From Rio Blanco County, Colorado:
Kathryn (Kay) Kooman Dey
March 22, 1931 ~ August 21, 2002
Kathryn (Kay) Kooman Dey, 71, of Grand Junction, passed away at 12:20 p.m. on Aug. 21, 2002, in her home. Kathryn Mabel Kooman was born March 22, 1931, in Corry, Penn., daughter of Mabel Kooman and the late Wilton Kooman.
Kay was a graduate of Ford City High School in Pennsylvania and the Western Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Her nursing career led her to Denver where she met and in 1955 married Robert Dey. Bob's first teaching job took them to Craig, Colo., where daughters Carla and Vanda were born. Subsequent career changes moved the family to Rangely, Palo Alto, Calif., and St. Paul, Minn. Kay continued her work as a nurse through these years. Soon after their return to Rangely in 1971, Kay accepted the position of school nurse, a position she enjoyed until the time of her retirement in 1992.
Bob and Kay took great pleasure in travel, which they did extensively following their retirement. After 30 years of calling Rangely home, the Deys moved to Grand Junction.
Kay is survived by her husband of 46 years, Robert Dey, of Grand Junction; her daughters, Carla Hodgson, of Grover, Colo., and Vanda Alexander, of Denver, Colo.; her mother, Mabel Kooman, of Sebring, Ohio; her brother, Jack Kooman, of Claremont, Calif.; and by three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Crossroads United Methodist Church, 599 Thirty Road, Grand Junction, Colo., on Aug. 31, 2002, at 2 p.m. The family suggests memorials be made in Kay's name to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 60307, Grand Junction, Colo. 81506.
Wynell Rector
September 10, 1917 ~ August 11, 2002
Wynell Rector, 84, of Page, Ariz., died on Aug. 11, 2002, in Palisade. Wynell was born to Jess and Ora (McSpadden) Price on Sept. 10, 1917, in Markley, Texas.
She spent her childhood in Jermyn, Texas. Wynell was previously married to Clifford Pennell and then married to Lloyd (Bish) Rector, uncle of Carl Rector of Rangely. Wynell has lived in Rangely and Big Water, Utah. Wynell was exceptionally good mother and housewife and a lover of the great outdoors. Her husband Lloyd Rector and brother Bill Price preceded her in death. She is survived by sons Jack Pennell of Palisade, Clifford Pennell of Clifton; daughter Pat Ridenhour of Page, Ariz.; brothers Donald Price of El Cajon, Calif., Dan Price of Austin, Texas; nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Graveside service pending opening of Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Martin Mortuary of Grand Junction has been entrusted with the arrangements.
A. Sharon McCracken Mott
August 3, 1945 ~ August 15, 2002
A. Sharon McCracken Mott, 57, of Vernal died on Aug. 15, 2002, in the Ashley Valley Medical Center after a courageous and life long battle with cancer. Sharon was born Aug. 3, 1945, in Chillicothe, Miss., to Clyde F. and Louetta Rooney McCracken. She married Albert L. Mott on Aug. 4, 1961, in Lamar, Colo.
Sharon was a survivor; she was listed on the American Cancer Society's survivor's list, and had donated her hair to the cancer society for use in wigs. She was an inspiration to all that knew her.
With Sharon, family was her number one priority. She was a wonderful and devoted wife, and a kind and loving mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed being outdoors and lived life to the fullest. Sharon was a member of the protestant church.
Sharon is survived by her husband Albert, of Vernal; children: Cindy C. Mott, Diamondville, Wyo., Ester (Troy) Gardner, and Berry (Ann) Mott, both of Vernal. Sharon is also survived by seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; brothers: Clyde McCracken, Macon, Miss.; Paul McCracken, Rangely, Colo.; Clarence McCracken, Sauguatch, Colo.; Bill McCracken, Denver, Colo.; and a sister, Joyce McMinn of Bloomfield, N.M. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Raymond.
Funeral services were held on Aug. 20, 2002, at 11 a.m. in the Spafford Funeral Home. Interment was held in the Vernal Memorial Park under direction of the Spafford Funeral Home.
Dr. Ted Albers
October 16, 1921 ~ July 8, 2002
Dr. Ted Albers, western Colorado native, longtime resident of Grand Junction, and president emeritus of Mesa State College, passed away at his home on July 8, 2002. He was 80.
Please join in a memorial service Saturday, Aug. 17, 10:30 a.m. at the Avalon Theater in downtown Grand Junction, 7th and Main.
Ted was born in Maybell, Colo., Oct. 16, 1921, to Amos W. and Clara Maloney Albers. He met his future wife, Maxine Whicker, in 1927, and their two families became lifelong friends. After attending a one-room school in Maybell, Ted finished Cole Jr. High in Denver, and graduated from Manual Arts High School there in 1939. He entered Colorado State University, and worked for Mountain Bell; then joined the US Army Air Corps in 1942, graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1943. Ted and Maxine married April 4, 1943, in Wilmington, N.C.
