Phelma Morgan, 91, 35-year resident of Apple Tree Park, New Castle, Colorado, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2016, at her daughter’s home in Battlement Mesa, Colorado.

Visitation will be held at Rifle Funeral Home on Friday, September 23, at 9 A.M. with the Funeral Service immediately following at 10 A.M. and Pastor BJ Worthen of Assembly of God Church officiating. Interment will take place at the Veterans’ Cemetery in Grand Junction following the Funeral Service. There will be a reception at the De Beque Community Center in De Beque, Colorado, following the interment. Rifle Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Phelma was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to Edward and Alice Smithey on July 6, 1925. She worked as head housekeeper/bus driver for Coates Reid and Waldron for several years. She then went to work for Western Academy to serve our younger generation for a few years. She continued her service to others at Clagett Memorial Hospital. She enjoyed quilting, fishing and her friends.

Phelma is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Alice Smithey, husband, William Martin Morgan and her son, Frank Delbert Morgan.

Phelma is survived by her sisters Elma Loose of Greeley, Colorado, Eunice Sampson of Ovid, Colorado, Lauralee Greenwood of Fort Morgan, Colorado, and brother Larry Smithey of Rangely, Colorado. Also surviving are daughters Stellamae Fredericks of Canpoint, Illinois, Dolores Elaine Walter of Battlement Mesa, Colorado, Gwen (James) Bourke of Woodbridge, Virginia, Billy Jo (Robert) Jordan of Albuquerque, New Mexico, son Jeffrey (Sharon) Morgan of Silt, Colorado, 17 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.

Hanksville, Utah — Jane Eyra Hill Maxfield returned to her Heavenly Father September 8, 2016, at the age of 76, in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Jane was born January 30, 1940 in Rifle, Colorado, a daughter of Elmer James and Gladys Theo Barnes Hill.

She married her sweetheart, Rodger Dean Maxfield, December 6, 1960, in Rifle. He preceded her in death on December 7, 2006.

Jane was a member of the LDS Church. She enjoyed crocheting, macramé and shopping.

Jane is survived by her children James J. Maxfield, Ray D. Maxfield and Michael W. Maxfield, all of Rifle, CO.; Kelly R. Maxfield and Twyla A. Maxfield, both of Grand Junction, CO.; Angela C. and Greg Chrisman of Clifton, CO.; and Mark D. Maxfield of Mack, CO.; 16 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and two siblings: Joanne Hill and James Vern Hill; and a daughter-in-law: Janine Holmes Maxfield.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 24, 2016, at 1:00 PM in the Hanksville LDS Ward Chapel, where friends may call for viewing Saturday morning from 11:30 to 12:30 prior to the services.

Burial will be in the Hanksville Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.

Online guest book at: www.springerturner.com

Beverly passed away peacefully, with family by her site at her home north of New Castle, September 21, 2016.

Services will be held Saturday, September 24, 2016 in Burning Mountain Park in New Castle from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Please bring a dish of your choice for the gathering afterward.

A Celebration of Life/ Memorial Service will be held for Debra L. Sea, Saturday, September 27, 2016 at the Good Shepard Lutheran Church at 2p.m., 1630 Grand Ave, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

A celebration of the lives of Larry & Sally Carlson will be held on Friday, September 23 at 4:00 p.m. at Mountain View Church, 2195 County Road 154 in Glenwood Springs.

A celebration of life/ memorial service will be held for Debra L. Sea, Saturday, September 24, 2016, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 2p.m., 1630 Grand Ave, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

A celebration of the lives of Larry & Sally Carlson will be held on Friday, September 23 at 4:00 p.m. at Mountain View Church, 2195 County Road 154 in Glenwood Springs.

Charles Edward Shupe Jr. passed away peacefully at home on September 15, 2016. He was 67 years old. Chuck was born in Quincy, Illinois, on November 24, 1948. He spent his early years working the family farm and excelling in sports, most notably baseball, in Mendon, Illinois. Chuck graduated from Unity High School of Mendon in 1966. He then went on to get a B.S. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. His life was dedicated to enriching young minds in the role of teacher, coach and principal in both Illinois and Colorado.

