Travis died peacefully in his home in Reno, Nevada.
An open house will be held Saturday October 29, 2016 at 84 Lariat Road, Silt, CO from 1pm to 4pm, to celebrate his life and share loving memories of him.
Travis was born in Glenwood Springs and graduated from Glenwood Springs High School in 2002. Travy loved to make people laugh and he was always the light of the room. He enjoyed many things but above all he enjoyed being with his little girl. She stole his heart when she was born and had it ever since.
Travy is survived by his beautiful daughter Marlie Jocelyn, his loving parents Kim and Cory Wesson, Marty Winn, his awesome sister Tiffany Winn, and his step-sister Lyndsey Wesson. Along with many others who loved him very much.
In lieu of flowers and an account has been set up for his daughter, at the Bank of Colorado in Glenwood Springs, CO. Please make checks payable to Kimberly Wesson.
Vera was born in Saint Francis, Kansas. She is predeceased by her husband, Kenneth Grant. She is survived by her children Debra Engelhardt of Parachute, Co, and Cheri Hager of Rifle, Co; grandson Shawn Engelhardt of Littleton Co; and 2 granddaughters, Carrie Church of Rifle, Co, and Malinda West of Silt, Co. She had 7 great-grandchildren, and a future son-in-law, Michael Stevenson, that loved her like a Mom. She loved her family, and her family cherished her. She always wanted to make everyone around her happy. We couldn’t ask for a more loving Mom & Grandma. We will miss her so very much.
Mary Kay (Merikay, as her mother called her) was born in Oak Park, IL, to Robert Vincent Kent and Mary Joyce Higgins. The third oldest of nine children, Mary’s early childhood was spent in Crystal Lake, IL, at her maternal grandmother’s summer home on the Lake. The family moved to Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula and Lake Superior where Mary attended the Ahmeek Public and Calumet High Schools, graduating in 1962. Mary worked in Chicago a while, returning to Ahmeek to attend Michigan Tech in Houghton. Her sisters say she was the apple of her father’s eye, a brilliant man, because she was “so smart with numbers.” There she met and married Martin Oldford, a civil engineering student. A move to Flint, MI, found Mary raising two sons Paul and Matthew. The family moved to Lakewood, CO, in 1975 where she attended University of Colorado-Denver finishing her degree in business and accounting. Mary and her family moved to Glenwood Springs in 1977 where she began her accounting and, later, CPA practice at Dalby Wendland & Co. Mary worked at Dalby for many years, was respected and admired by her colleagues for her business acumen and integrity, beloved by her clients for her knowledge and caring. While working in this demanding profession, Mary raised her two sons with understanding love, and served her community well.
Mary met Joe Llewellyn through their association with the Glenwood Springs Rotary Club. They dated for 7 years and married in 1996. Joe and Mary shared a passion for “Service Above Self,” Rotary’s motto, and made dear Rotary friendships around the world. Mary was one of the first five women to be invited to join Rotary in 1988 and served as the club’s first woman president, a milestone in local service clubs, nowadays routine, thanks in large part to Mary’s fine character and example. Through Rotary and many other professional associations, Mary served this community with integrity, knowledge, wisdom and compassion, offering her talents, time and resources from coaching soccer for her sons to serving on non-profit boards, bringing a warm meal to a grieving family or teaching a new widow how to write her first check and manage her family’s finances.
Mary loved her water aerobics class at the Hot Springs pool. She and Joe could be found soaking in the hot pool nearly every day. Mary loved skiing, hiking, fishing (especially), camping, gardening, golfing — anything that brought her outside into nature, an urge she brought with her from her beautiful Lake Superior childhood in the UP. Mary and Joe also loved to feed their friends and family, having them over for delicious dinners on a regular basis. Mary and Joe took trips all over the United States in their RV and found their winter home in Surprise, Arizona, a few years ago. Mary made many dear friends in Surprise, through golf and volunteer work helping residents with computer use and tax preparation. As usual, Mary quietly helped people wherever she lived. For those who knew her best, Mary privately weathered many personal challenges in her life, from early childhood to adulthood. She never complained. Instead, Mary hoped to learn from adversity, to gain insight and wisdom, to remain kind, to enjoy play and humor, to be grateful for the smallest of blessings, friendship, health, natural beauty, and always, to be of service to others.