After World War II, Ted returned from Europe to Mountain Bell; then studied at the University of Denver, graduating in 1949. He taught social sciences at Meeker High School, 1949-52. He earned his master's degree from Denver University in 1952; then continued as principal at Meeker, 1952-55. Ted worked for the Colorado Education Association, the Colorado State Department of Education, and the University of Colorado extension division until 1965. He earned his doctorate at CU Boulder in 1964; then served as assistant superintendent of schools in Mesa County District 51, 1966-68. In 1968, he co-founded the Community College of Denver and in 1970 became the first director of the Red Rocks Campus.
Dr. Albers served as president of Mesa College from 1970 until the end of 1974. He provided the leadership responsible for converting Mesa from a two-year community college to a well respected, yet still community-oriented baccalaureate institution. Ted retired early from his professional life due to advanced coronary artery disease. Until he died, Dr. Albers remained very proactive in advocating an expanding role for Mesa State College, always focusing on the interests and needs of its students.
After retirement, Ted concentrated on devoting himself to his family and to improving his health. He adopted a strict dietary regimen and stayed physically active by raising fruit on his acreage and putting up hay on the family ranch in northwest Colorado. He also provided constant support to Maxine, who served for 15 years in Mesa County as one of Colorado's first female County Commissioners. He participated in a multitude of community organizations, such as Lions Club, Mesa County Historical Society, Mesa Developmental Services, Grand Junction Musical Arts Association, United Way, Western Colorado Center for the Arts, Club 20, Greenbelt, Salvation Army and many others.
Ted survived the death of his parents and two brothers, Lee and Vernon. He leaves his wife Maxine of Grand Junction, children Ted L. Albers and Rhonda Davidson of Colorado Springs, and grandchildren Shannon and Brian Davidson.
Although he received many honors and awards in his lifetime, Dr. Albers always considered it his privilege to ably serve others. He is cherished universally as not only capable and intelligent, but as kind, compassionate, and humble - a truly wonderful man.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ted and Maxine Albers Scholarship Fund, c/o Mesa State College Foundation, 1450 N 12th St, Grand Junction, Colo., 81501.
Jack W. Riggan
1932-2002
Jack Wayne Riggan, 69, died Aug. 8. Jack was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and came to Colorado in 1939, working and residing in Moffat and Eagle counties. In 1954 he married Loretta (Retsie) Gates, his beloved wife and helper. Jack who had the heart of a pioneer and preferred the ways of the homesteader, worked hard all of his life. After retiring from Vail Associates in 1979, he continued building cabins where there weren't any and writing songs about his life, his Savior and the Bible. Jack was quick-witted, quick to help others and always able to make us laugh. All who knew him will miss the man and his music. Jack is survived by his dear wife, Retsie, four sons; Jack L. Riggan of Grand Junction, Rod Riggan and his wife Barbara of Grand Junction, Marty Riggan and his wife Gail of Montrose and Rick Riggan and his wife Marcee of Eagle. Two sisters Rose married to Marlin Behrends of Waterloo, Iowa, and Pat married to Bob Adams of Grand Junction; two brothers Richard Riggan and his wife Nancy of Orange City, Iowa, and Robert Riggan of Des Moines, Iowa. Eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive him. His father Vern Riggan, mother Jane Withem, brother Russell Riggan, sister Ramona McMillan and grandson Jonathan Riggan preceded him in death.
There will be an outdoor memorial service on Saturday Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. at K-Ranch three miles west of Dinosaur on Highway 40. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in memory of Jack W. Riggan, P.O. Box 126, Dinosaur, Colo., 81610.
Author Jack Olsen
June 7, 1925 ~ July 16, 2002
Author Jack Olsen, age 77, died at his home July 16.
He was born June 7, 1925, in Indianapolis, Ind., to Rudolph and Florence (Drecksage) Olsen.
Olsen wrote for Vanity Fair, People, Paris Match, Readers Digest, Playboy, Life, Sports Illustrated, Fortune, the New York Times Book Review and others publications.
He was the author of 31 books published in 15 countries and 11 languages. One book entitled "Slaughter the Animals, Poison the Earth" (1971) wrote about sheepherders in northwest Colorado using poisons to kill predators.
His magazine journalism appears in 13 anthologies.
Olsen was called "the dean of true crime authors" by the Washington Post and the New York Daily News, and "the master of true crime" by the Detroit Free Press and Newsday.
He is survived by his mother, Florence Mae Olsen; his wife, Su Olsen, Bainbridge Island; three sons, John R. (Diane) Olsen, Niwot, Colo., Evan Olsen, Little Rock, Ark., and Harper Olsen, Seattle; four daughters, Susan (Rich) Jetley, Boulder, Colo., Julia Olsen, Denver, Barrie (Frank) Olsen, New York City, N.Y., Emily Sara (Korum) Bischoff, Bainbridge Island; one sister, Carolyn Grentz, Havertown, Pa.; and seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a son, Jonathon Rhodes Olsen.
Remembrances can be made to the Sierra Club or to Helpline House of Bainbridge Island.
Arrangements were under the direction of Kass Funeral Home.
