Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory

Jo Ann Leftwich peacefully passed away Saturday, May 3,2025 in the presence of her family at her residence in Delta, CO. She was 87 years old. She was born October 26, 1937, in Grand Junction, CO to John and Elaine (Newton) Baughman. Due to her father's work as an exploration geologist with Standard Oil, Jo's childhood involved many moves between 8 different states and they also spent time in Havana, Cuba. It was there that she graduated high school in 1955 prior to moving back to the United States where she attended college in Hiram, OH. She and Arthur (AG) Greenhill were married in Hotchkiss, CO in 1957 and spent a brief time in Texas before moving to Palisade, CO where AG taught...

Cheryl Claudette Hartter was born July 12, 1945 in Boulder, Colorado to Beryl Mae Pascal and Lee Hughes. She died April 4, 2025, in Delta, Colorado and was 78. No services will be held at this time. Cheryl met Gordon David Hartter and they married December 17, 1966 in Boulder, Colorado. They celebrated 59 years together. Cheryl and Gordon moved to Oxnard, California and then Newport, Rhode Island where Gordon was stationed in the Navy. Eventually they moved back to Boulder, Colorado where they began raising their son and daughter. Cheryl had many different skills. She started as a telephone operator, then became an excellent seamstress. When the family moved to Nederland, Cheryl managed...

Ray passed away at the age of 87, on February 19, 2025. He was at home surrounded by his family. Ray was born to Stanley and Floye (Robbins) Frey in Cedaredge Colorado on March 19, 1937. Ray was a true native and graduated from Cedaredge High School in 1955. He married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Frost. They celebrated 69 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife Joyce Frey, daughter Jana Frey and son Tim Frey. He has 7 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Ronnie and sister Jeanne Palmer. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Lillian Anne Rombach, age 92, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister passed away on February 16, 2025. A funeral mass will be held at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Delta 10:00am Friday, February 28th, 2025, followed by burial at the Veteran's Cemetery of Western Colorado in Grand Junction, CO. Lil was born in Pittsburgh on February 23, 1932. She is survived by her husband Robert, her children and her brother, Robert Trautmann. She lived a full life marked by deep affection for her family. Lil was born in Pittsburgh where she and Bob met, married and raised their family. In retirement Bob and Lil moved to Colorado; they settled first in Glenwood...

Doris Irene Miklich passed away on 2/06/2025, at Horizons Care Center. She was 94 years old. She was born on September 1, 1930, in Leadville, Colorado. Her parents, Ethel (Henson) and Lars Nerim preceded her in death in Denver, Colorado. She had 9 brothers and sisters, all of whom are deceased. Doris graduated from Manual High School in Denver. She met Richard Miklich (Dick) in Denver and they were married on September 2, 1949. They celebrated 67 years together. Dick passed away at Horizons Care Center pm 2/06/2016. When Dick retired from the Denver Police Department, they moved to Cedaredge. Dick was elected and served as Delta County Sheriff. Doris was a member of the Republican...

Sharon R Beard, born February 22, 1949, to Kenneth Meredith and Phyliss Dean, passed away peacefully in her home on January 19, 2025, with her children by her side. Sharon was a long-time resident of Delta County, CO, graduating with the Hotchkiss High School class of 1967. She is survived by her son, James H Atchley, Jr (Jenny), daughter, Michella R Atchley, her grandchildren, Jami R White (John), Chanelle R Atchley, Raymond B Atchley, Emily R Bagwell, and Noah B Bagwell, and her great-granddaughters, Manik and Adellyn, all residing in Delta, CO. She is also survived by her great grandson, Leveigh of Grand Junction, CO. Sharon lived a full and happy life as a homemaker, coal miner,...

Gary Emrick was born on September 24, 1959, and passed away on January 14, 2025, in Delta, Colorado. Gary was the son of Loran Emrick, Jr., and Deanna Emrick. He was the father Nicole Alexander from Red Bluff, California, grandfather of her children, Kayla, Andrew, and Jonathan. Gary had two brothers, Kelly and Bobby Emrick. Gary married the love of his life, Leora Valencia Emrick from Fruita, Colorado, on October 23, 1995. They lived in Delta, Colorado, for the last seven years of his life. Gary was a Navy veteran and served on the Enterprise ship. After serving, he was part of the VA in Grand Junction, Colorado, where he shared his artwork. Gary was a well-known Native American...

James Low departed this life on January 13, 2025. He is survived by two sisters and many others close to him. There will be a memorial service on April 28, 2025 at Taylor Funeral Service at 2pm in Delta, CO.

