United States High School Yearbooks by County
Geneva Ruth Webster Hawkins
Geneva Ruth Webster Hawkins passed away April 2, 2006,
in Anacortes, Wash.
She was born in Oro, Colo., on March 4, 1917, but grew up
in Leadville on Toledo Ave., nicknamed Chicken Hill. She
graduated from Leadville High on June 7, 1935, and
married Leslie Hawkins on June 19, 1935, in Salida.
They lived on 3rd Street until the war started, then moved
to Tacoma, Wash., because her husband was a sheet-metal
worker for the Air Force. Hawkins worked as a cook for
several colleges until the couple retired and moved to Bend,
Ore. She was the last of seven brothers and sisters to pass
away. Her husband preceded her in death in February 1999.
Hawkins is survived by two daughters, Grace Payne of
LaConner, Wash., and Judy Langstrom of San Carlos, Calif.,
four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A family memorial service will be held July 8, 2006, at
Turquoise Lake.
Doris Lee Reaves
Doris Lee Reaves died Saturday, July 22, at Kremmling
Memorial Hospital. She was 76 years old.
She was born in Winslow, Ind., on Jan. 28, 1930. Her
parents were the late John and Thelma (Wallace) Bone.
Reaves grew up in Indiana, graduating from Winslow High
School.
On March 7, 1964, she married Dwight Reaves and together
they moved to Colorado in 1965, eventually migrating up to
the Granite/Leadville area.
The couple loved to fish and spent much of their retirement
time doing just that. They also were fiercely competitive
Yahtzee players.
Reaves liked animals and especially enjoyed feeding the
birds and numerous other types of wildlife at Grizzly
Reservoir where she and her husband lived for many years.
Though she spent quite a bit of time cooking for her family,
it was never a domestic chore she liked doing. In fact, her
family would say she honestly “hated” to cook. Despite this
loathing, Reaves loved having people over to her house.
After her husband died in 1996, Reaves moved to Granby to
be close to her daughter.
Having been a bookkeeper for many years, Reaves was a
member of the American Business Women’s Association.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband,
Dwight. Reaves is survived by two children, Terry (Noreen)
Dayton in Cotopaxi and Cheri (Gary) Salberg in Granby.
She is also survived by five grandchildren: John (Gitana)
Dayton, Garrett (Baylee) Salberg, Jennifer Dayton, Danielle
and David Salberg and five great-grandchildren.
There was a visitation on Tuesday, July 25, and funeral
services were Wednesday, July 26, at 11 a.m. at Bailey
Funeral Home Chapel in Leadville. Reaves’ son-in-law, Gary
Salberg, officiated. Reaves was laid to rest next to her
husband in Elk’s Rest Cemetery in Leadville. Pallbearers
were Troy and Reed Buster, Jim Hockett, David L. Salberg
and Garrett and David Salberg.
Following the interment, the family received friends at a
reception at the Leadville Elks Lodge.
Arrangements were handled by Bailey Funeral Home.
Those wishing may make memorial contributions to the
charity of their choice.
Viola J. Zancanella-Hoffman
Viola J. Zancanella-Hoffman, 72, was a native of Leadville.
She passed away unexpectedly Saturday, July 22, at her
home.
She was born May 7, 1934, on the same street she lived on
until her death. She was preceded in death by her parents,
Guido and Bruna Zancanella, as well as her brother, Frank
Zancanella.
She attended Leadville High School and never left her
beloved Leadville.
Zancanella-Hoffman had a very important role in helping
raise her grandchildren, whom they affectionately called
Grandma ‘Ola.
She enjoyed life to the fullest. Some of her favorite things
were reading, enjoying the outdoors, hunting and baseball
(the Rockies), “Gilmore Girls,” country music and, of
course, her family.
She is survived by her loving family: daughter Debbie (Jim)
Paparich; grandchildren Sherii (Todd) Paparich-Hess,
Shannon (Dennis) Vi Bell, Jamie Leigh Paparich; and three
great-grandchildren, Calli Hess, Ryne Bell and Sophie Bell.
Her family will miss her more than words can say.
She will also be greatly missed by her friends of Leadville,
including her best friend Gloria Caress, and Lloyda and
“clan” at the Diamond Shamrock. She spoke fondly of her
friends and always appreciated the many kindnesses they
showed to her.
She always planned to write a book of all the interesting
people she met throughout her life, but sadly never got the
chance. Her family will remember her as a selfless mother
and grandmother, willing to give all she had.
Her laughter was infectious; her beauty was admired by all.
What friends and family will miss the most is the happiness
she brought to them.
