From Rio Blanco County, Colorado:
Ora Mae Clinard
May 1, 1908 ~ October 18, 2002
Ora Mae Clinard, 94, of Meeker died Oct. 18, 2002, at the Walbridge Memorial Wing in Meeker.
Ora Mae Rich was born May 1, 1908, in Princeton, Ky., the daughter of John Henry and Dora (Crisp) Rich. She was raised in rural Kentucky and on Christmas Eve of 1933 was united in marriage to Charles Clinard who has preceded her in death. Shortly after their marriage the couple moved to Chicago, Ill., and semi-retired to Denver where Mrs. Clinard worked in the yard goods, trimmings and patterns department at May D&F.
An accomplished seamstress, Mrs. Clinard took great pride in her handworks and taught all of her granddaughters to sew. In her eighties, Ora Mae began oil painting.
She was a member of the Baptist faith and was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother.
Survivors include two daughters, Janice Selepchak of Hemet, Calif.; Sharon Ward of Texas; five grandchildren including Amy May and her husband David of Meeker; 10 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary Belle Dyer of Princeton, Ky., and two brothers John 'Bud' Rich and Ted Rich both of Corsicana, Texas.
Funeral services were held Monday, Oct. 21 at the Meeker Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Troy Notz officiating. Interment was made in the Highland Cemetery.
Meeker Mortuary has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.
Aretta M. Findlay
January 18, 1912 ~ October 21, 2002
Long-time Meeker resident Aretta M. Findlay, 90, died Oct. 21, 2002, at Pioneers Hospital in Meeker.
Aretta Mynell Eighmy was born Jan. 18, 1912, in De Beque, Colo., the daughter of George H. and Dolly Matilda (Smith) Eighmy. When she was 16 years old, the family moved to Meeker where Aretta attended Rio Blanco County High School. In 1929 she was united in marriage to Gus Kracht and to that union four children were born. She and Gus later divorced and in 1941 she was united in marriage to Charles R. Findlay.
She and Charlie had two sons, one of who died as an infant. The couple resided in Meeker where Aretta worked as a waitress and a shop clerk.
She taught herself bookkeeping so she could work alongside Charles with Findlay Electric. Charlie preceded her in death on Dec. 27, 1975.
A devoted Christian, Mrs. Findlay was a member of the Meeker Christian Church. She enjoyed oil painting, various handcrafts and was an avid rockhound. She loved to sing and knew the history of most of the small towns on the western slope.
The matriarch of her family, Aretta was proud of her large family and is survived by her four children, Dorothy Archer of Indian Hills, Colo.; Mary Sifers and her husband James of Montrose, Betty Cott and her husband Bob of Rangely and Fred Findlay and his wife JoAnn of Meeker. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, one brother, Robert 'Bob' Eighmy and his wife Florence of Denver.
In addition to her husband, Charlie, two sons, Henry and Bobby Joe, her parents, three brothers, George, Ralph and Albert and three sisters, Mary, Elizabeth and Lucille have preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday from the Meeker Mortuary Chapel with Victor Alich, Minister of the Meeker Christian Church officiating. Interment will follow in the Highland Cemetery. Friends may call Friday until 8 p.m. or Saturday from 8 a.m. until service time at the mortuary.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the White River Museum through Meeker Mortuary, which has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Charles M. Nystrom
October 15, 2002
Charles M. Nystrom, 79, of Fruita died Oct. 15, 2002, at his home. Services were held Oct. 19 at 1325 I 1/2 Road, Fruita.
Nystrom was a self-employed builder. He and his father came to Rangely in the 1950s and built the original elementary, junior and high school buildings.
Survivors include his wife Mary Zimmerer, two sons, Charlie of Mesa, and Dick of New York City, N.Y., one sister, Alice Kautz of Sun City, Ariz.; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 60307, Grand Junction, Colo., 81506 or American Cancer Society Mesa County Unit, P.O. Box 3115, Grand Junction, Colo. 81502.
Mike Blanchfield
June 15, 1961 ~ October 1, 2002
RANGELY - Rangely resident Mike Blanchfield, 41, died Oct. 1, 2002, near Rangely. Michael Joseph Blanchfield was born June 15, 1961, in Berea, Ohio, the son of Anthony J. and Patricia Blaylock Blanchfield. He was raised in Atlanta, Ga., and Bixby, Ariz. Mike served his country in the United States Marines.
For many years, Mike worked as a river runner and guide in Salida. He moved to Rangely where he attended the aviation program Colorado Northwestern Community College. At the time of his death he was employed by Hayes Petroleum in Rangely.
An avid outdoorsman, Mike enjoyed camping and snowboarding, playing his guitar and pool. He will long be remembered for his Saint Bernard, Lucy, whom he dearly loved.