His move to Colorado fostered his love for hunting, fishing, skiing, horseback riding and all manner of outdoor adventures. These adventures were made more fulfilling with the company of family and friends. Chuck established lifelong relationships and was a mentor to many who sought his advice. His adventurous spirit will live on in the memories of all those who knew him.

Chuck was preceded in death by his father, Charles “Charlie” Shupe. He is survived by his wife Annette Wescott, daughter Katie (Eric) Assouad, grandchildren Lincoln and Bennett, mother Ruby Shupe, sister Jerri (Dick) Klusmeyer, brothers Greg (Lori) Shupe and Ashley (Norma) Shupe and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to either Home Health Care or Hospice of the Valley or the MSA Coalition at www.multiplesystematrophy.org.

James Bailey (Jim), 71, born in Arkansas to Arlie and Geneva Bailey. Jim was near a native Coloradan with a passion for the Colorado outdoor sportsman life. Jim held leadership roles developing the resources of Colorado through the bridge and highway construction, welding, and oil and gas industries. More importantly, as a husband, father, grandpa, brother, friend, and mentor, Jim devoted his life to the development of the lives of those that surrounded him.

James is survived by his wife Nancy Bailey, children Christopher and Ryan Bailey, Teresa DeLage, Jeff Schoonover, grandchildren Jamie Norris, Ozzie Schoonover, Kitty DeLage, great grandson Donovan Hill, and brothers Bill and Jeremy Bailey.

James was a kind and generous man known for sharing his time and helping people. Throughout his lifetime, Jim tremendously impacted the lives of countless family members, friends, colleagues, and strangers by doing good and leading by example. His honesty, humbleness, intellect, curiosity, patience, work ethic, and kind nature were contagious and inspirational for all.

Jim took his hobbies beyond a casual engagement and was a devout member of the NRA and AARL (ham radio). As a proud NRA member, Jim devoted his last 8 years as a Garfield County 4-H shooting sports leader instructing firearm safety and marksmanship. Jim enjoyed the warm camaraderie with fellow Hams the world over – befriending and sharing with people from everywhere.

James will be forever missed but not forgotten as his genes and loving soul are in all of us.

The tutelage and mentorship of Donovan Hill was Jim’s last unfinished project. Please step forward and carry Jim’s torch supporting the final stages of sculpting Mr. Hill into a man Jim and all us can take pride in forever.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Donovan Hill educational fund at Alpine Bank in Rifle or to 4-H Shooting Sports.

Rifle Funeral Home will host a viewing Friday from 2-7p.m. Grave side services will be held at Highland Cemetery in New Castle Saturday, September 24 at 1:00 p.m. Reception will follow at Silt Fire Station.

Connie McCrudden, 86, passed away in Grand Junction, Colorado, Wednesday, August 24th, 2016.

Born in Wichita, Kansas, she moved with her family to Kansas City, Missouri, as a toddler. Connie graduated from Raytown High School where she performed in musicals and was a cheerleader. Connie worked for Macy’s department store in Kansas City modeling for live events and for Macy’s local newspaper advertisements.

In 1948 Connie and Raymond Garcia were married and soon after moved to Grand Junction, Colorado. Later divorced, Connie and her two children moved to Aspen, Colorado, in 1966. She married Richard McCrudden the following year.

Working for Bethune and Moore Interiors for years, she eventually branched out on her own with several partnerships and finally her own business, Connie McCrudden Interiors. She had many clients including friends, neighbors and wealthy visitors. She enjoyed skiing with Richard at the Buttermilk Ski area, Tiehack and Javelin being their favorite runs.

Connie is survived by her husband, Richard S. McCrudden, sister Anne Davison, daughter Randi Garcia, son Rod Garcia, stepdaughter Mary Naslund, grandchildren Melissa Doyle, Dennis Doyle, and Barrett and Sydney Garcia, and great-granddaughter Jesse Doyle. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bernice and Erie Fouts, and her brother, Richard Fouts.

