From Rio Blanco County, Colorado:
Ada Dodson
March 9, 1917 ~ February 12, 2003
Ada Dodson, 85, of Meeker, died Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Pioneers Hospital in Meeker.
Ada Belle Ritter was born March 9, 1917, in Burlington, Okla., the daughter of Harvey Abraham and Larena Esther (Gassuer) Ritter. On March 15, 1947, she was united in marriage to Frank E. Dodson in Joplin, Mo. Mr. Dodson preceded her in death on July 4, 1990. The couple resided in Denver and Aurora for many years where Mrs. Dodson was a decorative lighting consultant for Artistic Lighting.
An avid gardener, Mrs. Dodson loved roses, her dogs, bowling and various craft works. She will be remembered as a woman with a wonderful sense of humor and a devoted mother and grandmother.
Survivors include her two daughters, Karen Powell of Greenville, Texas; Gail Hervey and her husband Bob of Meeker; five grandchildren, Kimberley Northcutt and her husband Joe of Corsicanna, Texas; Kathy Kite and her husband Alan of Estes Park; Frank Shawn Tyler of Fort Worth, Texas; Michael Hervey and his wife Angela of Holoman Air Force Base, N.M.; Jennifer Lynne Chaney and her husband Dale of Fort Mead, Md.; five great-grandchildren, Nichole, Tara, Alyxandria, Kaylee and Joshua and one great great grandson, Nikolas.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one brother, Thomas 'Buddy' Ritter and six sisters, Leona House, Flossie Davis, Dad Ritter, Arminda Lemon and twin sisters who died in childhood.
Memorial services were held Saturday, Feb. 15 from the White River Southern Baptist Church in Meeker with Pastor Bud Miles officiating.
Inurnment was made in Highland Cemetery under the direction of Meeker Mortuary.
Gordon Pearson
March 3, 1943 - February 5, 2003
Gordon Pearson, 59, of Rangely, died Feb. 5, 2003, at his home following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Gordon was born March 3, 1943, in Denver the son of Frank Oscar and Mary Belle (Laird) Pearson. On July 27, 1962, he was united in marriage to Alma Nichols in Commerce City. Mrs. Pearson survives in the family home.
For 17 years, Gordon was employed by the Rangely Public Schools as its director of building maintenance. He was an avid golfer and a member of Cedar Ridges Golf Club. Gordon worked for a time shoeing horses and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Gordon was active in the formation of Columbine Park and served many years on the Recreation Board and the Rio Blanco County Fair Board. The 2002 Rangely High School yearbook was dedicated to Gordon and his many years of service to the school district.
In addition to Alma, his wife of 40 years, he is survived by one daughter, Debra Tade and her husband Jason of Hockely, Texas; two sons, David Gordon Pearson II and his wife Tammy of Green River, Wyo.; Scot Gordon Pearson and his wife Cary of Humble, Texas; and six granddaughters, Sidney, Zoie, Madison, Alexis, Caelan and Shiane. At the time of his death he was anxiously awaiting the birth of twin grandchildren.
Gordon is also survived by two brothers, Jerome Pearson and his wife Juanita of Bremerton, Wash.; Pete Pearson and his wife Rainey of Westminster, Colo.; two brothers-in-law, Curtis Younts of Sebastopol, Calif.; Charles Nichols and his wife Rebekah of Littleton and his mother-in-law, Sylvia Phillips of Longmont.
His parents and one sister, Maryann Younts have preceded him in death.
Memorial services were held Monday, Feb. 10 at the Rangely Christian Church with Pastor David Morton officiating.
Friends may make memorial contributions to the Gordon Pearson Memorial Scholarship Fund through First National Bank of the Rockies. Rangely Mortuary was entrusted with the arrangements.
David Lee Niles
October 23, 1958 - January 26, 2003
David Lee Niles was born on Oct. 23, 1958, in Denver, Colo., at St. Luke's hospital. He entered Eternal life Jan. 26, 2003.
He entered grade school in the Park Hill Area of Denver. The family moved to Colorado Springs in December 1964 where he was erolled at Monroe Elementary School. He finished elementary school and attended junior high school and the first year of high school at Mountain Home Air Force Base of Mountain Home, Idaho. The family then returned to Colorado Springs and he finished high school at Mitchell High School where he lettered in football. He graduated in May of 1977.
He then attended Pikes Peak Community College and was graduated in 1980. He attended the University Of Colorado at Colorado Springs and was graduated in May of 1983 with a bachelor of science degree in business with a minor in small business administration.
