James R. Monger
1922-1998
James R. Monger of Craig, Colo., died Nov. 27, 1998. He was 75. Monger was born in Cherokee, Okla., Dec. 25, 1922, the son of Horace and Maude (Griffith) Monger. He spent his childhood and school years in Oklahoma and served in the U.S. Army. He married Betty Lee Gentry on March 6, 1943, in Steamboat Springs, Colo. She died April 22, 1977. Monger moved to Craig, Colo., in the mid 1940s and was the hotel manager for the Cosgriff Hotel. He was a member of the Elks Lodge No. 1577, Masonic Lodge and the Craig Kiwanis Club. He is survived by two sons, Jerry Monger of Craig and James (Roselyn "Penny") Monger of Sun Valley, Idaho; three grandchildren, Toni Monger of Boise, Idaho, Nicole Monger of Breckenridge, Colo., and Erik Monger of Craig. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and two sisters, Marge and Phyllis. Services were held Dec. 1, 1998, at Grant Mortuary with the Friar John Frary officiating. Cremation was prior to the service.

Joel Earls
Joel Earls of Craig died Saturday, Jan. 23, 1999, at The Memorial Hospital. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 1999, at Calvary Baptist Church. Memorial donations may be made to the family.

James Anthony "Tony" Roberts
James Anthony "Tony" Roberts of Craig and Meeker died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, near Columbus, Neb. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb, 19, 1999, at the First Christian Church. Interment will follow in the Craig Cemetery .

Gene Higgins
1919-1999
Gene Higgins, formerly of Craig, Colo., died Jan. 25, 1999, in Louisville, Colo. He was 80. On Sept. 26, 1919, in California, Mo., Higgins was born to Charley and Clara Higgins. He moved to Craig in 1949. Higgins worked at J.C. Penney's, Brinkley Hardware, sold cars at Buick Corral's Chevrolet and Chuck Conner's Cadilliac and then owned his own car lot. He is survived by his wife, Lois; daughters, Lyn and Carol, and Debra (Tom) Maneotis of Craig; sons, Ron (Jeannie) Higgins of Craig, and Vern Higgins of Denver; six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and great-granddaughter, Alish Higgins. Memorial services were held Feb. 10, 1999, at the home of Tom and Debra Maneotis.

Ian Gavin Messer
1998-1999
Ian Gavin Messer of Craig, Colo., died Feb. 5, 1999, at The Memorial Hospital in Craig. Messer was born Dec. 1, 1998, in Craig to Ian Daniel and Donitra Lynn (Tomlin) Messer. Messer is survived by his parents; brother, Torin Daniel, 2; and grandparents, Darrell and Debbie Tomlin of Craig, Becky and Jeff Lakes of Ohio, Danny and Tonya Messer of Indiana, and Phyllis Carter of Indiana. Services were held Feb. 10, 1999, at Grant Mortuary. Burial was at the Craig Cemetery . Pallbearers were: Ray Reed, Nick Yarbrough, Mike Johannas and Ron Wyatt.

Curtis Temples
1927-1999
Curtis Temples of Meeker, Colo., died Feb. 6, 1999, in an auto accident 30 miles north of Meeker. He was 71. Temples was born Oct. 18, 1927, to Gladys and Sally Temples. He was raised in Talco, Texas. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Temples married Bobbie Brown, later divorced. He is survived by sons, Jeff and Tim Temples of Mt. Pleasant, Texas; daughters, Patsy Carnes of Mt. Pleasant, Paula Reeves of Stamps, Ark., JoDee Parrin of Mt. Pleasant, and Kathy Collins of Dangerville, Texas; brothers, Sam (Elsie) Temples of Longview, Texas, and Taylor (Norma) Temples of Vernal, Utah; sisters, Dorothy Lewis of Houma, La., Thelma (Ralph) Thomas of Topock, Ariz., and Eris (Art) Blazk of Fowler, Colo.; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Bud Lee and Joe Temples.

Iris Lyons
Iris Lyons of Craig died Friday, April 16, 1999, at Valley View Manor. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, 1999, at Grant Mortuary. Interment will follow in the Craig Cemetery . Memorial donations may be made in care of Grant Mortuary to The Memorial Hospital in memory of the original nursing staff.

Janis Henderson
Janis Henderson of Craig died Sunday, April 18, 1999, at Valley View Manor. Services are pending.

