Kenneth Ray Saunders

KENNETH RAY SAUNDERS Funeral services for Kenneth Ray Saunders of Cortez, Colo. are scheduled at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at the Lewis Arriola Community Center. Kenneth was born April 22, 1960 in Cortez, Colo. He passed away May 24, 2016. Kenneth was the only child of Lavena E. (Gardner) Saunders and John R. Saunders Jr. Kenneth truly was a gift from God to his parents. No son could ever have loved his Mother as much as Kenneth loved his. He was and always well be his Mother's precious "Little Man". Kenneth attended high school in Cortez until joining the Air Force in December 1978. Kenneth returned home to Cortez after his service. He then decided to move to Phoenix, Ariz. to pursue his education in Architectural Drafting for which he excelled and completed in 1984. He went on to further his education in Computer-Aided Drafting and worked for the architectural firm Knorr and Hedrick in Phoenix, Ariz. While living in Phoenix, Ariz. Kenneth met Tina Brown on a blind date on November 6, 1987, from this blind date a great love grew. Ken and Tina moved back to Ken's hometown, Cortez, in April 1990 and were married on September 15, 1990. Ken and Tina never had children but many beloved dogs came into Ken's life, which brought him ultimate joy. His dogs were his children and he loved each one with all of his heart. Upon returning to Cortez Ken worked for the National Recourse Conservation Service several years before leaving in 2008 to help his Mother with farming. Ken loved the outdoors and took great joy in spending as much time as possible at his cabin in the mountains where he felt most at peace. Kenneth is survived by his wife of almost 26 years, Tina; Mother Lavena Saunders; cousins, Harry Rogers of Arriola, Colo., Michelle Welsh (Andrew Eatmon) of Boulder, Colo., Kim (Hutch) Hutcherson of Willowbrock, Ill., and Pam Skubic of Shorewood, Ill; sisters-in-law, Annette Brown and Tammy Hermaneck both of Phoenix, Ariz.; as well as by two nephews Scott Moore and Holden Rader both of Phoenix, Ariz. Ken is also survived by his dogs, whom he loved with all his heart, Leggs, Dodger, Jewell and Baby. Ken is survived by many other family members and wonderful friends. Kenneth was preceded in death by his father John R. Saunders Jr.; grandparents George and Jewell Gardner, Thomas and Girtha Saunders; aunts and uncles, Mona and Wayne Rogers, Nola and Wendell Welsh, Wilma and Jack Smith, Howard and Joan Saunders, and Tom Saunders; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Clifford and Jean Brown. Ken was an animal lover and was always willing to take the dogs no one else wanted and make them his children. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cortez For Pets Sake Humane Society or a charity of one's choice.