From Larimer County, Colorado:
Billy McConnell
Billy McConnell, 93, died in Estes Park on June 1, 2006. He was born on Nov. 1, 1912 in Paris, Texas, to William McConnell and Norma Jean Allen.
He was a former resident of Colorado Springs, Denver, Glenwood Springs, and Fruita, Colo., before moving to Estes Park. As he got older, Billy entertained residents in nursing homes in Glenwood Springs and Fruita, and he taught himself to read and write. He also sang with stars Bing Crosby and Gene Autry.
He married Eula Mae Carpenter on Aug. 20, 1933 in Colorado Springs. He started a career at KRDO Radio in 1931, singing western music, many songs which he wrote himself. Billy worked for the Denver Police Department and retired after 26 years. He was also an inventor for Harley Davidson, and is featured in the Harley Davidson Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs.
He is survived by sons: Billy and his wife Eloise McConnell, Jr. of Denver and Patrick and his wife Honey Lou McConnell of Walsenberg; daughters: Peggy and her husband Ross Burris of Fruita, Kate Hein of St. George, Utah, Sharon and her husband Bob Vigil of Estes Park, and Mary and her husband Dennis Stonehocker of Longmont; Paris; 19 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, and some great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two brothers and a sister.
A Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Mountains Church Friday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Visitation will take place Thursday, June 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Allnutt Chapel.
Tyler Reed Bana
Tyler Bana, 15, of Arvada, died May 31, 2006 in Denver of injuries suffered in an accident on May 28.
He is survived by his loving parents, Mark and Kathleen Bana; brother and sister Trevor and Emily; paternal grandparents, Ron Bana of Broomfield and Helene and Bob Ault of Estes Park; and by many other family and friends whose lives he touched and who will dearly miss him.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 7 from 5:30 to 7 p.m, followed by a Rosary. The Funeral Mass will be Thursday, June 8 at 11 a.m. All will be held at the Spirit of Christ Catholic Church, 7400 W. 80th Ave., Arvada. Burial is at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Tyler Bana Fund, Northwest United Fed. C.U., 6320 Old Wads., Arvada, CO 80001; or to the charity of choice in the name of Tyler Bana.
James F. Pickens
James F. Pickens, 75, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died on Aug. 22 [2004] in Estes Park. His body has been given to the University of Iowa.
Pickens was from Red Oak, Iowa. He received his BA and JD degrees at the University of Iowa. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi social fraternity and Phi Delta Pha legal fraternity. He served state side during the Korean War in the army.
His last year in law school he was on the board of editors of the Iowa Law Review. The first year after graduating from law school, he served as law clerk to United States District Judge Henry N. Graven. Pickens began the practice of law in Cedar Rapids in 1956 and continued with the same law firm, which is known to this day as Pickens, Barnes, and Abernathy.
He was a member of the Linn County Bar Association of which he was past president, the Iowa State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. He served as a member and later chairman of the grievance commission of the Iowa Supreme Court, and served on the commission for nominating the appointment of judges for the appellate courts of Iowa. He simply enjoyed practicing law.
He was devoted to his family and they to him. He enjoyed many family gatherings in Cedar Rapids and Colorado where he and his wife were members of the Summer Residents Association in Estes Park. He was a long time member of the First Congregational Church, active in various administrative lay positions.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn of 48 years, a daughter Ayn Scott and her husband Bruce of Sedalia, Colo., and a son Andrew Pickens and his wife Denise of Akron Colo., and four grandchildren, Courtney and Tyler Pickens, Cliff and Matt Scott. He was predeceased by his parents, Bertha Thomsen of Red Oak, Iowa and Thomas A. Pickens of Des Moines, Iowa.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 27 at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies in Estes Park. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Cedar Rapids.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church of Cedar Rapids, 361 17th St. S. E, the American Cancer Society, 710 10th Street, S.E. or the Estes Valley Land Trust, PO Box 663 Estes Park, CO 80517-0663.
Anne L. Reed
Anne L. Reed, 94, of Estes Park, died Aug. 20, 2004, at the Estes Park Medical Center.
Anne Gann was born Sept. 11, 1909, in Athens, Tennessee. Her parents were James Harold Gann and Mary Elizabeth Shoffiette. In 1932, she married Frank Reed in Athens, Tenn. He preceded her in death in 1970.
Anne was a buyer for bridal retailers. She worked at Stewart’s Dept. Store in Louisville, Ky., and was manager of Selman’s Ladies’ Department Store in Louisville. She was a member of the Highland Women’s Club in Louisville and sang in her church choir. In 1991 she moved to Estes Park from Lakeland, Fla., where she was active in the Presbyterian Apartments Retirement Community.
She is survived by her daughter Diane Penn and her husband, Bennett of Estes Park; a granddaughter Keri Kelsey-Gaona and her husband Richie; a great-grandson Alexander Reed Gaona and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and eight brothers and sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the EPMCF for Prospect Park Living Center, in care of Allnutt Funeral Service 1302 Graves Avenue Estes Park, CO 80517. To sign online guest register see www.allnutt.com
Myron Fuller
Myron A. Fuller, 86, of Loveland, died Aug. 20, 2004, at the Loveland Good Samaritan Village.
He was born Dec. 12, 1917, in Piqua, Ohio, to Cloyd A and Florence (Brennan) Fuller. After attending high school in Piqua, he married Virginia Mae Place in Dayton, Ohio on Oct. 28, 1944. Myron operated Fuller Brothers’ Body Shop in Piqua for 25 years. He also worked for Harry Bell Chevrolet, Olds, and Cadillac in Piqua. Myron and Virginia then owned and operated motels in Glenwood Springs, Colo., New Mexico and Estes Park before retiring in 1974.
He served with the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II. During his service he received two Bronze Stars. Fuller was a member of the Piqua Elks lodge for 22 years. He moved to Loveland in 2000 after living in Estes Park for 28 years.
He loved putting together photo albums, spending time with family and picnics. He also loved music, especially Big Band Music.
Son, Doug Fuller, sister, Evelyn Cox and two grandchildren preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife Virginia “Ginny” Fuller of Loveland; sons Joe Fuller and his wife Alice of Piqua, Michael Fuller and his wife Kathy of Loveland and Dick Fuller and his wife Dawnette of Longmont; daughter Connie Whitson and her husband Dan of Piqua; brother Bernard Fuller and his wife Virginia of Montezuma, Ohio; sister Eileen Ford and her husband Walter of Clearwater, Fla. Eight grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and nine step great-grandchildren also survive him.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. at the Good Samaritan Spiritual Life Center in Loveland with Pastor George Huber officiating. Following cremation, interment will take place at the Estes Valley Memorial Gardens in Estes Park. Kibby-Fishburn Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Larimer County in care of Kibby-Fishburn Funeral Home and Crematory, 1102 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland, CO 80537.