Adeline A. Eberle
1905-1999
Adeline A. Eberle of Craig, Colo., died April 6, 1999, in Craig. She was 93. On April 27, 1905, in Almena, Kan., she was born the daughter of Allen and Laura (Reynard) Short. She moved to Craig in 1917 and was graduated from Craig High School in 1925. She took an extension college course and taught school at the Rock Valley School for three years, the Seventh Day Adventist parochial school for one year and substituted for three years. On Aug. 17, 1935, she married William Eberle. They lived on a ranch west of Craig. Eberle is survived by daughters, Pat Tucker of Lahabra, Calif., Sharon Barker of Lahabra, and Carol Buchanan of Craig; sister, Orva Betz of Hesparia, Calif.; brother, Lester Short of Clifton, Colo.; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; daughter, Peggy; parents; brothers, Vern and Buck; and sister, Helen. Services were held April 10, 1999, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Craig. Pallbearers were Lee Jensen, Ned Miller, Steve Bush, Mike Eberle, Bob Powell and Ralph Paulson. Interment was at the Craig Cemetery .

Chad Wayne Cookston
1983-1999
Chad Wayne Cookston of Craig, Colo., died April 12, 1999, at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. He was 16. On March 14, 1983, in Craig, Cookston was born the son of Wayne and Diane Cookston. He was a sophomore at Moffat County High School. He was a member of the boys swim team, soccer team, Craig Sea Sharks and youth group of First Congregational Church. He is survived by his mother and father; sister, Shawn Cookston; grandparents, Evelyn Cookston of Montrose, Colo., and Lynn and Bill Hubert of Montrose; and great-grandparents A. M. and Mary Cookston of Denver and Nettie Hubert of Montrose. Services were held April 16, 1999, at the Craig Middle School auditorium. Interment was at the Craig Cemetery . Pallbearers were Dylan Schopper, Jeremy Thuney, Travis Butts, Wes Lytle, Josh Shipley, Kole Nielson, Nick Davis, Brandon Cramer and Ben Koucherik. Donations may be made at the Bank of Colorado for a scholarship fund in memory of Cookston.

James Funk
Monday, October 6, 2003
James Funk, of Hayden, died Thursday in Steamboat Springs. Services are pending.

James D. Funk
Monday, October 6, 2003
Memorial services for longtime Hayden resident James D. Funk will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 at the Hayden Congregational Church. Interment of cremains will follow in the Hayden Cemetery . Memorial donations may be made to the Hayden Museum or the Hayden Congregational Church, both in care of Grant Mortuary.

Alice L. Robinson
Monday, October 6, 2003
Longtime Craig resident Alice L. Robinson died September 7, 2003, in Fairmont, Minn. She was 81. Robinson was born Feb. 26, 1922, in Truman, Minn. Robinson married Wayne Robinson in Del Norte, Colo., on Aug. 7, 1943. They were married for 49 years before he died. The Robinsons moved to Craig in 1948 with their two young daughters. Robinson continued to live here until June of 2003 when the closing of Valley View Manor forced her to return to Minnesota. She worked as a laboratory technician at The Memorial Hospital until she accepted the position of secretary of the Chamber of Commerce where she served until her retirement. While working for the chamber, she developed a keen interest in the history of Craig, and worked tirelessly on projects for the Museum of Northwest Colorado, continuing after her retirement. She was an active member of Eastern Star and the Red Cross and served on many community committees. Among her hobbies were caring for her backyard bird, skunk and deer friends, knitting, arrowhead hunting, and reading and sharing her books with others. Many will miss her. Robinson is survived by her daughters Jane Jacobi and Catherine Watkins; granddaughter, Jennifer Jacobi; and grandson, Sean Watkins.

Carma Sixkiller
Monday, October 6, 2003
Memorial services for Carma Sixkiller, of Craig, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Christian Church. Donations to a memorial fund in Sixkiller's name may be sent to the Community First Bank.

Mildred F. Baldwin
Wednesday, October 8, 2003
Craig resident Mildred F. Baldwin died Sept. 30, 2003, at The Memorial Hospital. She was 88. Baldwin was born Dec. 3, 1914, in Macon, Ga., to Fitzhugh L. and Lucile (Elkins) Horton. Baldwin was raised in Georgia until the age of 11 when her family moved to Miami, where she graduated from high school. She then attended business school and worked for a hardware store. She married Horace B. Baldwin in 1937, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Baldwin and her husband continued to live in Miami until his death in 1987, after which she moved to Craig to be near her son. Baldwin is survived by her son, Beecher Baldwin, of Craig; grandsons Matthew and Michael Baldwin, of Miami; and a sister, Margaret Wright, of Vero Beach. Services were Oct. 10-11, 2003 in Miami at the Miami Memorial Park.

Violet Brenner
Thursday, October 9, 2003
Violet Brenner, former Craig resident, died Tuesday in Vernal. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, 2003, at Grant Mortuary. Entombment will follow in the Craig Mausoleum.

John Kagie
Thursday, October 9, 2003
John Kagie, son of Marian Kagie of Craig, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003, in Greenville, N.C. Services are pending.

