Faye Bertrand

Funeral services for longtime Cortez resident, Faye Bertrand will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 7 at the Lewis Arriola Community Center. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Pastor Anthony Maes will officiate. Olive Faye Wilson was born July 17, 1929 at the family farm in Yellow Jacket, Colo. She was the next to youngest of 11 children born to Charles Wesley and Nancy (Stevenson) Wilson. Faye graduated from Durango High School in 1946 and Beauty College at Frank Wiggins Trade School in Los Angeles, Calif. She received her Cosmetology degree in 1947 and was licensed in Colorado. Faye married Benton Bertrand June 19, 1948 in Farmington, N.M. To the union were born: James Benton, Dennis Eugene and Sandra Faye (Bertrand) Story. Faye helped Bent with family farming from 1948 until 1960 when they decided farming was not for them. Bent was hired as a Colorado State Brand Inspector in October 1960 and moved his family to Denver, Colo. June 1961 Bent was transferred to Salida, Colo. where the family called home for 14 years. Faye worked as a Cosmetologist, a clerk for City Market and Assistant Manager for Western Auto Store in Salida. She retired in 1970 to become a fulltime homemaker. Faye was an immaculate housekeeper and a wonderful cook. Everyone enjoyed her delicious homemade meals. In 1975 Bent transferred back to the Cortez area as State Band Inspector. Bent and Faye lived in rural Cortez. They had a large apple orchard, a large bountiful garden and beautiful yard and flower garden. Faye purchased her home in Cortez in 2001 where she lived until her passing. Faye loved horseback riding, helping Bent with brand inspection duties and the annual cattle branding. She love to watch her 3 children participate in county fairs, gymkanas and rodeos. She also assisted Bent when he was announcing the local rodeos. Bent and Faye loved to dance country swing, and in fact met at a Country Dance in rural Cortez. Bent and Faye celebrated their 50th anniversary June 1998. Faye was a lifetime member of the Colorado Cattlewomen's Association, Cowbelle of the Year in 1982, and was rewarded State Cattlewoman of the Year in 1999. These were all great honors for her. Surviving Faye are her three children, James (Sherry) of Alamosa, Colo. Denny (Beth) of Cortez, and Sandra (Greg) Story also of Cortez; grandchildren, Billie Jo Bertrand, Tiffany (Bryan) Coleman, Casey Story, Dusti (Casey) Holman, Codi (Heath) Smith, and Shannon (Danny) Cline; and by twelve great grandchildren. Faye is also survived by her sister-in-law, Eloise Wilson of Twin Pines, Calif.; brother and sister-in-law, Ted and Barbara Baskett; daughter-in-law, Valourie Bertrand; and numerous nieces and nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Benton; brothers, Paul (Margeret) Wilson, James (Veda) Wilson, Arthur (Esther) Wilson, Glen (Marie) Wilson, and Larry (Eloise) Wilson; sisters, Dorothy (Earl) Wood, Elsie (Vic) Chaffin, Marge (J.W.) Crowley, Nancy (Everett) Conrad, and Nellie (Adrian) Bradfield; and daughter-in-law, Karen Koenig Bertrand. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Faye Bertrand with the SW Colorado Cowbelles Scholarship Fund, PO Box 684, Cortez.