Mary is survived by son Paul Oldford and his wife Lorena and daughters Luna & Paloma of Plano, TX. She loved these two beautiful girls and visited them often. She is also survived by son Matthew Oldford of California and former husband Martin Oldford. Mary was truly the loving glue for her large extended Kent family as well as the Oldford and Llewellyn families. Mary visited her brothers & sisters, nieces and nephews in all the branches, whenever she could. Her remaining eight Kent siblings are Judy (Wayne Peters) of Hamlin Lake, MI, Bob & Paul of Portland, ME, Patty (Frank Richardson) of Surprise, AZ, Nick (Julie) of Ahmeek, MI, Peg (John Martinson) of Kent, WA, John (Rita) of Sarasota, FL, and Peter of Fulton, MI, and sister-in-law Marla Kent of Littleton, CO. Other dear family include Mary’s beloved nieces and nephews, Aunt Lorraine McDonald of Punta Gorda, FL, McDonald cousins, the Higgins cousins of Chicago, and cousin Jeff Kent, as well as Kent & Batenic cousins. Oldford and Llewellyn children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews also love their Aunt Mary.
A joyful celebration of Mary “Kay” Kent’s life will be held at Sunlight Mountain Resort Lodge Saturday, November 5, at 1pm. A reception will follow with light snacks. Cards and letters can be sent to PO Box 3344, GWS CO 81602.
Donations in Mary’s honor can be made to: GWS Frontier Historical Society or Glenwood Springs Rotary Community Foundation (local scholarships).
Carolyn H. Vandermark passed away peacefully on October 13th, 2006. She was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, graduated Muhlenberg Twp. High School with the class of 1941 and received her Masters degree from Wheaton Bible College in Illinois, majoring in church history. She taught school for the U46 school district.
After retirement she moved to Glenwood Springs and was an active member of Mountain View Baptist Church. She spent her time volunteering and assisting with many ministries until moving home to Pennsylvania. Carolyn touched many lives and always for the better. Always giving Glory to the Lord.
Her love for travel and adventure was a passion and her family affectionately named her a “Gypsy” for her many travels. She loved the beauty of God’s creation, always seeking out animals and gorgeous vistas to view and photograph. The mountains of Colorado where the most wonderful place in the world, she often said. Her pet ferrets, Spot, Honey and Sweetness, brought her great joy along with the birds that came to the porch feeder.
For us it is a sadness that Carolyn has left this world but we must remember that for her it is a great joy to be with God and now explore new adventures of the Kingdom of Heaven with Christ.
She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur K. Hartzell; mother Mertie M. Hartzell; brother-in-Law Gerald J. Jacoby; and son Robert H. Vandermark Jr. She is survived by sisters Mary Jane (Hartzell) Jacoby and Annette K. Hartzell; brother Arthur J. Hartzell Jr.; grandson Brian P. Vandermark (Luibov A. Vandermark); granddaughter Carolyn M. Hansen; and great-grandson Robert T. Vandermark.
A memorial service will be held at Mountain View Church, 2195 County Road 154, Glenwood Springs at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 5th. Memorial contributions in Carolyn’s name may be made to The Elephant Sanctuary, PO Box 393, Hohenwald, TN 38462.
Isabel “Izzy” McBreen passed away peacefully October 31, 2016, in her Glenwood Springs home of 65 years, surrounded by her family. She was a genuinely happy, sweet person who was always looking for the good in every situation. Her perpetually optimistic and loving approach to life affected all who knew her.
Izzy was born on October 20, 1928, in Leadville, CO, to Rose and Thomas Bowen, the youngest of five sisters and two brothers.
Izzy and her husband, Mike, enjoyed 67 years of happy, loving marriage. She will be dearly missed by her children (Colleen, Jim and Joe), grandchildren (Jayme, Josh, Rachel and Izzie), and new great-grandson (Flynn). Her family is blessed to have had such an amazing role model.
Izzy enjoyed golfing, swimming and spending time at their family cabin.
A celebration of Izzy’s life will be held on November 12, 2016, from 1-3 PM at Rivers Restaurant.
Roland “Rolly” Fischer, the longtime head of the Glenwood Springs-based Colorado River District who guided the organization through a period of intense and often contentious change, has died.
Fischer, a petroleum engineer who came to western Colorado in the 1950s ahead of the eventual oil shale boom and bust, was secretary-engineer and general manager for what was then known as the Colorado River Water Conservation District from 1968 until 1996.
