Ira Cuthair

Funeral services for lifelong Towaoc resident Ira Cuthair will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at the Presbyterian Church yard in Towaoc, CO. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 5 – 7 p.m., Wednesday June 12, 2019 at Ertel Memorial Chapel.
Ira was born March 15, 1923 in McElmo Canyon near Hatch Trading Post the son of James Laner and Susan Cuthair. He passed away on Monday, June 10, 2019 at Vista Grande Inn at the age of 96.
Ira was a former member of the Indian National Rodeo Association. He participated in numerous rodeos throughout the Four Corners. Ira served as the Grand Marshal for the Rocky Mountain Rodeo Classics in 2002 in Towaoc, and the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo in 2003 in Cortez. He was also a former member of the Southwest Cattlemen’s Association where he served as a board member. Ira retired from the Ute Mountain Tribal Resources Department where he was employed for 40 years. He was also employed as a tribal police officer in Towaoc in the late 1950’s. Ira served as a member of several Ute Mountain Bear Dance Chiefs. Ira’s hobbies included Ute traditional flute making, playing the flute, tending to his horses, riding in parades, and public speaking on Ute history.
Surviving Ira are his son, Chester Cuthair of Shiprock, NM; his daughters, Beverly C. Whiteskunk, Veronica Cuthair and Bernadette Cuthair, all of Towaoc, CO; his sister, Leora Knight of Towaoc, CO; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ira was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Celia (Coyote) Cuthair; his sons, Arthur Cuthair, Wayne Cuthair, Edsel Cuthair, and Walter Coyote; his daughters, Mary Jane Cuthair and Victoria Cuthair; his brother, Carl Cuthair; his sisters, Stella Root, Florence Silas and Emma Cuthair; and his half- sister, Florence Clark.