From Rio Blanco County, Colorado:
Troy H. Pearce
January 19, 1936 ~ January 27, 2003
Longtime Meeker resident Troy H. Pearce, 67, died Jan. 27, 2003, in Henderson, Nev.
Troy was born Jan. 19, 1936, in Jensen, Utah, the son of James A. and Venice (Haslem) Pearce. In April of 1943 the family moved to Meeker Where Troy attended school at both the Mesa School and Coal Creek, later attending Rio Blanco County High School where he was graduated with the class of 1954.
Following his graduation Pearce entered the United States Army, serving his country for eight years, returning to Meeker where he owned and operated Pearce Automotive. He was an excellent mechanic and enjoyed restoring old cars.
Survivors include two sisters, Allene Ingersoll and her husband Bob of Yerington, Nev.; Beth Cooney and her husband Les of Craig; two brothers, Tom Pearce and his wife Ruth and Bob Pearce and his wife Elaine, all of Meeker as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. from the Highland Cemetery. Military rites will be provided by VFW Post #5843 of Meeker.
Dan L. Argyle
January 31, 1936 ~ August 8, 2003
Dan L. Argyle, 67, of Clifton, Colo., passed away on Aug. 8, 2003. Argyle was born Jan. 31, 1936, in Manti, Utah. He was a long-time resident of the Meeker area spending time in California, Nevada and Utah.
Argyle was employed as a carpenter. He was also a member of the Elk's Lodge and enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and laughing. Argyle served in the United States Air Force from 1955 until 1957.
He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Argyle of Clifton; sons Gary Orton of Marysville, Calif., Robert Orton of Collbran, Colo., and David Reddin of Grand Junction, Colo.; daughters Sue Carter of Norwood, Colo., Kathy Cleveringa of Jasper, Minn., Chris Nutter of Littleton, Colo., and Paula Maness of San Diego, Calif.; brother Lynn Christopherson of Price, Utah; sister Brenda Wrightsman of Montrose, Colo. Argyle had 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by one son Michael Orton, three brothers and one sister.
Services were held Aug. 12, 2003, at Highland Cemetery in Meeker with Robert Orton officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Post 5843 or the Elk's Lodge 2395.
John W. Wharton
February 1, 1907 ~ August 4, 2003
John W. Wharton, 96, of Grand Junction, Colo., passed away Aug. 4, 2003, at Mantey Heights Rehab and Care Center.
Wharton was born Feb. 1, 1907, to Josiah and Buena Coe Wharton in Rio Blanco County. John was a retired governmental civil engineer.
Surviving John are his wife, Marylee of Grand Junction; children, Joe Wharton, formerly of Denver, George Wharton of LaCrescrenta, Calif., Michael Street, Jim Street, both of Smithville, Mo., Marcia Weingardt of Monroe, Ore.; sister, Mary Walters of Meeker, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at Martin Mortuary, Monday, Aug. 11, 2003, at 9 a.m. with John Foreman officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 60307, Grand Junction, Colo., 81506.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Martin Mortuary.
Bob Wilber
September 23, 1920 ~ August 9, 2003
Lifelong Meeker rancher Bob Wilber, 82, died Aug. 9, 2003, at Pioneers Hospital in Meeker.
George Robert Wilber was born the son of George David and Anna May (Kracht) Wilber on Sept. 23, 1920, on the family ranch seven miles up river in Meeker.
Bob Wilber had a keen sense of horsemanship and knowledge of the cattle business. His brand, the triangle 11 was registered in his name when he was a young boy. He attended Meeker public schools and following his graduation, at the urging of Freeman Fairfield, Bob attended Barnes Business School for one year before returning to the White River Valley where he ranched on Oak Ridge and Powell Park.
In October of 1944, Bob, while attending the Stray Day Dance at the Oddfellows Hall, Wilber spied a young Margie Laird, won the right to ask her to dance in a coin toss with another young rancher and he and Margie were married Jan. 1, 1945, at St. James Church.
