Winifred Isabel Harrington

WINIFRED ISABEL “WINNIE” HARRINGTON Funeral services for longtime area resident Winifred Isabel “Winnie” Harrington will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 4 at Lifeway Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Pastor James Vaughn will officiate. A luncheon will follow the committal service at the church. Visitation has been scheduled for Friday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the church. Winnie was born July 14, 1919 in Lincolnville, Okla. She passed away on Monday, August 31, 2009 in Durango. She was in failing health for several years. Winnie’s passions were serving the Lord and music. She began her service to Him as the church pianist at the age of 14 for the Southern Baptist Church in Hockerville, Okla. She continued that service until 1953 when she moved with her husband and family to Rico. In 1968, she moved to Dolores due to her husband’s failing health. After his death in 1970, she and her daughter, Joyce moved to Cortez. Due to Winnie’s failing health, they moved to Durango in 2007 and were residing at Sunshine Gardens Assisted Living at the time of her death. Winnie married her husband, George Nelson Harrington on January 3, 1938 and remained devoted to each other for 32 years. They welcomed four children, Kenneth Nelson, Zoe Joyce, Jane Linda, and George Douglas. For many years she worked as a sales associate and was employed at the Mercantile in Rico and Dolores. In Cortez, she was employed at Coast to Coast and Gambles and also worked at A&W drive in. Her service to the Lord continued in Cortez, playing the piano or organ in the First Southern Baptist Church and Lifeway Baptist Church for a total of 35 years. Winnie was a member of the Montezuma Chapter #130, Order of Eastern Star, Dolores, and served as Worthy Matron in 1992-1993. In 1994, she was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the Salvation Army for untiring loyalty and leadership in service. She was a faithful “Bell Ringer.” She took great pride in her flower garden, lovingly sharing arrangements with her church family and friends, and those in the hospital or nursing home. She enjoyed cooking and baking. Many folks enjoyed her “goodies”. A great “fun time” for Winnie were “Krazy Days” in Cortez. She won prizes for her creative costumes and one year dressed up as “Winnie the Pooh”. Winnie’s life of faith, love, courage and generosity touched the lives of all of those she met. She is deeply missed. Preceding Winnie in death were her infant son, Kenneth; her husband, George; and her son, Doug. She is survived by her daughters, Joyce of the home, and Jane of Littleton, Colo.; and her granddaughters, Monica Gorsuch, Marsha Rule, Misty Garver, Crystal Brown, and Nicole Colchiski. Also surviving Winnie are great grandchildren, Jadyn Gorsuch, Cody and Ethan Brown, Norah and Sarah Colchiski. Sharing in this feeling of sadness and loss are her daughter-in-law, Marilyn Harrington; her son-in-law, Michael Lestition; her grandsons-in-law, Terry Gorsuch, Mickey Rule, Curtis Garver, Rob Brown and Michael Colchiski; and, her many friends and caregivers. Memorial contributions may be made in Winnie’s memory to the American Cancer Society.