Obituaries

Dec 13, 2020

Private graveside services will be held for Towaoc resident Scottie Jacket III. Scottie was born December 13, 1968 in Cortez, CO the son of Scott Jacket Sr. and Agnes (Howe) Jacket. He passed away on December 13, 2020 at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO at the age of 52. Scottie was a member of the Gourd Dancing White Eagle...

Dec 13, 2020

Ernest Richard Williams was born August 31, 1936 to Lulu (Wardel) and Harold “Brick” Williams. He passed away December 13, 2020 peacefully at his home in Cortez. Ernie was born in Rock Springs, Wyo. Where his parents ran the Mormon farm in the Ferson-Eadon Valley, Wyo. There are stories of Ernie at a young age, with his brother, running and...

Dec 12, 2020

Gary Mahlon Webb was born August 24, 1940 in Boulder, CO the son of Herbert Dickenson and Ruth Eleanor (Eisenmann) Webb. He passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Vista Grande in Cortez, CO at the age of 80. Gary was a professional tennis player, sponsored by Pancho Gonzalez, a legendary tennis player, with a post-tour career teaching Hollywood...

Dec 10, 2020

Christine Applin, affectionately known as “Grammy”, entered heaven on December 10, 2020. She passed away peacefully while her daughters and granddaughters sat with her, singing her favorite hymns. Her faith was very important to her throughout her life and she was ready, even longing to be with Jesus. Chris was born in Sudan, Texas, on March 21, 1931, to Ernest...

Dec 10, 2020

William John Busing passed peacefully to his Lord and Savior in the presence of his family on December 10, 2020 at the age of 77. William, known to his friends and family as Willie, was born July 16, 1943 to Albert and Emma (Gemaehlich) Busing in Yuma, CO. He attended school in Otis, CO graduating from Otis High School in...

Dec 10, 2020

Keith Karl Rourk, 73, of Cortez, CO passed away on December 10, 2020. He was born to parents Mary Elizabeth Jacobs and Robert Russel Rourk on March 27, 1947 in LaJunta, CO. Keith graduated from Montezuma Cortez High School in 1966. He worked as an Air Force Master Sergeant 322 ALS CRC, and served in Viet Nam as a C130...

Dec 9, 2020

Charles Raymond “Charlie” Baskett was born November 15, 1937 in Ackmen, CO the son of John Perry and Myrtel Matilda (Tewell) Baskett. He passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at his residence in Cortez, CO at the age of 83. Surviving Charlie are his loving wife, Billie Jean Baskett of Cortez, CO; his children, Roxanne Herrmann of Gracemont, OK,...

Dec 7, 2020

William Donald Tortoriello Jr. was born April 28, 1949 in Waterloo, IA the son of William D. and Betty Ann (Mabb) Tortoriello. He passed away on Monday, December 7, 2020 at his residence at the age of 71. Surviving William is his loving wife, Nila Tortoriello of Cortez, CO. William was preceded in death by his parents.

Dec 7, 2020

Emery Lovett, Jr was born on Feb 4,1926 in Pensacola Florida to Emery, Sr. and Helen Paton Lovett. He passed away on Dec 7, 2020, just short of his 95th Birthday. Emery graduated from Chadwick High School in Palos Verde, California in 1943 and spent 1 year at the University of Colorado Boulder before enlisting in the army at the...

Dec 6, 2020

Deanne' J. Acott passed away at home on Sunday, December 6, 2020. Deanne' was born in Fleming, CO to Orville and Opal Heath on Nov. 19, 1938. Deanne' and Howard were married on Feb.8, 1958. She spent much of her life supporting Howard in his educational and agricultural pursuits. Howard passed away in 2000. Deanne' was a well known Agricultural...

Dec 2, 2020

Betty Jane ‘Janie’ Hennessee was born February 3, 1939 in Windber, PA the daughter of Joseph Michael and Helen Anna (Kochis) Zabrosky. She passed away on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO, at the age of 81, with her daughter by her side. Janie was a sweet and kind lady who loved her family and...

Nov 30, 2020

Patty Dian Ives (Knuckles) was born August 9, 1953 in Monticello, Utah to Doyle (Doc) and Eva (Short) Knuckles. She was the youngest of six children. She liked being a tomboy and growing up on a farm in Colorado. In her adulthood, she enjoyed cooking, crocheting, watching movies, gardening, and growing flowers. Patty is survived by daughter Wendy (Jerry) Howard...

Nov 30, 2020

Alta Nadine Rhodes was born November 3, 1940 in Montrose, CO to Dewey and Ida (Smith) Drinnen. She passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020 at her home in Dolores, CO after a long and courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Alta was preceded in death by her parents; and her son, Don Rhodes. She is survived by her husband...

Nov 30, 2020

WILLIAM TROY LICHLITER Lifelong Cortez resident William Troy Lichliter died at St. Mary’s Medical Center on November 30, 2020. He was 76. Troy Lichliter was born to Art Lichliter and Reva Brown Lichliter on November 4, 1944 in Durango, Colorado. He graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 1962. He worked at Cortez Livestock Auction as head foreman. His childhood was...

Nov 28, 2020

Graveside services for Cortez resident Jimmy Lee ‘Jim’ Spurlock will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, December 14, 2020 at Cortez Cemetery. Mr. Aaron Galyon will officiate. Jim was born December 21, 1937 in Stratford, OK the son of John and Ruth (Abney) Spurlock. He passed away on Saturday, November 28, 2020 at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO at...

Nov 28, 2020

Nov 27, 2020

Cody John DuFrene was born in Cortez, Colorado on February 22, 1984 to Ron and Dana DuFrene. He passed peacefully on November 27, 2020 in Grand Junction, Colorado at the age of 36. Cody is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Harmon Eugene DuFrene and Patricia Rose West DuFrene. Cody is survived by his parents, Ron and Dana DuFrene;...

Nov 27, 2020

Vesta Ilene Butler of Dolores passed away Friday evening, November 27, 2020, at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO. She was 89. Vesta was born to Elree and Noble Chasten in Ellington, Missouri on November 4, 1931. She was a long-time resident of the Montezuma County area, moving there in the mid-1930’s from Missouri as a young girl with her...

Nov 27, 2020

Janet Layman Brown was born July 26, 1934 in Delta, CO to John William and Glenna C. (Poe) Layman. She passed from this life to be reunited with her husband, Belmear on Friday, November 27, 2020. Janet and her parents moved to Cortez in 1938, opening up the Main Street business of Layman Hardware. She grew up helping in the...

Nov 26, 2020

Johnnie Willis Dukeminier was born August 19, 1933 in Roswell, NM the son of John Price and Ethel R. (Sugge) Dukeminier. He passed away on Thursday, November 26, 2020 at his residence at the age of 87. Surviving Johnnie are his children, John Dukeminier of Cortez, CO, and Sherry Willis of Cary, NC. Johnnie was preceded in death by his...