Raymond Doyel

RAYMOND DOYEL Funeral services for longtime Dove Creek resident, Raymond Doyel will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 7 at the Cortez Church of Christ. Mr. Hunt Zumwalt will officiate. Interment will follow at the Peel Cemetery. Visitation has been set for Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Ertel Memorial Chapel. Raymond was born Dec. 20, 1916 in Washitah County, near Corn, Okla. He died at the age of 87 after a long and full life. He was born to Nathan Fair and Mary Caroline (Goodner) Doyel. Raymond was one of ten children, including his siblings, Beatrice Avants, Nathan Doyel, Belle Fast, Edith Doyel, Bertha Utley, Ruby Riley, J.D. Doyel, Jessie Loewen, and Una Leonard. The family moved from Oklahoma to Colorado during the Dust Bowl, moving to Cedaredge in 1935 and later to Dove Creek in 1937. Raymond married Ruby Darden in Weatherford, Okla. in 1937. They have lived in Colorado for over 61 years, living five years in the San Joaquin Valley, Calif. Six children were blessed to share Raymond and Ruby’s home. Carolyn Christy and husband, Darrell of Phoenix, Ariz., Jack, deceased in 1997, Kathy Cole and husband, Gary of Albuquerque, N.M., Phyllis Wright and husband, Roger of Grand Junction, Colo., Marilyn Doyel of Castroville, Tex., and Melanie Randolph and husband, Karl of Cortez. They have 16 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers and three sisters; a son, Raymond Dewayne Doyel, twin daughters, Linda and Louise Doyel who died at birth, and a son, Jack Doyel in 1997. Throughout his life, Raymond was a true and faithful Christian, working with the Church of Christ in Dove Creek and Cortez being active in all activities. Raymond took pride in meeting people, and he never met a stranger. He served diligently on the Empire Electric Board for over 33 years. Raymond spent many hours in schooling and meetings and will be sorely missed by everyone he met and worked with. He also served ten years on Western United Board in Denver as well as Utah United Board. Raymond served on two school boards, first on Peel School Board then on the Dolores County High School Board. He also served on the Colorado Extension Experimental Station Advisory Board as well. Raymond loved his friends and neighbors and always cared enough to visit them when someone was ill and comfort them in times of sorrow. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Raymond Doyel with the Community Bank of Dove Creek for a fund to benefit the community children of the Dove Creek area.