Dale Slavens

DALE SLAVENS Funeral services for longtime Cortez resident Dale Slavens will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7 at the Cortez First Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Pastor Vic Powell will officiate. Dale was born on November 24, 1926 in Utleyville, Colo. the son of Basil Dale and Estie Ruth (Moore) Slavens. He passed away on Friday, October 2, 2009 at Vista Grande Inn at the age of 82. On December 26, 1946, Dale married Viola Elaine Selbe in Cortez. Dale and his father, Basil purchased Jett Hardware in 1951, and renamed the business Slavens Hardware. Dale was a devoted member of Lions, Elks, M.C.H.S. Booster Club, and the Sky-Hi Ski Club. Dale had a fondness for preserving the forest and building trails, he also belonged to the Four Corners Trail Club. In his spare time, Dale enjoyed jeeping in the mountains, hunting, and fishing. Surviving Dale are his wife of 62 years, Elaine Slavens of Cortez; his sons, Les Slavens and wife, Sandra of Cortez, and Gary Slavens and wife, Nova of Cortez; his grandchildren, Karla Robson of Dolores, Christopher Slavens of Delray Beach, Fla., and Stacy Wilson and husband, Shawn of Grand Junction, Colo.; his great-grandchild, Kenyon Wilson; and his sister, Daisy Mae Black and husband, Lyman of Cortez. Dale was preceded in death by his parents.