A sometimes controversial figure, Fischer remained a fixture in Glenwood Springs along with his wife, Tillie, after his retirement. He died Friday morning at the age of 88, according to family and friends.
“The entire River District is saddened by the news, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family,” River District spokesman Chris Treese said.
“Rolly certainly deserves the credit for what the River District is today,” said Treese, who went to work for Fischer in 1991. “He was a visionary, and as manager he hired a lot of the people who make the River District the success it is today.
“First and foremost, he looked out for western Colorado and only did what he thought was best for its water interests,” Treese said. “He was willing to be the lightning rod in doing that.”
Outside of work, wife Tillie said he was the consummate family man. She accompanied him to western Colorado in 1955 when he went to work for Union Oil Co. of California to secure a water source for oil shale development.
“He was happiest when our children, George and Katie, or myself had some success,” she said. “He never wanted the success for himself, but was so happy when we did anything that made him proud.
“In the water industry, the verbal word of Rolly Fischer and a handshake were more binding than any one-inch-thick legal document,” she added.
Writer George Sibley, in a summary written for the Post Independent of his 2012 book Water Wranglers, described Fischer as a “visible, creative and often controversial leader for the West Slope’s traditional water users through his 28-year tenure.
“One of the district’s best achievements in that time was a truce with Denver, resulting in construction of the Wolford Mountain Reservoir near Kremmling using Denver money for joint East and West Slope storage.
“But Fischer’s greatest achievement may also be organizational, turning the River District from a nearly invisible two-person operation into an effective organization employing around 20 highly skilled people by the time he left,” Sibley wrote.
David Merritt, whom Fischer hired to oversee the Wolford Mountain project, said Fischer was responsible for the River District’s transition in the 1980s away from larger-scale water projects to operating existing projects and building more local projects.
“He saw the organization through that difficult time, and built up the staffing to support that,” Merritt said. “He could be irascible, and we could have our disagreements on things, but if I could convince him on something he would support me.
“As a boss, mentor and friend, I considered him par none,” Merritt said.
More recently, Fischer became embroiled in a 2010 finger-pointing controversy when former Congressman and then-gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis, now a Mesa County commissioner, was accused of plagiarizing parts of water articles he was commissioned to write, and for which he had hired Fischer to gather research.
Shirley J. Jensen, 77, of Palisade, Colorado passed away peacefully on November 2, 2016, at HopeWest in Grand Junction.
She was born on October 2, 1939 in Silt, Colorado to Carl and Clara (Benzel) Hasselbush. She was the youngest of two girls. She was raised in the Silt area and graduated from Silt High School. She later met Don Jensen and they were married in Glenwood Springs on July 17, 1960. They resided in Glenwood for most of their lives. She was a bookkeeper at Dalby, Wendland & Co. and retired after 35+ years with them. In her spare time, she enjoyed crocheting; she would make blankets and donate them to Valley View Hospital in Glenwood for new mothers. After retirement, she moved with Don to Palisade to be closer to their children.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Clara, and her sister, Sharon (Hasselbush) Warren. She is survived by her husband, Don; her son, Don Jr., and his wife, Johanna of Gypsum, Colorado; her daughter Carla (Jensen) Inskeep of Fruita; and three grandchilden, , Michael Wycoff (Nicole), Kaitlyn Inskeep, and Amanda Inskeep.
Memorial contributions may be made to HopeWest of Grand Junction, 3090 North 12th Street, Grand Junction, COP 81506; or, on their website http://www.hopewestco.org. Hasselbush. She was the youngest of two girls. She was raised in the Silt area and graduated from Silt High School. She later met Don Jensen and they were married in Glenwood Springs on July 17, 1960. They resided in Glenwood for most of their lives. She was a bookkeeper at Dalby, Wendland & Co. and retired after 35+ years with them. In her spare time, she enjoyed crocheting; she would make blankets and donate them to Valley View Hospital in Glenwood for new mothers. After retirement, she moved with Don to Palisade to be closer to their children.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Clara, and her sister, Sharon (Hasselbush) Warren. She is survived by her husband, Don; her son, Don Jr., and his wife, Johanna of Gypsum, Colorado; her daughter Carla (Jensen) Inskeep of Fruita; and three grandchilden, , Michael Wycoff (Nicole), Kaitlyn Inskeep, and Amanda Inskeep.
