United States High School Yearbooks by County
Inez Tapey
Inez Tapey, 91, Grand Junction, passed away peacefully Oct. 16, at Aspen Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center with her family by her side. She was born May 21, 1914, in Hartford, Kan., from the union of Tom and Lulu Baker Corum. In 1916 the family homesteaded in Lincoln County. Tapey attended schools in the country and graduated from Henry Center School in 1933. On June 21, 1933, she married Everett Tapey in Ordway. They were married for 68 years. Inez and Everett Tapey moved to Colorado Springs and lived there until October 2001, when they moved to Grand Junction. Tapey was a homemaker and was her happiest when taking care of her family. Her husband was her life, and she often accompanied him fishing, hunting and to dog trails. Tapey and her family were associated with Pikes Peak United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs since 1939. She was active in the women’s groups and the prayer chain. She quietly touched lives with her sweet smile, gentle spirit and her sense of humor. Tapey leaves a legacy of four children: Paul (Lee) Tapey and Cecil (Mary Ann) Tapey both of Grand Junction (formerly of Leadville); David (Cathy) Tapey of Anchorage, Ala., and Deloris (Bob) DeLapp of Aurora; ten grandchildren: Melody (Dan) Nelson; Robin (Jeff) Storm; Matthew (Nicole) Tapey; Michael (Tasha) Tapey; Dawn (Chris) Jack; Rachael, Willie, Scott, Justin and Michelle Tapey; and eight great-grandchildren. Other survivors include a brother, Virgil (Verna Lee) Corum and many
nieces and nephews. Tapey was preceded in death by her parents; husband Everett; brothers: Gail, Glen and Ivan Corum; and a great-granddaughter. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pikes Peak United Methodist Church of Colorado Springs, Crossroads United Methodist Church, Heritage Senior Homes or Aspen Ridge Alzheimer’s Center, all of Grand Junction; or a charity of the giver’s choice.
Dolores (Dee) DeMille
Born Dolores Ruth Mazzullo in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 16, 1928, to Ruth and John Mazzullo, Dolores DeMille died Oct. 6 in Las Vegas at home with her family after a long illness.Mazzullo married Lewis Blakeney DeMille in December of 1947. In 1948 they moved to his beloved Canada and settled in the Province of Quebec 200 miles south of Hudson Bay where he worked in the mines. The following year they traded the far north for a more temperate climate near Moneton, New Brunswick where their first born, Deborah, arrived in 1949. By this time, Mazzullo tired of too-cold Canada, moved back to Washington, D.C., where Cynthia arrived in 1951. The family moved to the Climax/Leadville area in 1953. After many years of their wanting another child, Christopher arrived in 1958. They worked and lived in Climax until 1960, and then went into business in Leadville operating Blake’s Place until changing location to Kristi Lounge in 1966. In 1972 they had the opportunity to buy Kristi Lanes & Lounge bowling center, thanks to Walt Gates. They were also owners of Harvest Lanes in La Junta. They made their home in Golden for many years prior to moving to Las Vegas for health reasons. The family sold Kristi Lanes to John and Willie Balogh just prior to Mazzullo’s death.Mazzullo was an accomplished swimmer and diver in her younger years, and worked for the federal government and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. She enjoyed dancing and singing, gardening and of course bowling. She loved flowers, music, decorating her home, and entertaining and cooking for her family and friends. In her later years she liked the excitement of the casinos, and loved living in the environment she created. But most of all, she loved life.In addition to her husband, Mazzullo leaves behind her
daughter Cindy and husband Jim Wiese, their daughter Cheryl and partner Ruben Medina; daughter Deb and her sons Cory and Zach Ballentine; son Chris and his partner Charley Gillis, and son Dustin; three great-grandchildren, Nathaniel and Ryan Medina and Heather DeMille; her sisters Betty Haines and Joan Bozzonetti; adopted daughter Cindy Semken and her children Donna and Chris. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Bernie.Mazzullo will be remembered for her great, generous spirit toward everyone she knew in need. She was “one class act.” There will be no services, as she wished.
Dwight C. Edgar
Dwight C. Edgar died at his home in Leadville at the age of 54. Edgar was born on March 19, 1951, in Williamsport, Pa. His parents were the late Horace C. and Jane F. (Moon) Edgar, Jr.Edgar lived in Colorado for the past 20 years. He loved hiking and fishing and just being outdoors. Edgar had worked for Sunshine Painting in Summit County since 1993 and was known for his precise and particular work. He always listened to the customer and strove to please them. Edgar is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by two sisters, Dollie (Steve) Hall in Williamsport, Pa., and Bonnie (Dave) Dickson, in Youngsville, Pa.; and three nephews, Joseph and Joshua Hall and Jimmy Dickson, all in Pennsylvania. Arrangements are being handled by Bailey Funeral Home in Leadville.Plans for a memorial service at a later date are pending.
