Crippin Funeral Home

He was known to his friends as Curt, and was born 88 years ago in Blanca, a small town in Costilla County, found in the San Luis Valley near the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. One of five children, he was raised in humble surroundings in an old farmhouse with no plumbing, one small woodstove, and walls through which he could see daylight. He worked on the family farm and helped his dad raise sheep. In his youth, he spent one summer alone on the Uncompahgre Plateau as a sheepherder. With no firearm, only his horse and favorite dog, he defiantly fought off coyotes in a fiercely hard-won battle. Curt faced every challenge in life with this same swift intellect and grit! Raised by a farmer and a...

John Alton Malone, Jr., long-time resident of Lumberton and retired from Matrix Engineering, passed away at his home in Ridgway, CO on April 26, 2022 after a relatively brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife Maude Malone, children: Melissa (Keith) Drake, Timothy (Carolyn) Malone, and Susan Willis and Sue Brown (who were like daughters), grandchildren: Keisha (Beau) Slaughter, Jeremy (Nicole) Lewis, Caleb Lewis (David Galaviz), Keely Malone (Jonah Osborn) and Danielle Drake, and four great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held on June 5, 2022 at the Ridgway Community Center at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John Malone's name to the...

Gwen T. M. Serra, Obituary 1/25/2022 Gwendolyn Theresa Marie Serra passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction after a long battle with Calciphylaxis and kidney disease. Gwen was born August 21, 1931 in Cripple Creek, Colorado to Richard and Lois Leber. Both of her parents came from hard rock mining families and Richard was a hard rock miner in most of the gold and silver mines around Colorado. He also helped build underground oil storage tanks at Pearl Harbor. Gwen grew up during the Great Depression era moving from the Victor/Cripple Creek area to the Silverton/Ouray area before her family ultimately settled in Ouray, Colorado. Disney's Snow...

Mervin Carl Johnson November 25, 1936 - January 22, 2022 Mervin Carl Johnson (85), lifelong Western Slope resident, passed away January 22, 2022 in Colorado Springs, Colorado after a lengthy illness. Merv was born in Montrose, Colorado on November 25, 1936 to Carl and Ernestine (Gardner) Johnson. He was raised in Montrose. While in high school he met Ruth Madden; her committed faith had a profound impact on Merv and he accepted Christ at age 17. Merv and Ruth graduated from Montrose High School in 1955 and were married that fall. Three children were born to them over the next seven years. Called to full-time Christian ministry in 1957, Merv studied at Intermountain Bible College in...

RALPH DANIEL CARVER JR passed away early Friday morning, January 15, 2021, at his home in Montrose, Colorado, with his family beside him as he met Jesus in Glory. Ralph Jr was born October 7, 1932 in Denver, Colorado, to Ralph Daniel Carver and Beulah May Hill Carver. He was the oldest of three children. Ralph grew up in Denver on a 5-acre mini-farm with his family. Ralph's mom raised turkeys which were quite popular at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ralph and his siblings also raised white rabbits, cows, and chickens for 4-H. He graduated from Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, Colorado in May 1950. In November 1950, Ralph married Lucinda A. Carhart. Together they had four children. ...

Margot Gisela Bueche of Fruita, Colorado passed away on January 4, 2021 at Hope West in Grand Junction from complications of severe anemia after suffering from a fall. Margot was born in Nuremberg, Germany on December 9, 1938. She moved to the US in 1961 with her husband James Dunson, US Army Sergeant and her two children Ronald and Tami to start a new life. She later gave birth to four more children: Angela, Cindy, Jeffrey, and Angelique. She was preceded in death by daughter Angela (1962); mother, Luise (2001); first husband, James (2006); husband, Robert (2014); and son, Jeffrey (2017). She is survived by son Ronald Dunson; daughter in law, Nujnapa Dunson (Ronald); daughters Tami Milner,...

Patti Gillidette On the evening of Wednesday, August 19, 2020, Patricia Ann Skaryak Gillidette 78 (five days short of her 79th birthday) peacefully went home to be with her Lord after a prolonged battle with a variety of lung diseases and spinal issues. Born in the steel town of Etna, Pennsylvania, Patti and her younger brother, Michael, were raised in the shadow of Pittsburgh's funicular by her no-nonsense parents, George and Helen Skaryak. In high school, Patti excelled in business and accounting. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in accounting from Santa Clara University and her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from National University in La Jolla, California,...

Verna Bulah Pretti October 12, 1924 - August 10, 2020 Verna B. Pretti of Olathe, CO passed away peacefully on Monday, August 10, 2020 at the Colorow Care Center in Olathe, CO. Verna was born in Yuma, CO on October 12, 1924 to Oscar W. and Olive B. Bowland. The family lived in western Kansas at the time. In 1937 the family moved to western Colorado where Oscar worked as a finish carpenter and cabinet builder, and all the children attended school. Verna graduated from Silt Union High School in 1941. Verna was married to Melvin Joseph Pretti, also a resident of Silt, Colorado, on October 17, 1942, in San Antonio, Texas, when he was on leave from the Army, and stationed in Alaska. Following...

Peggy Jean Maynes January 19, 1939 - July 17, 2020 Peggy Jean Maynes, age 81, passed away on Friday, July 17, 2020, in her home surrounded by her loving family. Peggy Jean Jones was born January 19, 1939, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Heber Kimball "Red" and Bonnie (Mullikin) Jones. Peggy was the third of six siblings. When she was a young girl her family relocated to Loma, Colorado. Peggy graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1957. She married Keith Elroy Maynes on April 6th of that same year. While a young mother, Peggy was introduced to and baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved serving in any capacity in her church callings and her strong...