Memorial contributions may be made to HopeWest of Grand Junction, 3090 North 12th Street, Grand Junction, COP 81506; or, on their website http://www.hopewestco.org.
Heaven gained another Angel. Our “Little Granny” left this earth peacefully and surrounded by family. She is now reunited with her Husband Tom Brock and “Baby Girl.” She was born in West Virginia, raised her children in Arizona, and then moved to Carbondale, CO, in 2001. She had 9 children (Richard, Gary, Perry, Mark, Rodney, Christine, Regina, Karen, & Baby Courtney), 26 grandchildren, more than 50 great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren. Dottie loved traveling, fishing, needlepoint and puzzles … but most of all she LOVED being with her family.
An “OPEN HOUSE” style MEMORIAL Celebrating Dottie’s life will be held on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH, at Crystal Meadows (1250 Hendrick Dr., Carbondale) from Noon until 3:00PM. In lieu of flowers, please bring a favorite dish to share.
Born May 26, 1928, in Dayton, OH, Roland “Rolly” Cole Fischer was the only child of George F. Fischer and Lillian Rose Cole Fischer. A graduate of Fairmont High School, Rolly began his college career at the University of Cincinnati in a pilot/co-op program where he lettered in cross country track. After two years at the University of Cincinnati, Rolly transferred to The Ohio State University, where he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Business. Rolly continued his studies at The Ohio State University, earning a Master’s Degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1955. His thesis was titled: “The Transportation of oil from shale from Western Colorado to the Southern California Market.”
Immediately upon graduation, Rolly joined Union Oil and settled in what is now known as Parachute. Rolly worked to develop a secure water supply for the oil shale industry. However, a few years later, the development of oil shale faltered.
Rolly’s career continued with Union Oil out of the Denver office as project engineer for gas well development in the Grand Mesa area. A few years later when Union Oil closed down its operations in the Rocky Mountain region, Rolly joined the Colorado River Water Conservation District as the Secretary-Engineer / General Manager of the Glenwood Springs office. During his tenure as Secretary-Engineer, Rolly was instrumental in securing water and water rights for the 13 counties of the Western Slope of Colorado. Rolly successfully grew the Colorado River Water Conservation District in head count as well as in influence building the foundation for the organization that it is today. Rolly was often termed a “visionary” by not only those in the field but many of the state’s leaders. Rolly’s career culminated in 1996 with the completion and fill of Wolford Mountain Reservoir located outside of Kremmling. Rolly retired from the Colorado River Water Conservation District in 1996 after 28 years.
During his career, Rolly was also appointed to the State Ground Water Commission and served on the Board of the Colorado River Water Users (President, 1995). Rolly was also active in the Glenwood Springs community at various times in his life with Rotary, Elks and as a Board Member for the Glenwood Springs Golf Club.
Rolly is survived by his wife of 61 years, Matilda “Tillie” Fischer, daughter Katie Fischer Mosquera, son George Frederick Fischer and granddaughters Elizabeth Katie Mosquera and Nicole Rose Fischer, sister-in-law Lucy M. Winterkamp along with various nieces and nephews – Karen Picciano, Judy White, Chrissy Winterkamp and Frederick Winterkamp.
A service honoring Rolly will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at 10:30 am at the First United Methodist Church in Glenwood Springs. A reception will be held immediately after the service at the Glenwood Springs Golf Club in west Glenwood. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the National MS Society in Rolly’s memory. (National MS Society, in care of S. Reel, 521 Rood Avenue, Suite B, Grand Junction, CO 81504).
James P. Etcheverry, 77, a resident of Pullman, WA., passed away Saturday, November 5, 2016, at Pullman Regional Hospital. A Memorial Service will be Thursday, November 10th, at 10:00 a.m. at Kimball Funeral Home in Pullman.
James was born March 15, 1939, in Fruita, Colorado, to Pete and Isa Nix Etcheverry, the oldest of their five children. He grew up in Fruita where his dad was a sheep herder, and he often spent time up in the mountains watching the flock. Always an avid reader, Jim loved to read while the sheep quietly grazed. He graduated from high school in Fruita and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Jim served as a sonar operator aboard Navy ships and saw duty in the South Pacific and beyond. Upon being honorably discharged he returned to his home in Colorado and began working at a gas station and auto repair business. While working there, he met Roberta Hopkins, and after a brief courtship they married on April 1, 1966, in Fruita. Jim worked his entire life as a heavy equipment operator, and they moved from job to job in their small travel trailer. Once they started to have children they settled in Carbondale, Colorado.
