William E. Garland

WILLIAM E. "ELZEY" GARLAND Funeral services for longtime Cortez resident William E. "Elzey" Garland will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 30 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Mr. Mark Coffey will officiate. A visitation has been scheduled for Sunday evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Ertel Chapel. Elzey was born on July 31, 1917 in Estancia, N.M. the son of Dallas L. and Flossie (Compton) Garland. He passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at Southwest Memorial Hospital at the age of 91. On December 22, 1943, Elzey married Nellie E. Badini in Aztec, N.M. Elzey graduated from Cortez High School in 1936. He went on to farm for 47 years in the Dove Creek area. A charter member of the Four Corners Rifle and Pistol Club, Elzey also was a member of the National Rifle Association. Hunting and fishing were activities that Elzey loved. Surviving Elzey are his loving wife of 65 years, Nellie E. Garland of Cortez; and his children, Barbara Garland Bradford and husband, Richard of Payson, Ariz., William E. Garland Jr. and wife, Vonda of Arriola, and James D. Garland and wife, Valerie of Cortez. He also leaves behind five grandchildren, Glenn Bradford of Tucson, Ariz., Christopher Garland and wife, Sara of Casper, Wyo., Kelli Ranae Garland of Arriola, Tyson James Garland of Tempe, Ariz., and Kaylee Marie Garland of Tempe, Ariz.; and his brother, Edgar D. Garland and wife, Marie of Cortez. Elzey was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Leonard Garland. Memorial contributions may be made in Elzey's memory to Citizens State Bank. The fund will assist the youth programs at the Four Corners Rifle and Pistol Club.