He held many different jobs before going to work for Colorado Springs School District 11.
David was very active in the Boy Scous of America earning the Eagle Scout rank and the Lutheran Pro Deo Et Patria religious awards.
He was an outstanding photographer, winning many awards from the El Paso County Fair and he has had photos published in the photographer's forum 'Best of Photography' annual 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994 and 1996. He was also published in the Kodak viewfinder form Volume 11, No. 3, 1996. He won many contests at Colorado Springs Shoemakers Camera Store monthly contests.
He has received many presidential sports awards for sports/fitness, backpacking, cross training, bicycling, skiing ' alpine, endurance walking, snowshoeing, weight training and volks sports. He has also received a certificate for Colorado High Country Hikers Summit Challenge achievement Award and the 1992 shape-up across Colorado governor's challenge. In Volksmarches alone he has more than 5,000 miles.
He is survived by his parents, Donald and Arlene Crawford Niles, brother Kenneth Dean Niles, wife Sharon, sister Donna Kay Goodrum, three nieces, Alyssa Niles, Porsha Goodrum, Shelby Goodrum and a nephew Christian Goodrum. He was preceded in death by a brother Paul Steven Niles.
Funeral services were held Thursday in Colorado Springs. Interment was made Saturday, Feb. 1 at Highland Cemetery in Meeker.
In lieu of flowers please give to the following: First Lutheran Church memorial fund; Pikes Peak Council Boy Scouts of America, Shriners Hospital, Al Kaly Shrine or Stem Cell Research, University of Colorado Health Science Center through Meeker Mortuary which has care of the local arrangements.
Christen Larson Boleng
June 30, 1966 - February 7, 2003
Chris Boleng, 36, of Casper, Wyo., died Friday, Feb. 7, in Casper.
He was born on June 30, 1966, in Omaha, Neb.
He spent most of his childhood in Glenrock, Wyo., graduated from Westside High School in Omaha and attended Creighton University there. Chris loved the great outdoors and worked in the hospitality business.
He is survived by Crystal Rogers, and children Katina, Felicia and Michael, in Casper and Tyler, in Florida; two sisters, Joyce Boleng in Denver and Jona Garcia of Rangely; three brothers, Major Jeff Boleng, USAF, Seoul, South Korea, Dustin Boleng in Thornton, Colo., and Tony Swank of Portland, Ore.; his parents Sherry and Roger Bliss of Portland and Alice and Marvin Boleng of Rangely; and grandparents, Mary Philbeck Davis of Omaha and Emma Hawley of Casper.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Milton and Esther Boleng, of Charles City, Iowa, his maternal grandfather, Lowell M. Davis of Omaha and his brother Daniel Boleng. Funeral services were Tuesday Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. at the Bustard Funeral Home in Casper. Internment arrangements are pending.
Chris is in God's hands now and his spirit is free!
Flora Mae Johnson
September 15, 1928 ~ January 29, 2003
Flora Mae Johnson, 74, Crofton, Ky., died Jan. 29, 2003, at Pinecrest Manor of natural causes.
Services were held 2 p.m. Saturday at Hughart and Beard Funeral Home, Crofton, with the Rev. Earl Grace officiating. Burial was at Ridgetop Cemetery.
A native of Trigg County, she was born Sept. 15, 1928, the daughter of the late James and Ola Boren. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Charles E. Johnson; two sons, Sammy D. Johnson, Rangely and Chuck Johnson, Crofton, Ky.; two sisters, Mavis Brown, Dixon, Mo., Lois Jackson, Hopkinsville, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Steven Ralph Pearce
September 20, 1955 ~ October 1, 2002
Steven Ralph Pearce was born in Rangely, Colo., Sept. 20, 1955. He grew up in Ft. Collins, Meeker and Delta, Colo. He moved to Netarts, Ore. in 1982. He had a chimney sweeping business in Tillamook County for several years, until poor health forced him to quit.
Steven' favorite pastime was para-sailing over the Pacific Ocean with his friends.
Survivors include his parents, Robert and Elaine Pearce of Meeker, his brother Pete and wife Layne, sons Derick and Dillan and daughter Reagan, of Meeker, his sister, Elizabeth and her two sons, Ben and Josh of Steamboat Springs, his brother James and wife, Jayne and their son Quintin, of Kinnear, Wyo.
At his request, cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at Holy Family Church on Oct. 19, 2002 at 11 a.m. with Rosary the night before at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Meeker Mortuary for the Lincoln County Dialysis Center in Oregon.
