Ernest Joseph "Joe" Hamblin

ERNEST JOSEPH “JOE” HAMBLIN Funeral services for Cortez resident Ernest Joseph “Joe” Hamblin will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 5 at the Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at the Cortez Cemetery. Joe was born on March 12, 1925 in Gallup, N.M., the son of Hugh O. and Annie (Cunningham) Hamblin. He passed away on Saturday, June 30, 2007 at the Vista Grande Inn at the age of 82. Joe was a WWII veteran having served his country with the U.S. Army. He was a past member of the Cortez V.F.W. Joe’s passion in life was his job. He was a devoted truck driver that had maintained his C.D.L. until the time of his death. He passed away with his treasured card in his pocket. Surviving Joe are his daughters, JoAnna Miller and husband, Tim of Dolores, and Jeannie Schenk and husband, Skip of Mesa, Ariz.; his grandchildren, Wendy Eytchison and husband, Matt of Cortez, Joelyne Dennison of Mesa, Ariz., and Hattie Christensen of Henderson, Nev.; and his great-grandchildren, Wade and Zacharia McGee, Joey Eytchison, Sadie and Molly Christensen, and Grayson Eytchison. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty Lou (Fugitt) Hamblin; and his sister, Lyla Lillie.