Elvin Lair

ELVIN "HOOT" LAIR Graveside services for longtime Cortez resident Elvin "Hoot" Lair will be held on Friday, September 9 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cortez Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75. "Hoot" as he was known to family and friends was born the son of Dennis Flynn and Ethel (Sanders) Lair on May 12, 1919 in Union City, Okla. He passed away at Vista Grande Inn on Sunday, September 4, 2011 at the age of 92. On July 24, 1939 Hoot married Nadine Abshier in Minco, Okla., enjoying 66 years of marriage before her death in 2006. In 1957, as part of the Superior Oil movement, the couple moved to Cortez where Hoot was a driver for Superior Oil. He was a member of Bauer Lake and was instrumental in the ordering of fish to stock the lake. He loved time spent fishing, camping and hunting and Hoot loved to dance to country western music. Hoot has now left on his eternal fishing trip with Nadine. Surviving Hoot are his two daughters, Ruth Berry and husband, Richard of Cortez and Patsy Cone and husband, Trent of Buckeye, Ariz.; by grandchildren, Trenda Long, Rodney Cone, Randy Cone, Ricky Berry, Glenda DePaulis, Kendra Jeffs, Cindy Waters, and Jason Lair; and by 16 great grandchildren. Also surviving Hoot are his brothers and sister, Wilber Lair of Bethany, Okla., Tom Lair of Yucan, Okla. and Loretta Haynes of El Reno, Okla. Preceding Hoot in death were his wife, Nadine Lair; his son, Larry Leon Lair in 1998; and his siblings, Raymond Lair, Morris G. Lair, Irvin Lair and Dorothy Bryant.