valley, California, to Milton and Gwen (Houghton) Redford. Eb grew up in Ogden, Utah where he graduated from high school and earned a two-year degree in Electronics from Weber College before transferring to New Mexico State University where he worked the graveyard shift at White Sands Missile Range. Eb and Kathy (K) Barlow met in a mathematics class in 1964 and were married on June 5, 1965, in Taos, New Mexico. After both graduated with BS degrees in Mathematics, they...

Durango Thomas Joe Tinker 1968 — 2024 Thomas is preceded in death by his father Donald Tinker. He is survived by his mother Judy Sauck, and his brothers; John and Robin Tinker.

Frances Eva Blacker 1937 — 2024 Frances Eva Blacker of Durango, CO passed away on June 13, 2024 at the Mercy Hospice House in Durango, CO. Frances was born on August 13, 1937 in Antonito, CO to Jose Silverio (J.S.) and Maria Bersabe (Mary B) Martinez. As J.S. was employed by the Rio Grande Railroad, Frances spent her childhood in many small towns in Colorado. On April 1, 1955, Frances married Charles Thomas Garcia and they settled in Durango, CO. To this union, six children were born: Elroy, Charlene, PerryLee, Tracy, Jacqueline and Jennifer. Frances enjoyed raising her family and working outside of the home. One of her most meaningful jobs was working for Patricia Jeckel at Elkhorn Ranch where she helped raise Morgan and...

Paul David Shields 1956 — 2024 Paul David Shields, age 68, passed away on June 9, 2024 at his home in Durango, Colorado. Paul was born in Penasco, New Mexico, the son and grandson of foresters. His childhood was spent in Boston, Durango, Denver, Springfield, Virginia and back to Durango as his father was assigned duties with the US Forest Service. Paul was active in Boy Scouting, baseball, soccer, cross country and track. He graduated from James Robinson Secondary School and received a BS in wildlife and forestry management from Virginia Tech. Paul started working in junior high school delivering the Washington Post newspaper at 4:30 every morning for years. He carried that work ethic through various jobs as...

Redmesa, Colorado Ella Cheryl Harris 2012 — 2024 She is survived by her parents: Mark & Ashlie Harris; siblings: Jacob (Jessica Jane) Harris, Levi Harris, Amanda (Dustin) Berkley, Chelsea (Devon) Conger, Tiffany (Nephi) Barnhart, Holly Harris, Jessica (Austin) Bascom, & Sarah, Samuel, Adam & Cambria Harris; grandmother: Myrlene Harris; and many extended family and wonderful friends. Visit hoodmortuary.com for the complete obituary.

Evelyn Sue Norton 1945 — 2024 Evelyn Sue Norton, wife of Tom D. Norton and mother of Sonja S. Norton, passed away on June 8, 2024, surrounded by her family. Evelyn Sue Settle was born April 4, 1945, on a small farm south of Gracemont, Oklahoma, and her childhood experiences there shaped the rest of her life. Most of the neighbors were native Caddo people, and for the rest of her life Sue never forgot the kindnesses they showed to her family and always had an affection and sympathy for Native American peoples. Oklahoma was just emerging from the depression and life on a farm without mechanization was hard! The whole family, including children, had to work in the fields. Until the third grade Sue and her sister...

Bayfield Jack Gerold Ruggles 1934 — 2024 For full obituary please visit Hoodmortuary.com

Molly Lujan 1930 — 2024 Our grandma loved to walk everywhere until she couldn't walk anymore. She was onery and feisty with a funny sense of humor. She would tell you her opinion even if you didn't ask for it. She loved to play bingo and get her hair permed and her nails painted. She loved her snacks and she loved shoes. She would call everyday and ask about the weather and how our day was she would say "hello it's me Bugs Bunny, just checking in". We will miss that daily check in. She loved to watch the golden girls her favorite character was Rose. Our grandma resided at Cottonwood Rehab in Durango where she was loved and well taken care of for her final years. She said she was going to dance again someday and now...

Richard (Dick) Anthony Eichthaler 1943 — 2024 Richard (Dick) Anthony Eichthaler, 80, of Durango, Colorado, passed away peacefully June 1, 2024. Richard was born September 2, 1943 to Anthony and Margaret (Turcott) Eichthaler in Bridgeport, Nebraska. He was raised on a large ranch at Hudson, CO on the Eastern Slope. Always a hard worker, throughout his life, he ran heavy equipment, ranched, farmed and was also a door greeter for Walmart. He began working at a very young age and in 1968 moved to Durango to work for Burnett (Siecrest) Construction as an Equipment Transport Driver and Heavy Equipment Operator. Throughout his road construction career, in addition to Burnett (Siecrest), he worked for Nielsons Construction, HPJ (Ron...