Jim was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He loved to fish, especially for trout in the Colorado streams. Hunting with his brothers or his in-laws was usually an annual activity as well. In addition to reading, he also liked to watch TV, follow the Denver Broncos, and build model airplanes or boats often out of balsa wood. At the time of his retirement, Jim’s entire career had been with the same construction company. He and Roberta moved to Pullman, Washington, twelve years ago to be closer to family.
He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Roberta, at their Pullman home; 4 children, Michelle (LuWellyn) Leany of Santaquin, UT., Jim (Sara) Etcheverry of Machias, NY., Bill (Kimberly) Etcheverry of Auburn, WA., and Mary Ann (Eric) Kauwe of Pullman; 13 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Joyce Kohls and Willie Elder; and 2 brothers, Clyde and Robert Etcheverry. Jim was preceded in death by a two-year-old daughter, Kathleen, and by his parents. Online guest book is at http://www.kimballfh.com.
Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman is in charge of the arrangements.
Trent Jaron Goscha, 13, of Carbondale, CO, passed away November 6, 2016. A viewing will be held Thursday, November 10, 2016, from 5:00-8:00 pm at the Farnum Holt Funeral Home Chapel in Glenwood. A funeral service will be held Friday, November 11, 2016, at 10:00 am at The Orchard Church in Carbondale with burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made at any Alpine Bank. A full obituary to follow.
Trent Jaron Goscha, 13, was born on May 27, 2003, in Glenwood Springs, CO, to Michael and Jayme Goscha of Carbondale. He attended OUR School Preschool in Glenwood Springs, then Crystal River Elementary and Carbondale Middle School in Carbondale. Active in football and baseball, he went on to center his attention on baseball as an outstanding all-star pitcher. He also had a passion for music, and spent many hours at the piano and on his trumpet singing and making up songs. He attended the Aspen Music School’s P.A.L.S. program for trumpet and enjoyed hearing live music, especially military songs. Trent was scheduled to play taps on Thursday for his favorite school activity, the Veteran’s Day concert.
He was an avid outdoorsman, and loved to go fishing, shed hunting and exploring. His main outdoor passion was snowmobiling, and he prayed for snow year-round. He enjoyed many snowmobiling adventures with his Dad and friends and talked about them endlessly. Trent had a love for his country and those who protect it that was unmatched by any his age, and a passion for upholding his values of faith, family, and freedom. He was proud to be a Boy Scout and a member of the Mt. Sopris 4-H Club where he made many friends and learned many valuable skills.
Trent had many loves, but his true love was being a cowboy. He loved moving, sorting, and being with cattle and riding his horse, Sunday, whenever he could. He was an accomplished rider and hand, being awarded the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo Sportsmanship Buckle for 2016 and receiving third place in his division at his first Roaring Fork Ranch Roping this fall. He loved and cherished the cowboys and cowgirls he met along the way and who were such influential role models and heroes in his life.
Trent is survived by his parents and little sister Tess, his faithful horse, Sunday, and tag-along Pebo; bed-mate Pip, playmate Ricky Bobby, and cat Skitters McGriddle. Grandparents are Ron and Darlene Goscha of Carbondale; Jay and Linda Fosdick of Penrose; and Jacque Fosdick of Fowler, CO. Aunts, and uncles include Todd and Cindy Goscha of El Jebel; Tim and Jackie Goscha of Rifle; Julene and Jr. Romero of Pueblo; Jeana and Gabe Geringer of Fowler; and Joy and Jason Love of Glenwood Springs. Cousins include Jeremy and Brittney Goscha and little Paisley Goscha of El Jebel; Kai, Canaan and Claire Geringer of Fowler; and Payton Love of Glenwood Springs. His best friend and stand-in brother is Dayton Reese of Brighton, CO.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, November 10, from 5-8 p.m. at Farnum Holt Funeral Home and memorial service will be held on Friday, November 11, at 10 a.m. at the Orchard in Carbondale. Everyone is invited to bring a dish and join the family in a pot luck (Trent’s favorite) after internment in Carbondale’s Evergreen Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made at any Alpine Bank.