Janet Kathleen Preator
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Hayden resident Janet Kathleen Preator, died Oct. 1, 2003, at St. John, New Brunswick, Cananda. She was 65. Preator was born Aug. 8, 1938, in Hayden, Colo., to Forest Glenn and Myrtle (Blake) Frentress. Preator was raised and attended school in Hayden, graduating from Hayden High School in 1956. She then attended CSU for a short time and Barnes Business College in Denver. Preator married Joseph Clark on Aug. 2, 1957, in Hayden and to this union a daughter, Tori, was born. They were divorced after 17 years of marriage and she moved to Alaska and worked for Aleyska Ski Area in the business office. In 1979, Kathleen returned to Hayden, where she met Robert E. Preator, they were married May 3, 1980, in Glenwood Springs, Colo. Preator worked at the Bank of Steamboat, the Clerk and Recorder's office for 14 years, and for the Yampa Valley National Bank in Hayden for five years before retiring in 2001. She loved to travel and along with her husband, they visited many places throughout the United States, Alaska, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Europe. She has kayaked extensively through Alaska, including the Arctic Circle, Prince William Sound, and Kachemak Bay. Preator was an avid snowmobiler and toured most of North America by motorcycle. She loved her grandchildren and family and enjoyed spending time and visiting with all of them. Preator is survived by her husband, Robert Preator, of Hayden; daughter, Tori (Stephen) Hellmann, of Palisade, Colo.; grandchildren Kaela, Jessica, and Gabriel; brother, Forrest (Marilyn) Frentress, of Hayden; sister-in-law, Dollie Frentress, of Craig; father and mother-in-law Rodney and Sally Preator, of Grand Junction; brother-in-law, John Preator, of Delta; sister-in-law, Gay Preator, of LaCross, Kan.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Preator was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Norman Frentress. Services were Oct. 13, 2003, at the Hayden High School Auditorium, in Hayden, with Janet Babish officiating. A duet, "Peace In The Valley" was performed by Tim and Doyle Frentress, accompanied by Paula Frentress. Special music was "Spirit of Alaska," "Goodbye's (The Saddest Word)" by Celine Dion, and "The Rose" by Bette Midler. Honorary pallbearers were all Kathleen's family and her many friends. Interment of cremains was at Hayden Cemetery . Memorial contributions may be made to the Arthritis Foundation in care of Grant Mortuary.

Henry Cleo Grove
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Henry Cleo Grove died Oct. 16, 2003. He was 94. Grove was born Oct. 9, 1909, in Conway Springs, Kan., to Franklin and Leona (Strait) Grove. Grove graduated from Conway Springs High School. He was Conway Springs' all-around star athlete, but was unable to use a college scholarship because of a back injury. He married Carol Lindville in September of 1933, and from this union two children were born, Jan and Judith. He was a production superintendent for an independent oil company and traveled all over Kansas and Oklahoma. When the company sold out, he moved the family to Rangely, Colo. The oil boom was on and Continental Oil company hired him to care for the wells at Elk Springs. In 1953, he went to work for Greeley Gas Company. He spent 11 cold winters at Thornburg, sometimes walking the pipeline in snowshoes, he also helped to lay the original pipeline between Thornburg and Craig. He retired from Greeley Gas in 1972. He and Bertha Turner were married in 1971, and they enjoyed a happy marriage until her death in December of 1998. After retirement, he and his wife farmed 320 acres in the Great Divide area for many years. They wintered in Arroya City, Texas, for 20 years staying at the same R.V. park, where they enjoyed the friendship of other snowbirds that returned each year. Grove and his fishing buddies fished almost every day. The deep freeze was filled with seafood by the time they returned to Craig each spring. Grove's favorite pastimes were visiting with people, (he didn't know a stranger), hunting, fishing, and gardening. Grove is survived by his sister, Hildreth Massey; daughter, Judith Stehle Orton; grandchildren Mike (Christie) Grove, Jackie (Joel) Grove Harry, Francis (Marcus Nielsen) Grove, Kim Stehle, Carol Ann (Mike) Taylor, Jan (Bill) Leonard, Danny (Shirley) Stehle, and Beth Koonce; 23 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Services were Oct. 23, 2003, at Hayden Congregational Church with Janet Babish officiating. The organist was Avis Funk and the soloist was Betty Barnes. Selections were "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art." Honorary pallbearers were all Cleo's many friends. There was a reception after the service at the Dan Stehle residence in Craig. Services were concluded at the church.

