Charles Jefferson DeMent

Charles Jefferson DeMent was born 02/17/1927 and departed 9/08/2023.  Our beloved uncle, husband, brother and friend passed peacefully on Friday morning 9/8/2023 at his home in Cortez, Colorado. He was 96 years young.

Uncle Charlie, a wonderful loving and giving man was born in Kreole, Mississippi to Clarence and Minnie DeMent.  He was the first of five siblings and grew up on the Gulf Coast.  He later served in the US Navy as a Seaman First Class during World War II aboard the PCS 1377, a Mine Sweeper ship.  He was awarded the American Area Campaign Medal, The WW II Victory Medal and The Asiatic Pacific Medal. He was Honorably Discharged in 1946. 

Charles was a loving husband to his first wife Julia DeMent, and to his second wife Virigie DeMent. 

He earned a comfortable living as a sheet metal worker and was a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Union #105 for 70 years.  He owned C & J Ranch Services and serviced many businesses in Dolores and Cortez installing and repairing all the equipment.  Charlie was an avid outdoorsman who loved to camp, fish and hunt deer, wild turkey, pheasants.   He loved four wheeling long before it was a popular outdoor sport and spent many weekends in the deserts of California, Arizona and Baja.     

He is survived by his sister Cheryll Herrington of Grand Bay, Alabama, and his many nieces and nephews, most notably his devoted caretaker and niece, Dena Davis, who cared for him the last 2.5 years of his life. He is also survived by his nephew, William Herrington of Purvis Miss, and nieces Linda Miller from CA, Donna Cowsert of WA, Lori Jo Skinner of CA and Sherri Dial of UT. Charlie will also be missed by many, many family members in Bayou la Batre, Alabama and cousins in Mississippi. He was greatly loved by everyone in his big family. We will all miss you and the all the wonderful stories !!!!  

A service will be held at the Dolores Community Center in May of 2024.

"Fair Winds and Following Seas"