He was active in many community affairs. He was a lifelong member of the Rio Blanco County Stockmans, active in Farm Bureau, the Grange, Rio Blanco County Oldtimers, of which he was a past president and was past president of the Rio Blanco County Historical Society. Bob was a tried and true Republican, routinely lovingly sparring with Margie, a staunch Democrat.
He was a lifelong member of St. James Church, having served on its vestry for many years.
Wilber will long be remembered for his quiet grace, love of western history and his knowledge of the cattle business and his abilities to break horses. In July of 2003 Bob, Margie and his brother, Gerald, were honored as the Honorary Grand Marshals of the Range Call parade.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Margie, three daughters, Mary Ann Wilber of Meeker, Sarah Ellen 'Sally' Wilber and her husband Jon Bye of Chandler, Ariz., Pauline Wilber of Denver, one granddaughter, the apple of grandpa's eye, Anna Marie Stehle, and one brother, Gerald, who resides in the Walbridge Memorial Wing.
Funeral services were held from St. James Church in Meeker with the Reverend Stephen R. Samples officiating. Interment was made in the Highland Cemetery. Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to the church through Cochran Memorial Chapel, P.O. Box 1048 in Meeker, which has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.
Chris (Bubba) Metcalf
September 14, 1975 ~ July 14, 2003
Chris Metcalf, 28, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2003, at Forest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss.
James Christopher Metcalf was born on Sept. 14, 1975, in Natchez, Miss. Metcalf grew up in Cash Bayou and Sicily Island, La. His parents are James Metcalf and Audrey Kipp. He was graduated from Sicily Island High School in 1994. Metcalf was a farmer for many years in Louisiana, then went to roughnecking in Mississippi. He was a member of Foules Church of God.
Metcalf loved life, loved to be around his friends he grew up with. He loved to hunt and fish and was always helping people. Most of all he loved his truck and music. He wanted to be a disc jockey, where he could play music and sing, which made him happy.
Metcalf will always be remembered for his hard work, big smile, joking way, big warm heart and the love he had for his family and friends. Most of all he was proud of Amanda and how much he had helped her in her life. He had achieved a lot of his goals in life.
Funeral services for Metcalf were held July 17, 2003, at Young Funeral Home in Ferriday, La., with Rev. Jerry Sharp of Cash Bayou and Billy Jenkins of Silver Creek, Miss., officiating. Burial followed at Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island under the direction of Young Funeral Home.
Metcalf was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, James N. Metcalf of Louisiana; maternal grandparents, Carl and Anne Jeannette Crews of Florida; step-grandparents Don and Ruth Kipp of Colorado; Uncle Rocky Crews of Louisiana; step-sister Rena Davis of Mississippi; and step-brother Russ Kipp of Mississippi.
Survivors include his father, James (Shorty) Metcalf of Cash Bayou, La.; mother and step-father Audrey and Marvin Kipp of Rangely; sister Amanda Metcalf of Rangely; paternal grandmother Mary Metcalf of Cash Bayou; stepbrother and wife, Randy and Marcie Kipp of Clifton, Colo.; step-sisters Lisa Ferrill of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., and Kim Thomas of Stuart, Fla.; uncles and wives, Randy and Debbie Crews of Stuart, Fla., and Richard and Debbie Crews of Cash Bayou, La.; aunt Carolyn Goussett of Zachary, La.; cousins Kirk Cavin of Baton Rouge, La., Audrey Crews and Rocky Crews of Cash Bayou, La.; godfather and godmother Willard and Patty Kassel of Sicily Island, La., and many more cousins, aunts, uncles and friends who loved him very much. You will live on in all our hearts.
Pallbearers were Tommy Cooper, Josh Ludiker, Kirk Cavin, Rick Gillespie, Benji Nelson and Shawn Ogle. Honorary pallbearers were Richard Crews, Randy Crews, Jackie Johnston, Adam Knight, Aaron Knight and Willard Kassel.
Thank you all for your prayers and love.
Ethel Winters (Sally Frye)
July 7, 2003
Ethel Winters (Sally Frye) passed away Monday, July 7, 2003, at her home in Denver.
