Sophie Prukop

SOPHIE PRUKOP Funeral mass for lifelong Cortez resident Sophie Prukop will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 30 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Reverend Joseph L. Gallegos, C.R. will officiate. A visitation has been scheduled for Monday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m. at Ertel Memorial Chapel. A Rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday evening at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Sophie was born on April 5, 1908 in Denver, Colo. the daughter of Rudolph Paul Franz and Albertene (Thiel) Prukop. She passed away on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at Madison House at the age of 100. Sophie attended college at Western State where she received at B.A. in art and education. She went on to Colorado State and Utah State Universities where she completed her graduate work. From 1929 to 1942, Sophie taught in the public education system. She then went on to teach on the Navajo Reservation until 1972. In 1958, National Geographic wrote an article on her Navajo classroom in Shiprock. Sophie was a charter member of the Colorado Archeological Society Hisatsinom and she was also a charter member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. In her free time, Sophie enjoyed art, social dancing, and gardening. She loved to travel; Sophie embarked on a cruise to the Caribbean when she was 83 years young. Surviving Sophie are her niece, Beverly Shilling and husband, Gary of Orting, Wash.; and her nephews, Ralph Prukop and wife, Wanda, Harold Prukop and wife, Janet, and Albert Prukop and wife, Caryl all of California, Ronald Prukop and wife, Madeline and Raymond Prukop and wife, Patsy all of Washington, John Raymond "Jack" Prukop and wife, Terrie of Oregon, and John Ross Prukop and wife, Sabina of Washington. Sophie also leaves behind her great-niece and caregiver, Cathy (Eddy) Lewis and husband, Allen of Cortez; along with numerous great nieces and nephews; and many great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her siblings, Marie Allen, Frieda Acker, Louise Mahaffey, Melchoir Prukop, Ralph Prukop, John Prukop, and William Prukop. Memorial contributions may be made in Sophie's name to Madison House, 120 S. Madison, Cortez, Colo. 81321 or to St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.