Wendy Ann Huston, Montrose, CO, 81403 Deceased on May 26, 2020 at Montrose Memorial Hospital, Montrose, CO. The cause of death was Metastatic Cancer. She was 60 years of age. There will be no public services at Wendy's request. Wendy was a certified Beautician early in her life and a Class A certified Environmental Technician in Water and Wastewater at numerous treatment facilities throughout Colorado. She was also a former Environmental Technician for Newmont Gold in Nevada. Wendy was born on January 21, 1960 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was the daughter of Chester W. Pritchett, and Joy Elisabeth Finley. Wendy spent most of her childhood in Durango, CO. Where she attended Durango...

GEHLBACH, ALICE MARIE (nee ZELL) Alice Gehlbach, 58, unexpectedly checked out of the "Lazy R Us" Ranch in Montrose, Colorado, on May 1st, 2020. Attempting to summarize Alice's amazing journey in 500 words or less is as impossible as trying to fill the incredible void her premature death left behind. Her caring nature and infinite capacity for shining love and attention on any and all that were drawn into her circle is evident by the overwhelming sense of loss being felt at this time by the ones who were fortunate enough to know her. Alice leaves behind her loving cowboy, Dan Collins; daughter Lisa (Niels) Hofmann, son Anthony (Brandi) Klazura; parents Felician and Jean Zell;...

David Francis Petersen, 90, shed his earthly bonds into the arms of the Lord on January 27, 2020, at HopeWest Care Center surrounded by family. Dave was born in Marysville, California on February 17, 1929, to Edlef and Alice (Hull) Petersen. He grew up and went to school at Montgomery Creek and Shasta Union High School in Redding, California. Dave was the second of eight children. He had four sisters, Eloise, Katherine, Susan, and Rebecca (Becky), as well as three brothers, Arthur (Mickey), Robert, and Jess. Dave married Patricia Kay Brockman, August 29, 1958, and they had four children. They moved to Montrose, Colorado in 1975 where he lived until 2019 when he moved to...

Joseph "Joe" Maupin, age 78, of Newcastle, Colorado, passed away at his home on December 21, 2019. A graveside service will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 27 at the Olathe Cemetery. Crippin Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 970-249-2121

Stanley Paul Pennypacker, 78, died peacefully in his home in Montrose, CO, on December 7, 2019. He was born in Fleetwood, PA on February 24, 1941, to the late Lovina F. Strause Pennypacker and Leo A. Pennypacker. He walked to a one-room schoolhouse near Walnuttown, PA prior to attending Oley Valley High School. Stan continued his education at Penn State University (PSU), where he graduated with a B.S. in Forestry, an M.S. in 1964, and a Ph.D. in Agronomy in 1971. His graduate research focused on the micrometeorology of forests and forest soils. Following graduate school, Stan worked with Dr. Al Wood in the Department of Plant Pathology at PSU to study the effects of the environment and air...

Jean Warnica passed away at HopeWest Hospice in Grand Junction, Colorado on October 23rd, 2019. She was 87 years old. Wilma Jean Morris was born May 25, 1932 five miles south of Montrose, Colorado at her grandparents' farm on Spring Creek Mesa to Mary (Patching) Morris and Ruben Morris. She lived at Montezuma when she was a baby and later at the Fish Hook Ranch near Dillon. She entered first grade at Lakeside School near Heeney. The family lived at the teacherage near the school. Her mother was a teacher and her father took any job available. The family next lived in a very large log cabin close to Green Mountain Dam where her father worked from 1940 to 1942. Next the family moved...

Doug S. Moyes passed away suddenly and peacefully on Thursday, October 10th, 2019 in his treasured home in Telluride, Colorado. He maintained homes in Grand Junction, Telluride, and his cherished mountain house outside of Sawpit Colorado, which is where he found his greatest peace. Doug was 70 years old but was forever young. Doug spent his life in the music industry opening three different music venues in Texas and Colorado as well as promoting shows throughout the Western Slope and beyond. Doug was instrumental in encouraging many musicians through their journey in the music realm. Doug leaves behind an eclectic group of friends who have continued to stay connected for over four plus...

Doug S. Moyes passed away suddenly and peacefully on Thursday, October 10th, 2019 in his treasured home in Telluride, Colorado. He maintained homes in Grand Junction, Telluride, and his cherished mountain house outside of Sawpit Colorado, which is where he found his greatest peace. Doug was 70 years old but was forever young. Doug spent his life in the music industry opening three different music venues in Texas and Colorado as well as promoting shows throughout the Western Slope and beyond. Doug was instrumental in encouraging many musicians through their journey in the music realm. Doug leaves behind an eclectic group of friends who have continued to stay connected for over four plus...

H.L. (Dude) Mills May 6, 1930 - October 6, 2019 H.L. (Dude) Mills was born in Walsh, CO, May 6, 1930. He was the Sixth of ten children, born to Lorel and Helen Mills. He attended school in Delta and graduated in 1948. Dude and Monna Lou Gilbert met at 14 and 12 years old and began to date many years later. They eloped on August 26, 1950. After serving two years in the Korean War, Dude continued to work at Independent Lumber, where he started at age 14. His responsibility and knowledge grew as he traveled with the company. In 1968, Dude and his friend, Bob Jackson, bought the lumber yard in Montrose. The name was changed to J&M Lumber. It continued to prosper until it sold in...