A memorial will be held October 16th, 2016, at the Book Cliff Country Club in Grand Junction, from 12:00 to 3:00 for family and friends.

Emma Coller Natal passed away peacefully on Friday, September 23, 2016.

She was preceded in death by her mother Viola Coller, father Felix Coller, husband Arthur Natal and sisters Lena, Josephine, Alma and Theresa; brothers Ted and Jim; and granddaughter Terri Hessner.

Emma lived in the Carbondale Valley all of her 96 years. She belonged to many organizations and was a member of the Rebekah Lodge for 70 years. She never missed a Potato Day until the last two years due to health problems. She was living at the Heritage Care Center where she received excellent care.

She is survived by her son August (Donna) Natal; grandsons Daniel (Cecillia) and Robert (Gael); and great-grandchildren John Hessner, Tammara Natal and Talianna Natal; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers a donation to the Rebekah Scholarship Fun at Alpine Bank, Carbondale would be appreciated. Services will be at Farnum-Holt Funeral Home Sept 30, 2016, at 11am.

A memorial service for Luke Lawson Lynch will be held Saturday, October 8th, 2016, at 1:00pm at Glenwood Church of Christ, 260 Soccer Field Rd., Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Please join his family and friends to share wonderful memories of Luke’s life.

Reception immediately following.

Ralph Walker of 421 East 4th Street in Rifle passed away at the Veterans Community Care Center at the age of 85 surrounded by his family. Ralph was born in Colorado

City, Texas on December 23, 1930 to Charles and Lois Walker. He was the oldest of seven children. As he grew up he helped care for his five brothers and one sister until he joined the Army 82nd Airborn Division in 1950. Ralph was deployed to Korea for part of his service and was honorably discharged in 1953.

Ralph moved to the Colorado area where he joined the Ironworkers Union. He received training in welding and became certified. He worked iron for 28 years before retiring. While working on the Rifle Gap Curtain he met his wife, Jan who he was married to for 43 years.

Ralph loved having coffee in the mornings with his many friends and sharing stories with them. He liked walking the dogs, using his metal detector, and finding treasures. His greatest treasure was the time he spent with his grandson, Charles and teaching him to fish. Where you saw Ralph, you could be sure Charles was with him. They were known as the “Andy and Opie of Rifle” by all who knew them.

Ralph is survived by his wife Jan, sons Al (Jody) Walker of New Castle; Ed (Lucy) Walker of Nine Mile Falls, WA; Nathan (Donna) Speakman of Denver; daughters Sandra (Jim) Irvine of Silt; Trudy Walker and Janice White of WA; brothers Eugene Walker of MS; Mac Walker of FL; Robert (Brenda) Walker of TX; and sister Minnie Bradford of TX; grandchildren Charles Walker of Rifle; Travis Walker of WA; and Brianna Speakman of Denver. Ralph had many beloved nieces and nephews and a very large host of friends.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Pamela Walker; his brothers Charles Walker and Dewey Dan Walker.

Services will be held Saturday, October 8 at the Veterans Community Living Center at 11 A.M. with a light luncheon to follow. Cremation has taken place.

Emma Coller Natal passed away peacefully on Friday, September 23, 2016.

She was preceded in death by her mother Viola Coller, father Felix Coller, husband Arthur Natal and sisters Lena, Josephine, Alma, Theresa and brothers Ted and Jim- Granddaughter Terri Hessner.

Emma lived in the Carbondale Valley all of her 96 years. She belonged to many organizations and was a member of the Rebekah Lodge for 70 years. She never missed a Potato Day until the last two years due to health problems. She was living at the Heritage Care Center where she received excellent care.

She is survived by her son August (Donna) Natal Grandsons Daniel (Cecillia), Robert (Gael) and great-grand children John Hessner, Tammara Natal, Talianna Natal and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers a donation to the Rebekah Scholarship Fund at Alpine Bank, Carbondale would be appreciated. Services will be at Farnum-Holt Funeral Home Sept 30, 2016 at 11a.m.