Beulah June Traylor
Thursday, November 6, 2003
Craig resident Beulah June Traylor died Oct. 9, 2003, at The Memorial Hospital. She was 72. Traylor was born June 1, 1931, in Stockton, Kan., to Joseph and Martha (Clark) Thompson. Traylor was raised and attended school in Stockton, graduating from high school there. She lived in Stockton and Belle Plain, and for many years in northern Arkansas and Missouri. She was married to Walter Traylor for 13 years. Traylor worked for the Missouri State Home in Fulton as a nurse's aid for many years. She moved to Craig about two and a half years ago. She was a member of the Mite Society in Kansas and attended the First Christian Church in Craig. Traylor is survived by her daughter, Nellie McDougal, of Decatur, Ark.; sons Gary (Jaydene) Thompson, of Craig, Tommy (Sheri) Nash, of Missouri, and Jimmy Nash; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister, Lucille Lemmonds, of Sacramento, Calif.; and brothers Raymond Thompson, of Craig, and John Thompson, of Commerce City. Traylor was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Genieve Henry, a brother, Donald L., and her husband, Walter Traylor. Services were Oct. 17, 2003, at Sunset Meadows I with Beryl Wright officiating. Honorary pallbearers were all June's family and her many friends. Services were concluded at Sunset Meadows.

Earl H. VanTassel Jr.
Friday, November 14, 2003
Craig resident Earl VanTassel Jr. died Nov. 5, 2003. He was 85. VanTassel was born April 18, 1918, in Craig to Earl H. and Eleanor (Matzke) VanTassel. VanTassel attended first grade at the Antelope school, then the Breeze Basin School, and graduated from Craig High School in 1937. He married Florence E. Prather on Jan. 18, 1943, in Craig, and to this union five children were born, one child died at birth. VanTassel was a rancher all of his life and also worked many years for the Moffat County School District as a bus driver. He was very active in the community, serving over 40 years as a member of the Craig Rural Fire Protection District Board. He was also active as a 4-H leader and was a main stay at the county fair and the 4-H livestock sale. He was also on the first Colorado Conservation Board, Moffat County and the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, Young Farmers, the Elks, the Sheriff's Posse, and the 4-H Foundation. He also helped at the rodeos and helped at the local sale barn for many years. He loved animals, his friends and neighbors, and especially his family and his ranch work, which he was actively pursuing at the time of his death. VanTassel is survived by his wife, Florence; children Vivian (Loren) Murray, of Craig, Gary (Valerie) VanTassel, of Craig, Gaye (Brian) Schnackenberg, of Craig, and Verla (Alan) Rossi, of Mack, Colo.; eight grandchildren Debbie (Dan) Coakley, Kaby (Vince) Turner, Bryn and Tory VanTassel, Levi and Chelsey Schnackenberg, and Jennifer and Tony Rossi; and two great-grandchildren Justin and Jessica Coakley. VanTassel was preceded in death by his parent, one infant daughter, and two brothers Donald and Gilbert. Services were Nov. 10, 2003, at First Christian Church with Mervin Johnson and Beryl Wright officiating. The organist was Anne Carr and the soloist was John Allen. Selections were "Dear Daddy," "This World Is Not My Home," and "The Place Where I Worship Is The Wide Open Places." Pallbearers were Bryn VanTassel, Tory VanTassel, Levi Schnackenberg, Tony Rossi, Justin Coakley, Brian Schnackenberg, Alan Rossi, Loren Murray, and Dan Coakley. Honorary pallbearers were all of Earl's special friends. Interment was at Craig Cemetery . Memorial contributions may be made to the 4-H Foundation in care of Grant Mortuary.

Wilma "Imogene" Kiever
Monday, November 10, 2003
Wilma "Imogene" Kiever, died Oct. 27, 2003, at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs, after a lengthy illness. She was 88. Kiever was born March 3, 1915, in Lemonville, Mo., to Walter H. and Alta F. (Singleton) Danner. Kiever attended Midwest High School in Midwest, Wyo., and graduated with the class of 1933. On May 4, 1934, she married Bruce L. Kiever in Harrison, Neb. He preceded her in death on July 2, 1967. Kiever had been employed as a bookkeeper for various businesses until retirement in 1977. Her interests included cooking, playing cards, sightseeing, golf, craftwork and hummingbirds. She was an avid Broncos and Colorado Rockies fan and loved having lots of family and friends around to cook for. Kiever is survived by daughters Wilma (Jerry) Seip, of Vernal, Utah, and Dorothy (Selwyn) Roberts, of Green River; daughter-in-law, Sandy Kiever, of Phelan, Calif.; nine grandchildren, Valerie and John Swift, of Littleton, Colo., Terry and Coleen Seip, of Rock Springs, Jim and Laura Wamsley, of Rock Springs, Bill and Pam Wamsley, of Elko, Nev., Jeff and Shannon Wamsley, of Elko, Joe Wamsley, of Elko, Kelly and Scott Brink, of Green River, Jennifer Kiever, of Victorville, Calif., and Alicia and Michael Jones, of Rapid City, S.D.; 24 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Kiever was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Virginia and Melva, and her son, Harold Kiever, who passed away Oct. 23, 2003. Services were Nov. 1, 2003, at Grant Mortuary with Rev. Marty Young officiating. Cremation took place at Fox Crematory in Rock Springs. Interment was at Craig Cemetery .