She and her first husband Randy Frye, lived in Meeker in the early 1950s where Randy was an employee of the telephone company and Sally worked at Pioneers Hospital.
She was the mother of a daughter, Teddie Lee Frye and sons Tommy and Terry.
Services are pending.
Harvey M. 'Mose' Hefley
September 9, 1952 ~ June 25, 2003
Harvey Mossman 'Mose' Hefley, 50, of Palisade, Colo., passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2003, at Delta County Memorial Hospital in Delta, Colo.
A memorial service was held June 29, 2003, at the Palisade First Baptist Church with Pastor Mark Johnson officiating. Cremation has taken place.
Hefley was a respiratory therapist for 22 years. He was also a laborer and furniture warehouse worker.
Hefley was born Sept. 9, 1952, to Charles Harvey Hefley and Mary Edna Clark Hefley in Rangely. He spent his childhood in Rangely, Lake View, Paonia and Mancos, Colo., as well as Scottsdale, Ariz., and Denver. He was a 1970 graduate of Palisade High School and attended Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely.
His 20-year marriage to Janice Harris ended in divorce in 1994.
Hefley had lived in Gering, Neb., Denver, Torrington, Wyo., and Delta.
He enjoyed hunting, football, music, the guitar, singing, Western Colorado history (especially the Rangely area), playing and coaching ball with his children and rock collecting.
Survivors include a son, Clinton 'CJ' (Crystal) Hefley of Gering, Neb.; a daughter, Heather (Mike) Schanhols, of Scottsbluff, Neb.; his mother, Mary Edna, a brother, Dwayne M. Hefley and a sister, Charlayne (Randy) Higginson all of Grand Junction; a granddaughter, Kyleigh Schanhols, a step-grandson, Nathan Schanhols; a granddaughter, Britney Hefley; and four nieces and nephews.
His father, Charles Harvey Hefley, preceded him in death.
Contributions may be made in his memory to the Hefley Museum, Rangely, Colo., 81648, to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 474, Grand Junction, Colo., 81502 or to the charity of one's choice.
McLean Funeral Home in Palisade was in charge of arrangements.
Georgia E. 'Jo' Warren
May 22, 1916 ~ June 13, 2003
Jo Warren, 87, of Grand Junction passed away Friday, June 13, 2003, at Larchwood Inns after an extended illness.
Warren was born May 22, 1916, near Meeker to George and Emma (Terrell) Warren.
She attended schools in Rio Blanco County and was graduated from high school in Silt, Colo.
She moved to Grand Junction where she attended Ross Business College and has lived and worked in Grand Junction since that time.
Warren was employed by several local businesses, including Citizens Finance (now Avco Financial) and she retired from there after many years of service.
Warren was a long-standing member of National Secretaries Association and remained active until her health began to fail in 1999. She was a devoted life-long friend and caregiver for Viola Alstatt. After retirement, Warren and Alstatt traveled extensively and enjoyed fishing and other outdoor activities. They enjoyed gardening until moving to a retirement residence. After Alstatt's passing in 2000, Warren enjoyed spending time with her family and close friends and took great pride in representing the five generations of family members. She valued her many friends for the time they gave to her.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Jesse Warren, Clara Ely, Daisy Grant, Edna Govereau, Ruth Kenney, Bill Warren and Earl Warren. Survivors include nieces: Lois Hedges (primary caregiver) of Grand Junction, Charlotte Wix and Betty Kincher of Meeker; and nephews, Ray Ely, Warren Ely and Lawrence Govereau, all living outside Colorado; and caregivers Joe and Marge (great-niece) Allessandri. She is also survived by 28 great-nieces and nephews, 35 great-great nieces and nephews and six great-great-great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by others she considered extended family including, Ann Alstatt, Thomas, Douglas and Ethel Walck and Dudley and Mary Elliot.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, June 18 at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Dr. William Young officiating. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, 2754 Compass Drive, Grand Junction, Colo., 81501.
Callahan-Edfast Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