Teresa Esquibel Dunn’s Memorial service will be held Friday, Sept 30th, 2016. The location is Davidson Park, 715 Fir Ave, Rifle, CO at 1 p.m. Contact Danette at danettecmt@yahoo.com for more information.

Mikie lived a short, but active life filled with all the adventures life has to offer. He was born in Detroit, grew up in South Lyon, Michigan and graduated from South Lyon High School. Mike moved to Colorado in 2011 to be closer to his siblings, Marty and Jamie.

Mikie jumped into life with both feet and a heart full of joy. He was kind hearted and gave his love generously to his family and friends. He was well loved by many in return and he lived in the light of these loving relationships. He looked forward to Sunday family dinners and other gatherings. He’d walk into the room with his contagious smile and hold is arms out in a total expression of joy.

Mikie gave freely of himself (and his bear hugs) to others and would stop whatever he was doing if you needed him. You always felt that you were the only person in the world when speaking with him.

He was a gentle man with a deep faith in God; He loved his time volunteering for the High School Youth Group called “Fusion” at the Orchard Church and all the kids loved spending time with him.

Mikie was an avid lover of sports and a passionate outdoorsman. He loved to bike, climb, snowboard, fly fish and hunt. But he especially loved being on the water. He would take his father’s speedboat out on Ruedi to play in the sun with his friends and family.

Mikie had a passion for movies, loved to invent things and was a wizard with electronics. His natural talent and pride in his work helped him develop a successful career in audio-visual technology. He had recently started his own AV business in the valley.

Mikie rose up to fly over the mountains to join his father Michael Rochowiak and other loved ones who held out their arms for him last Tuesday morning. We will miss him terribly, but will see him in the crash of the waves and will continue to hear his laugh and see his contagious smile throughout our lives.

Mikie would like you to know that his work here is done. He received a call, a sort of “offer you can’t refuse”, for an appointment from which he will not be returning. This assignment comes with a huge sign-on bonus, a reunion with family and friends he had not seen in a long time.

Mikie leaves behind his mother Tina, her fiancé Skip, sister Jamie and brother Marty. He also leaves behind several aunts, uncles, a brother in law, nieces, nephews, cousins, his girlfriend Molly, his beloved dog “Thor” and a host of friends.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund at Alpine Bank in Mikie’s name has been set up for the Fusion Youth Group at The Orchard Church. Donations can be made to the “Michael Rochowiak Memorial Fund”, mailing address; ALPINE BANK, 2200 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.

A celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 9th at 1 p.m. in the afternoon at Maria & Ricks house on the banks of the Roaring Fork River in Glenwood Springs, CO.

After 100 years traveling our earth, Galen Louis Helmke found his final place to rest Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 at the Community Living Center of the VA in Grand Junction, CO.

After the Utes were ousted from Escalante Canyon near Grand Junction in 1881, Galen’s grandparents, Ernst and Augusta Helmke, newly arrived from Germany, braved the canyon walls using pulleys and ropes for their wagons, horses, and household goods to embrace a new frontier in ranching.

Galen’s parents, Louis Frederick Helmke and Sarah Rees, married June, 7, 1915. Galen was born a year later, February 27, 1916. A heavy snowstorm in November, 1919 wiped out Louis’ herd. Galen’s parents, left the canyon and bought another ranch up Northeast Creek on the Uncompahgre Plateau. From then on Galen was “farmed” out to relatives for his schooling, which included a time in the Salton Sea Valley in California and other places across the west. He was graduated from Delta High School in 1935.

Galen’s love of the land took him to Colorado University where he followed a degree in geology. His first job was with Texaco Oil as a surveyor. He married Flora Evelyn Cook, who worked for the Delta, CO newspaper, in 1939 in Telluride, CO. Shortly afterward, he was called to serve in World War II with the U.S. Army in a regimental reconnaissance platoon. In the dead of night, he silently canvassed and then mapped French towns for hospitals, schools, and the advancement of German soldiers. He was involved with freeing the first slave labor camp with the allied troops in Europe.