Survivors include one son, Nathan and his mother Shari Blanchfield, both of Pensacola, Fla.; his parents, Joe and Patricia Blanchfield of Payson, Ariz.; one sister, Nancy and her husband Rob Kritkausky of Phoenix, Ariz.; one brother Mark and his wife Stacey Blanchfield of Scottsdale, Ariz.; two nieces, Allison and Addison and one nephew Cole and his special friend, Amanda Lucero. Funeral services were held Saturday, Oct. 5 from the Rangely Christian Church. Rangely Mortuary was entrusted with the funeral arrangements.
Embert A. (Spike) Clark
January 7, 1923 ~ September 25, 2002
RANGELY - Embert A. (Spike) Clark of Burnet, Texas, died on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002. Spike was born on Jan. 7, 1923, in Stamford, Texas, and moved as a child to Rangely. He graduated from Durango High School in 1941 and served in the Merchant Marine during WWII. After the war, he lived and worked in the Four Corners area for much of his life. He enjoyed spending time with his family, hunting and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lenora Inez (Tine) Rector of Rangely. Spike is survived by his wife Anne Rutledge Clark of Burnet, Texas; four sons, Mike Clark of Bayfield, Colo.; Craig Clark of Talofofo, Guam; Kelly Clark of Ft. Worth, Texas; David Clark and wife
Jackie of Burnet, Texas, and daughters, Lezli Clark of Denver; Barbara Clark Speer and husband Sam of Farmington, N.M.; nine grandhildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by his brother Frank Clark of Farmington, N.M. and sister Mary Edna Hefley of Grand Junction.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Handicapped Hunting Program of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, 6060 Broadway, Denver, Colo., 80216.
Friends of the family gathered to honor Spike's life Saturday, Oct. 5, (970) 884-4444.
Maxine F. Brannan
May 7, 1925 ~ Sept. 26, 2002
Well-known Maybell resident Maxine F. Brannan, 77, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2002, at the Walbridge Memorial Wing in Meeker.
Maxine Fay Gerber was born May 7, 1925, on the family ranch near Craig. She was raised and attended schools in Moffat County and was united in marriage to Alvin Brannan north of Craig. Mr. Brannan preceded her in death in August of 1985.
A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mrs. Brannan was a devoted rancher's wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved spending time with her family.
Survivors include four children, Pamela M. Buffham and her husband Jum of Meeker; Larry Brannan and his wife Devana of Gillette, Wyo.; John Brannan and his wife Liz and Edward Brannan and his wife Kris, both of Maybell; nine grandchildren, Ramsey Buffham of Smithfield, Utah; Connie Bailey of Eureka, Nev.; Travis Brannan of Maybell; Allan Steele of Maybell; Bruce Steele of Gillette, Wyo.; Selina Cammer of Steamboat Springs, Silas Cammer, also of Steamboat Springs, Michael and Nicholas Cammer both of Maybell; 11 great grandchildren, Brannan and Katelyn Buffham; Celina, Morgan and Witz Bailey; Christopher and Kaley Brannan; Jake, Jory, Dillon and Emily Steele; four brothers, Steve, Ervin, Eldon and Jim Gerber, all of Craig; five sisters, Mary Black of Montrose, Norma Herman of Grand Junction; Edna Brannan of Craig; Judy Ruth of Riverton, Wyo., and Goldie Arroyo of Craig.
Her husband, Alvin, one son, Quay and one daughter, Goldie Alice precede her in death as do three brothers, John, Leonard and Bill Gerber and one sister, Ruby Richardson.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 28 from the Meeker Ward Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Interment was made in the Craig Cemetery under the direction of Meeker Mortuary.
Jacqueline Marie Bannerman
Aug. 11, 1921 ~ Aug. 28, 2002
Jackie passed away on Aug. 28, 2002. Born Aug. 11, 1921, in Chadron, Neb., she married Edward James Sexton Bannerman of Edgemont, S.D., on March 31, 1946, and was preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Turnbull Potts, and her father, John Denman Potts.
She is survived by her husband, Ed Bannerman; her daughter, Candy Bannerman and husband Don Bryan; and her sons, John Bannerman and wife Vicki Voida Bannerman, and Scott Bannerman and wife Cincie Bell Bannerman. She has four grandchildren: Marissa Bannerman, Ian Bannerman and his wife Kim Parmer Bannerman, Sarah Bannerman and Edward James (EJ) Sexton Bannerman, II, and many friends.
Jackie and Ed lived in Rangely and Grand Junction and they have been residents of Grants, N.M., since 1960. Jackie was active in theatrical productions when she lived in Colorado and she was a Matron of the Eastern Star Chapter in Grants, N.M. She worked at Capri Jewelers in Grants and was active in the Women's Auxiliary of the Cibola General Hospital.
