Obituaries

Sep 9, 2022

RENATE ALICE MCCABE

Renate Alice Fix was born on March 1, 1937 to Martha and Eugene Fix in Pforzheim, Germany. She entered Heaven’s Gate on September 9, 2022 in Cahone, Colo. with family at her side.

Renate was one tough lady, a classy lady. She survived war-torn Germany (1939-1945) and the Cold War until moving to Sturgis, S.D. in 1960. She was...

Sep 9, 2022

TIMOTHY ALLEN LANIER

Timothy Allen Lanier, 65, of Pleasant View, CO passed away unexpectedly on Friday, September 9, 2022 at Mercy Medical Hospital in Durango, CO. He spent the last 4 years battling cancer and fought diligently to the end. Services will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Empire at...

Sep 3, 2022

Sep 2, 2022

LENORA MAE NELSON

A celebration of life for longtime Cortez resident Lenora Mae Nelson will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2022 at Flanders Park in Dolores, Colo. Visitation has been scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Ertel Memorial Chapel.

Lenora was born on March 8, 1933 the daughter of Floyd Milton and Sada Ethel (Murray) Barrick....

Aug 29, 2022

DOROTHY MARIE GREEN Dotty Green was born April 18, 1946 in Oneonta NY and died August 29, 2022 in Cortez, CO. She is survived by her niece, Mary Ambion and her children, Bryan and Katie Ambion, Fremont, CA, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by Elizabeth M. (Bergh) and Carl G. Green as well as...

Aug 28, 2022

MARGARET ANN WEESE Funeral Mass for Dove Creek resident Margaret Ann Weese will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 9, 2022 at St. Jude Catholic Church in Dove Creek. Reciting of the Rosary will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the church, prior to Mass. Interment will follow at Dove Creek Cemetery. Margaret was born January 18, 1955 in...

Aug 27, 2022

PEGGY JO SMITH

A celebration of life for Cortez resident, Peggy Jo Smith will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Services will be in the chapel at Ertel Funeral Home 42 N. Market Street Cortez, Colo. with Peggy’s dear friend, Anthony Maes officiating.

Peggy was born March 31, 1933 in Monte Vista, Colo. the daughter of Theodore Harold...

Aug 26, 2022

Callie Ann Burke was born March 13, 1926 in Marshall County, Kansas. She was the daughter of James G. and Daisy A. (Snook) Burke. Callie’s dad died when she was three years old and she and her mom went to live with a family on a farm. Daisy had a job helping the farm wife with the cooking, cleaning and...

Aug 23, 2022

LIBBY B. BAKER Funeral services for Cortez resident Libby B. Baker will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Livedita Baca, or more lovingly known as, Libby, was born in San Rafael, N.M. on February 2, 1934, to Procopio and Luz (Marino) Baca. Libby was born into...

Aug 21, 2022

ALMA “Polly” PAULINE CONNER A celebration of life for Dolores resident Alma “Polly” Pauline Conner will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at First Baptist Church of Cortez. Polly was born December 11, 1936 in Springer, New Mexico to John Harley and Maureen Elizabeth (Troutman) Howe. She passed away at her home on Sunday, August 21, 2022...

Aug 19, 2022

KAY JERRY BEGAY Graveside services for Kay Jerry Begay will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at Cortez Cemetery. Pastor Lynn J. Begay will officiate. Kay was born October 10, 1938 in Hatch, Utah the son of Cyrus J. and Madeline (Jones) Begay. He passed away on Friday, August 19, 2022 at Vista Grande Inn at...

Aug 16, 2022

WILMA DOLORES WARD Wilma Dolores Ward was born June 5, 1933 in Creede, CO the daughter of William Humphrey and Emma Helen (Smith) Swinehart. She passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at her Cortez residence at the age of 89. Surviving Wilma are her children, Troy Jon Hersch (Lisa) of Waukomis, OK and Trenton Jay Hersch of Stavanger, Norway;...

Aug 14, 2022

A funeral mass for longtime Cortez resident Katherina “Kayde” Amalia Klemencic-Smith will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 26, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Dolores, CO. Father Soosai will officiate. There will be a memorial rosary at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 25 at Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Cortez. Kayde was born October...

Aug 14, 2022

Meagan Shari Coppinger was born on September 4th 1986 in Virginia Beach, Virginia to Michael Coppinger and Kimberly Show. She is survived by her parents and her three brothers; William and his wife Emily Coppinger, Tylor and his wife Brianna Show, and Nicholas Coppinger. Also surviving are her grandparents Earl “Skip” Bennick and Amanda Hector, Gary and Mary Ellen Coppinger,...

Aug 9, 2022

A Celebration of Life for former Cortez resident Casey Rucker will be held at 11:30 am Friday, September 16, 2022, at Rock Springs Church in Cortez, CO. Casey was born March 22, 1992 in Cortez, CO, the son of Vern and Lindy (Meade) Rucker, facing lifelong challenges due to his special needs. He passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2022...

Aug 9, 2022

Graveside services will be held for Dolores resident Dorthy Mozelle Jackson at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango, CO. Pastor James Vaughn will officiate. Mozelle was born December 20, 1927 in Afton, TX the daughter of John Matt and Rachael Arminda (Attaway) Thomas. She passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at her residence at...

Aug 7, 2022

Jim was 81 years old. He was born June 24, 1941 and passed on August 7, 2022. Jim resided in Cortez, Colorado. Jim was born and raised in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Jim is preceded in death by his father, Harold “T-Bone” Kastl and his mother, Willa Mae Spybuck Tallchief and his step-father, Harry “Patch” Tallchief. Jim is survived by his brother,...

Aug 5, 2022

A memorial service will be held for Cortez resident Shirlie Anne Schlotfelt at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cortez, CO. Pastor Luke Scheele will officiate. Shirlie was born September 25, 1932 in Caroll County, IL the daughter of Henry Herman and Anna Christina (Koch) Schroeder. She passed away on Friday, August 5, 2022 at...

Jul 31, 2022

Kay Stella Hays was born February 25, 1944 in Quanah, TX the daughter of Charles Daniel and Eva Rena (Cross) Shipman. She passed away on Sunday, July 31, 2022 at the Valley Inn in Mancos, CO at the age of 78. Kay loved her dogs and was always know to be ‘ornery.’ Surviving Kay are her niece, Evalena Mae Russell...

Jul 31, 2022

Graveside services for Cortez resident Jimmie Lee ‘Jim’ Skinner will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, August 5, 2022 at Arriola Cemetery. Jim was born September 6, 1935 in Peru, KS the son of Louis and Lucille Skinner. He passed away on Sunday, July 31, 2022 at his residence at the age of 86. Jim was an avid lover of...