After the war, he went to work for Standard Oil &Gas as a geologist. In 1950, he started an independent consulting business in Casper and was successful in finding oil fields in Colorado and Utah. He retired in 1996, but never tired of talking about the rocks and land he loved.

Galen is survived by his son, Dick Helmke and his daughter-in-law, Marice Doll, both of Glenwood Springs, CO, and his granddaughter, Elise (Kelly) Anderson, Grand Junction, CO. Galen requested a private ceremony to return his body to the land he traveled upon during his life.

Valerie Ann Ryken died peacefully at home on Saturday September 24, 2016 – she was 59 years old.

Born August 13, 1957 to Juannie and Helen (Vellek) Ryken in Berkeley, CA., Valerie graduated early from Alameda High School in Alameda to marry Timothy Allen Montgomery and have 2 children, Tia and Max. While working at Haight Elementary School in Alameda, Valerie began very well-educated in after school program management, a skill she brought to Carbondale Elementary School when the family moved to Colorado by implementing the Latch Key Program, offering after school care to working families through the school. Later, Valerie would transition into the severe needs program through Mountain BOCES and later the Transitions programs, jobs that brought her great joy and satisfaction until an accident in 1994, which left her disabled.

Many know Valerie through the valley as “Destructo-Mom” and her “always open door” policy, which let many a Glenwood teen stay with her and her family or simply be someone to listen to them.

Valerie had lived in the Bay Area of California, the Roaring Fork Valley, Alaska and Grand Junction. The last few years of her life were spent in Collbran, CO, where she spent time gardening and making friends as the “Lady with the Rottweiler”.

Valerie is survived by daughter Tia (Gary) Glassier, several members of the Willhite family and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and son Max.

At this time, there are no services planned and there will be notifications and updates via Facebook through her daughter’s page.

Carol Elaine Poer was born in Magdolena, New Mexico, in 1942. She moved to Glenwood Springs in 1953 with her family Ben, Mary, Pat & Kriss. Carol enjoyed high school in Glenwood Springs and was actively involved in 4-H, where she won many awards as Emy Neil’s protegee. After attending College at Mesa and Colorado State Universities, she married Thomas E. Turner.

Carol had three business — Grandma’s Delight, The County Seat and The Diet Center — and later worked at Dragon’s Boot & Shoe and Pier One. Carol was outgoing, loved to talk to people and never met a person she didn’t like.

A beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Carol is survived by her husband Tom; sons Jeff & Pat, daughter Jennifer, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Pat Poer and sister Kriss Shaw.

Condolences may be mailed to 64 County rd. #149, Glenwood Springs, Colo. 81601. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Carol’s memory to Calaway-Young Cancer Center or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

A private family service celebrating Carol’s Life will be held at a later date.

Jacqueline Kasper (96) died Friday, Sept. 30, surrounded by loved ones at her home in Carbondale. Jacquie lived a full and adventurous life and leaves behind a legacy of beauty, faith and family. She was an accomplished painter who studied under Frank DuMond at the Art Students League of New York, and a passionate skier and hiker. She grew up in Stanton, Virginia, and was an enthusiastic equestrian.

She married Colonel William Kasper in 1940, and traveled the world with their four children during his 23-year military career. An engaging storyteller, Jacquie regaled her grandchildren with stories of surviving the bombing of Pearl Harbor, life in Iran, skiing in the Swiss Alps and more. The Kasper family moved 33 times in 25 years, including a stint in Aspen in 1960. When Col. Kasper retired in 1988, the family moved permanently to Carbondale. Jacquie enjoyed painting, riding horses, gardening, skiing and spending time with her grandchildren. She formed a strong community with other local artists.

Jacquie was preceded in death by her loving husband; her son-in-law, Chuck Severy; and grandson, Christopher Severy. She is survived by her four children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.