Robert Joseph Flowers
Robert Joseph Flowers, 77, of Buena Vista died Nov. 29, at his home. On Nov. 4 he experienced a heart attack due to anemia caused by acute myelogenous leukemia.On Oct. 15, 1928, Harvey Dale and Emma Ellen (Rathbun) Flowers became parents of Robert Joseph Flowers at the hospital in Salida. He was the last of their six children. He attended the Buena Vista school system through the beginning of his sophomore year, when he decided to join his brother, Jack, in the Merchant Marines during World War II on the USS Northcoast (an army transport ship taking troops to Alaska). He went to Hawaii on the Graceline Hallelujah Victory Ship, and ended his duties on the Graceline San Isabel. Flowers returned home at 19 to help his father with the Eveready Freight Service and wheat harvest in Kansas and on their property in Potter, Neb.During that summer of 1947, he met Eva Pippin, whom he married on Dec. 2, 1947, at the Methodist Church in Urbana, Mo.They continued with the truck line until he sold his shares to Shirley Avery in 1949, and went to work at the fish hatchery. In 1951 he decided to move to Climax and hired on in the
transportation department. During the next seven years he would add four children to his family, serve as the vice president of the surface level for Climax Molybdenum Union, design an ice scraper for the dozer that would rip the ice on roads and win second place in a contest shoveling iron pyrite. During the 1958 strike at Climax, he moved his family back to Buena Vista. He began a Bible study with Bud Carpenter and Dale Kaiser. Young Life hired him to work with horses on Rancho Caballo, fulfilling his lifelong dream. John, his brother Jack’s son, joined the family in 1965. During the 1960s, Flowers served two terms on the Buena Vista school board. He enjoyed driving the school bus during this time as well.Flowers continued with Young Life doing various jobs until 1978. During 1978, the Flowerses built their home, and he began work for the state highway department. He served on the Buena Vista town council for one-and-a-half terms. In 1989, he took a medical retirement after being told that he had five years left to live. He continued living at his home at 112 Hill St., sharing the history of the area, encouraging those who needed an ear and watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up.Flowers is survived by his wife, Eva LaVaughn; children Vicki (David) Melton; Robert Kit (Janet) Flowers of Seattle, Wash.; Jolene (Paul) Ahrens; Ronald (Karol) Flowers; and John (Tracy) Flowers of Kerrville, Texas. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren on the way.Flowers was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Emma Flowers; siblings: Harry Rathbun Flowers, Alice Mae Brown, Aileen Marguerite Gregg, Irvin Homer Flowers and John Harvey Flowers. Donations can be made to the local Young Life Club (please designate clearly), P.O. Box 2025, Buena Vista, CO 81211; or to Christian Veterinary Mission, 19303 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133. A memorial service was held Friday, Dec. 2, (the 58th anniversary of marriage), at the First Baptist Church, in Buena Vista.
Fred F. George
Fred F. George, a loving husband and father, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 26, at his winter home in Bouse, Ariz., five days after celebrating his 70th birthday.George was born in Victor on Nov. 21, 1935, the elder of two sons of Frank and Jessie George, both deceased.George graduated from Mesa College in Grand Junction with a vocational degree as a machinist and mechanic. He later became an electrician, working in the mining industry in Ouray, Uravan and Leadville and was known throughout his life by that trade.
In his later years, George became an associate professor with Colorado Mountain College in Leadville as an electrical instructor and started his own electrical contracting business, which he continued at Arrowhead of Gunnison County until his death.George was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and the National Rifle Association. In his life, he was an active leader in the community with the Boy Scouts, Rainbow Girls and Arrowhead Fire Department. George was also known as a pilot, inventor, Mr. Fix-It and an all-around great guy.Surviving family members who were honored to share George’s life include his wife of 49 years, Joyce; his five children: David, Kenneth, Kerry, Kevin and Kelley and their spouses; eight grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; his brother, Gerald G. George and his family of Ridgway; as well as several nephews, nieces and cousins.A memorial service in celebration of George’s life will be officiated at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 9 at the Menoken Christian Church at Jay Jay Rd. and Hwy. 50 N. in Montrose. Interment will follow the service in the Grand View Cemetery, west of Montrose. A reception will be held following the interment at the Montrose Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Arrowhead Fire Department in memory of Fred F. George. Arrangements are being handled under the direction and care of the Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, 802 E. Main, in Montrose, (970) 249-2121.
JoEllen Weber Rauch
JoEllen Weber Rauch, born April 23, 1940, in Durango, Colo., died at the age of 65, Nov. 29, in Shawnee, Kan. She is survived by a son, Robert, of Las Vegas, Nev., and a daughter, Laura, of Las Vegas and Palo Alto, Calif. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. James Rauch, an infant child, her parents, Dr. Joseph C. Weber and Evelyn (Burbridge) Weber, former residents of Leadville. Also surviving are her siblings, Barbara Weber, Golden; Mary Cay (Norman) Smallwood, Hammond, La.; Margaret (John) Luccio, Port Orchard, Wash.; Dr. Joseph C. (Dr. Carol) Weber, Golden; Charles (Diana) Weber, Clayton, N.C., and many nieces and nephews.A 1958 graduate of Leadville High School, Rauch received her RN from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver and her baccalaureate degree from St. Mary’s in Leavenworth, Kan. She had worked in the field of nursing until her death.Rauch was buried on Monday, Dec. 5, from St. Joseph’s Church in Shawnee, Kan., with burial following in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