Betty Myrta Seibel 1925 — 2024 Betty Seibel, age 99, peacefully passed away on May 27, 2024. She was born in Meeker, Colorado on March 17, 1925 to Charles and Winnie Cox. She was welcomed by her older brother Robert. After her arrival, younger brother Gene was born. When Betty was a youngster, the Cox family moved from Meeker to the Allison area where she and her brothers helped on the Cox family farm. Betty attended high school in Durango, Colorado. Through family friends, she met Willard Seibel of Arboles, Colorado. They married in December of 1944. She and Willard moved to California for a short time where they worked agriculture and factory jobs supporting the war effort. After their experience in California, Betty...

Essica D. Williams 1941 — 2024 Essica D. Williams, 83, of Bayfield, CO passed away on May 25, 2024 from PSP, a neurodegenerative disease. She was born August 31, 1941 in Sayre, OK. Essica is a beloved Wife, Mother, and Nana. She is survived by her husband Ronald Williams, son David Williams and daughter Amy Williams-Liddell and two grandsons. Essica's educational journey included attending High School in Ulysses, KS, BSE from Emporia Satate Teachers College, MB and Ph.D. from UCCS in Colorado Springs, CO. A Celebration of Life will be held in July.

David Pomerantz 1941 — 2024 David Pomerantz, beloved husband, father, artist, and spiritual teacher, was born on July 22, 1941, in Portland, Oregon, and passed away on May 25, 2024, at his home in Durango, Colorado. He was predeceased by his parents, Lillian Scharf and Morris Pomerantz, as well as his older brother, Sanford Pomerantz. David spent his formative years in Portland. He excelled in baseball during his youth. After graduating high school, David served as a communications specialist in the U.S. Army. He then pursued a higher education, earning his BA from Portland State University. It was there that he met Elizabeth Haas, whom he married. David continued his academic journey at the University of California,...

William "Bill" Croxton Taylor 1939 — 2024 William "Bill" Croxton Taylor passed away on May 22, 2024, moving on from a life he was often known to describe simply as, "blessed". Bill lived a gracious life, knew his fair share of grit, and awoke every day with something to be happy about. Bill, or 'Grandpa Billy' to his cherished grandchildren, was in his own words, "a very lucky man." Bill was born on Valentines Day, 1939, in Dayton, Ohio, as the third of six 'Taylor kids' to John and Margaret Taylor. He graduated from Oakwood High School in 1956 and resided in the Oakwood area until moving to Durango, Colorado in 2006. A proud veteran, he joined the U.S. Army in 1958, serving two years stationed in South Korea. After the...

Ada Jane Silver 1945 — 2024 Ada Jane "Janey" Silver was born July 30, 1945, in Denver, Colorado to Joy Carter Jackson Silver and Harry Silver. She was the only child of this union. She was loved and cherished by her parents. Janey's mother passed away when she was only 2 years old. Her father passed away when she was 15 years old. Janey became a ward of the state at this time and was placed with two loving women who chose to care for her during her formative years. They were a major reason that Janie went on to college and graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango with a degree in music. Janey became employed in the Mancos School District Re-6, Mancos, Colorado in 1967 post-graduation to teach music and develop the...

Harlene "Duffer" Lettau 1931 — 2024 Harlene "Duffer" James Lettau, age 92, passed away on May 17, 2024, in Louisville, CO. Harlene was born on August 17, 1931 in Harrold, SD. At a young age, Harlene left school to help his mother tend to the family farm after the death of his father. He honorably served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. In 1957, Harlene married Carol Frances Weber. Pursuing his education later in life, Harlene took courses at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. He briefly worked in construction before securing a long-term position as a surveyor with the Colorado State Highway Department, from which he retired in 1987. Harlene really had a passion for golf, for which he was an avid...

Ignacio, CO Jessika Dawn Bigleggins 1994 — 2024 She was preceded in death by her mother, Carlita Blue Elk Groves and father, Ray Bigleggins; Jessika's journey began with her children: Ayden Reid, Noah Lee Daniel, Miles Lee Bigleggins and J.J. Bigleggins She is survived by her brothers: Brandon Bigleggins, Dustin Weaver, Kenneth Burch, sister: Blossom Armstrong; aunts: Rochelle Aguilar (Nick), Raquel Mike, Michelle Taylor, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She loved the outdoors.

Durango Herald Memorials and Obituaries | We Remember (2024)

All Memorials and Obituaries (1720)