Per her wishes, there will be no funeral service. In lieu of
flowers, those who wish should make a contribution to their
favorite charity in her memory.
Matias Martinez
Matias Martinez, 93, of Albuquerque and formerly of
Leadville, died Tuesday, July 25, in an Albuquerque nursing
home.
He was born April 17, 1913, in Llano, N.M., to the late
Gavino and Alicia Martinez. Martinez began his working
career in Leadville where he worked for American Smelting
and Refining Company for numerous years. He opened The
Grill Cafe in 1965 with Robert Martinez Sr. They jointly
owned and operated it for several years.
Martinez retired from New Jersey Zinc Company in Gilman
after 26 years of service in the mine and in other positions
within the company.
Martinez was liked by everyone and never got involved in
controversy. He was a very gentle and kind person who was
devoted to his family, friends, the Catholic church and his
God. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and loved the
outdoors.
When asked how he wanted to be remembered, Martinez
said, “I want everyone to remember how we spent time
together and how we always took care of each other. I also
want them to remember I was the best person I could be. I
always want people to say that I never spoke badly about
anyone, and I want them to remember that I did the best I
could in my life. I worked hard, I took care of my family
and loved my dear Lord, my God, my Father with all my
heart.”
He was preceded in death by the love of his life and
companion of 22 years, Cidelia Gomez-Gurule on May 8,
2006; his two sisters, Maria Inez Martinez and Porfiria
Martinez; his brother, Manuel Martinez; his two half
brothers, Juan Jose Arguello and Genaro Arguello.
Martinez is survived by his son, Manuel Martinez of
Leadville; his daughter Annablle (John) Vigil of Broomfield;
his stepchildren Ruby Danbury and Nancy Romero, both of
Albuquerque; LeRoy (Diane) Gomez of Ft. Collins, Delfino
Gomez of Wheatridge, Marie Brodie of Scottsdale, Ariz., and
Thomas (Kathleen) Gomez of Arvada; and numerous
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A rosary was recited Thursday, July 27, at French Mortuary
in Albuquerque with Deacon Kenn Sinatra reciting. Mass of
Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, July 29, at
Annunciation Catholic Church in Leadville with Father Jay
Jung, celebrant. Interment followed in St. Joseph Cemetery
in Leadville. Pallbearers were Rudy Salazar, Valentine
Martinez, Miguel Martinez, Robert Martinez, Jr., Daniel
Dowd, Scott Gomez, LeRoy Gomez and Delfino Gomez.
Arrangements by French Mortuary, Albuquerque.
Jacqueline R. Evanger
Jacqueline R. Evanger, 79, passed away July 15 as a result
of lung cancer.
Born Jackie Gorsuch, she was raised in western Colorado.
Jack and Zella Gorsuch raised their daughter to love the
outdoors and to enjoy learning.
Much of Evanger’s live involved the sport of skiing. She was
the 1942 Colorado High School skiing champion. Later she
took an active role in the Continental Ski Club in Climax
where she also was a member of the National Ski Patrol.
For a time in the 1950s, Evanger owned and operated the
Totem Pole Sporting Goods and General Store in Frisco. She
contributed to her community as a member of the Summit
County School Board and Frisco Town Council during the
1950s.
Evanger’s professional life in mining began when she
became the technical librarian for the Climax Molybdenum
Mine, a position she held for 22 years during the mine’s
peak production. Evanger also worked for Industrial Mineral
Ventures and Houston International Minerals.
From this strong background in the industry, she served as
vice president of the Mining & Minerals Institute,
passionately devoting herself to further the interests and
education about mining, minerals and earth sciences. At the
Mining Information Institute she helped revise geology
textbooks, prepared teaching materials and gave
presentations about mining, minerals and geology to K-12
students in Colorado and surrounding states’ school
systems. By doing so, she inspired thousands of young
people to consider earth sciences as a career.
The Denver chapter of Women in Mining presented her with
an honorary award in 2003. In recognizing her work, they
wrote: (Evanger) “has taught well over 20,000 kids about
the importance of mining in our everyday lives. Her work
with the Mineral Information Institute and other
organizations has earned her a reputation as a dedicated
educator and ardent supporter of the mining industry.”
Evanger’s lifelong contributions touched people in many
walks of life, and she will be remembered as a giving and
caring person.
Evanger is survived by friends around the world, her sons
Scott Pyles and Rudd Knutzen and their families, and by her
brothers, Bill and David Gorsuch and their families.
A memorial reception will be held on Friday, Aug. 25, from
1 to 4 p.m. at The Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe
Drive, in Littleton.
Memorial contributions may be directed in memory of Jackie
Evanger to the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, P.
O. Box 981, Leadville, CO 80461.