Peggy Jean Strong-McCune was born on May 9, 1953, in Aspen, CO, to Byra Vay and John E. Strong. Peggy passed away peacefully with family by her side, and God in her heart on November 1, 2016.
She attended Aspen High School up to her sophomore year. She then moved to Central Texas in 1968 where she finished high school and went to college. She married Rocky Johns, and had two children, Kristi Anne and Joshua Lea Patrick Johns. In 1989 she moved to Carbondale, she waited tables at the Wok Inn working hard to make a decent living for her children whom she adored. In the early ’90s she moved to Rifle where she worked at the Mill Inn, and then at the Basecamp Cafe. While in Rifle she met and married Phillip McCune and at that time gained 5 more children to give her love to.
She resided in Rifle until December 2015, when she moved to Riverton, Utah, to be with her daughter Kristi and her grandchildren Jake, Joshua, Alexander and Addisyn whom she adored.
She loved gardening, flowers, cooking, picnics, camping, fishing, the outdoors and enjoying time with all the children in her life and spending time with her family. She loved and appreciated all the support she received from her father, Bud. She also truly loved her church, The Rifle United Methodist Presbyterian Church, and her church family.
She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Joshua Lea Patrick Johns; mother, Byra Vay; Granddaughter, Morgan VayLea Christian; sister, Penny Lynn; step-brother, Chuck Wurtz; sister in law Ula Kirkman, several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She is survived by her husband Phillip McCune, father John E. Strong; daughters: Kristi Anne Christian and Angel McCune; sons, Brandon McCune, Jesse (Helena) McCune; Pat McCune, and Brian McCune; sisters, Becky Vay Strong, Tina (Mike) Deere, Suzanne (Bo) Bobo, Bonnie Strong; brother, George (Leslie) Strong; 9 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Donations may be made to the Peggy J. McCune Donation fund for help with medical bills.
Celebration of Life, Saturday, November 1, 2016, 2 p.m., Rifle United Methodist Presbyterian Church, 200 E. 4th Street, Rifle, CO. Reception to follow next door at Lovell Bldg, Sandwiches & refreshments provided, potluck side requested.
Paul Steven Cavaliere “Steve,” 59, of Silt, passed away Monday, November 7, 2016, doing what he loved most. Sitting in his fishing chair next to his son which was his best friend with his line in the water as the beautiful Colorado sun was going down.
Steve was born November 6, 1957, in Alamosa, CO. While growing up in Alamosa he found his true love and high school sweet heart Maura. They got married in 1979 and started their family.
In 1981 Steve and Maura made the move to Silt where they raised their two children.
He is survived by his father Richard Cavaliere, brother Roger, and two loving children Sara and David Cavaliere.
A memorial service is being planned up at Rifle Gap to be announced soon.
Peggy Jean Strong-McCune was born on May 9, 1953, in Aspen, CO, to Byra Vay and John E. Strong. Peggy passed away peacefully with family by her side, and God in her heart on November 1, 2016.
She attended Aspen High School up to her sophomore year. She then moved to Central Texas in 1968 where she finished high school and went to college. She married Rocky Johns, and had two children, Kristi Anne and Joshua Lea Patrick Johns. In 1989 she moved to Carbondale, she waited tables at the Wok Inn working hard to make a decent living for her children whom she adored. In the early ’90s she moved to Rifle where she worked at the Mill Inn, and then at the Basecamp Cafe. While in Rifle she met and married Phillip McCune and at that time gained 5 more children to give her love to.
She resided in Rifle until December 2015, when she moved to Riverton, Utah, to be with her daughter Kristi and her grandchildren Jake, Joshua, Alexander and Addisyn whom she adored.
She loved gardening, flowers, cooking, picnics, camping, fishing, the outdoors and enjoying time with all the children in her life and spending time with her family. She loved and appreciated all the support she received from her father, Bud. She also truly loved her church, The Rifle United Methodist Presbyterian Church, and her church family.
She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Joshua Lea Patrick Johns; mother, Byra Vay; Granddaughter, Morgan VayLea Christian; sister, Penny Lynn; step-brother, Chuck Wurtz; sister in law Ula Kirkman, several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She is survived by her husband Phillip McCune, father John E. Strong; daughters: Kristi Anne Christian and Angel McCune; sons, Brandon McCune, Jesse (Helena) McCune; Pat McCune, and Brian McCune; sisters, Becky Vay Strong, Tina (Mike) Deere, Suzanne (Bo) Bobo, Bonnie Strong; brother, George (Leslie) Strong; 9 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Donations may be made to the Peggy J. McCune Donation fund for help with medical bills.
Celebration of Life, Sunday, November 13, 2016, 2 p.m., Rifle United Methodist Presbyterian Church, 200 E. 4th Street, Rifle, CO. Reception to follow next door at Lovell Bldg, Sandwiches & refreshments provided, potluck side requested.
Our friend, Ron Diest, passed away in his usual quiet and unassuming way at his home in the company of one of his long-time friends and care-givers on November 10, 2016.
Ron was born February 12, 1944, in Wichita, Kansas. He was the son of Orville A. and Margerie L. (Buckler) Diest, both deceased. While we don’t have information about his younger years or siblings, we know that his biological family placed him in the State Home for the Disabled at age nine and has had no contact with him since then. Fortunately, Ron’s disability took a backseat to his amazing spirit of determination. He received vocational training at the State home and developed a strong sense of work ethic. That work ethic landed him a job working in a family-owned restaurant when he was eighteen and he quickly became a member of his new-found family. They moved to Crested Butte in 1970, remaining there until relocating to Glenwood Springs in 1978. Ron enjoyed a true loving relationship with the Cranks that continued to grow as he moved through all the stages of his life. Ron was preceded in death by extended family members Sally (Brown) Crank and Anna Crank. He is survived by extended family Bill and Gloria Crank of Crested Butte and Kib Crank of Denver and nearest and dearest friends, Mike and Rita Deer of Glenwood Springs, CO.
Over the years, Ron suffered from a variety of very complex medical issues, but stubbornly refused to succumb to illness. He got up every morning and went to work at the 19th Street Diner. After work, he sat at the counter drinking coffee and visiting with the locals. He set short term goals for himself that kept him going when his strength began to wane. He participated in Special Olympics skiing until he was placed on continuous oxygen, and could not endure the altitude. He then turned to bowling, until his strength began to decrease. He placed first at the regional competition in 2013 and chose to be a spectator, cheering his friends on the following year. Eventually his stamina decreased to the point he had to stop working-after all, flammable oxygen just doesn’t work in a restaurant kitchen! After leaving the Diner, he spent his days going to Starbucks for coffee and visiting with his many friends who stopped by to chat. He enjoyed his final cup of Starbucks the day before his passing.
Ron was a kind and caring friend who was always interested in the triumphs and tribulations of those around him. His gentle nature and absolute refusal to allow his illness to control his life will always be an inspiration to all who knew and loved him. He will remain a steady presence in the hearts of his many friends and the staff and clients of Mountain Valley Developmental Services who have enjoyed the pleasure of his company for the past 38 years.
Ron will be laid to rest in the Crank family plot in Crested Butte, CO. Please join with family and friends for a memorial service at the Glenwood Springs Community Center at 2:00 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2016, to celebrate and acknowledge the strength, courage and determination of this very ordinary man who has lived an extraordinary life.
Memorial gifts can be made to Mountain Valley Developmental Services, P.O. Box 338, Glenwood Springs, CO. 81602 and will be used to place a bench with Ron’s name in a local park.
Norma Louise Jolley Montover, age 95, of Clifton, Colorado, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2016, with her family by her side. Louise was born March 26, 1921, in Hulett, Wyoming, the daughter of William George Jolley and Madie Blanch Painter.
Louise enjoyed gardening, and her flowers were often admired by the local newspaper. She also loved music and playing the Hawaiian steel guitar and Spanish guitar with her family.
In 1943 Louise married Peleno Montover. Louise is survived by her husband Peleno; daughter Judy Crandell (Keith) of Silt, CO, and son Bill Montover (Karen) of Grand Junction, CO; three nieces, Joan McClaskey (Darrell), Janice Dawson and Eileen Ingersol (Gene); five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and many more relatives and friends.
There will be a viewing at 9:00 AM with Funeral Services at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 19, 2016, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 395 31 5/8 Rd, Grand Junction, CO, with graveside services at Skyline Cemetery in Silt, CO, at 2:00 PM. Memorial contributions can be made to the Emmanuel Baptist Church Building Fund in Louise’s memory. Friends can leave condolences on the Tribute Wall at http://www.EllisFamilyServices.com.