Baily Ann Massano, passed away January 11, 2025 at UC Health in Aurora, Colorado. She was 28 years old. Celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025 1 o'clock at Longhorn and lace 2453 Tessman Rd, Delta, CO. Eulogy will be given at the service.

Cynthia Ivy Swanson-O'Brien passed away on January 9, 2025, at her residence. She was 64 years old. Cyndi was born on April 21, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois to June (King) and Charles L. Swanson. She grew up in Burbank, Illinois and graduated from Reavis High School in 1978. Cyndi made her way to Delta County making Paonia, then Delta, her home. She was a resident of Colorado for 45 years. She is survived by 2 sisters, Bonita Miller of Delta, Colorado, and Kristine Lopez of Wilmington, Illinois; brother, Charles Swanson of Fort Meyers, Florida; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. Cyndi was preceded in death by her parents.

Margaret Ruth Chapman passed away on December 26th, 2024, at the Colorow Care Center in Olathe, CO. She was 100 years old. Family will hold a graveside service in the Spring of 2025. Margaret was born on January 31st, 1924, to Mabel (Pugh) and Jerry Guy in Bethune, Colorado. Her calling was at home as a homemaker. She met her spouse Vernon R Chapman and were together till 2000 when he passed. Margaret is survived by her daughter Mary (Steven) Chapman-Schrock of Delta; son Thomas (Rosalind) Chapman of Austin, CO; son Michael Chapman of Mancos, CO. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory. View the internet obituary and sign the online...

Billie Jean Starkovich, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at home in her sleep, during the early hours of Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 as she had wished. Billie was born on April 22, 1936, in Mineola, Texas to Eula Lee Greer and Horace Verley Palmer. She spent the first seven years of her life in Mineola until her family sold their family farm and moved to Delta in 1943. She graduated from Delta High School in 1955. She met the love of her life, Eldon Lee Starkovich, with a friend at a drive-up food concession one summer day; they were married on September 29, 1957. Together, they built a legacy of love and commitment that served as a guiding...

William "Bill" Hauze died at the age of 78 on December 8, 2024, near his residence in Crawford. A memorial Service will be held at the Center for Spiritual Life in Delta, Colorado on December 28, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

Crawford resident, Robert L. Flatten peacefully passed at his residence with family by his side. He was 89 years of age. Robert was born the son of Russell D. and Marcella (Wilkinson) Flatten in Lincoln, Nebraska. He graduated from College View High School, class of 1953. Survived by one brother Russell D. Jr. four sisters, Clara, Beverly, Marian and Marcella. Preceded in death by parents and sister Helen. Robert married Patricia A. McEvoy on May 1, 1954 in Lincoln, Nebraska. They celebrated over fifty-three years of love in Marriage. He is survived by sons, Lawrence W. and Loren R. Flatten and his wife Connie, two daughters, Theresa L. Hefner and Lorraine E. Higgs. Preceded in...

Steven "Bud" Harvey Lewis, a lifelong resident of Delta, passed away at the age of 69. He was the son of Shirley Lewis and Mary White (Lewis) of Delta. He was the younger brother of Liz Fedler and the elder brother of Scott Lewis, father of Gregory Cady, Shawn Lewis and Travis Lewis of Delta and Kristie Timbreza of Richfield, UT. He was grandfather to: Joseph, Isaac, Devan, Jason, and Sierra Timbreza, Preston and Avery Lewis, and Trenton, Nicholas, Benjamin and Kaiya Lewis, and great grandfather to Theodore Timbreza. He began his professional career as a laborer at the Holly Sugar Factory in Delta, before channeling his love of construction into a five-decade long career in the...

Betty June Kendrick (Peterson), passed away peacefully on November 8, 2024, in Eckert, Colorado, at the age of 83, following a long battle with Alzheimer's. Born on December 21, 1940, in Cedaredge, Colorado, she was the beloved youngest child and only daughter of the late Frank and Anita "Babe" Peterson and cherished wife to the late Rev. Max Kendrick. Betty graduated from Cedaredge High School in 1959 and furthered her education at Brigham Young University. She dedicated her career to caring for others as a registered nurse, a profession that highlighted her innate compassion and kindness. Beyond her professional life, Betty was a loving mother and an avid enthusiast of sewing,...

Raymond Andrew Ware Sr. passed away October 27, 2024, at Grand Junction VA Medical Center. He was 95 years old. A graveside service will be held Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Hotchkiss Riverside Cemetery. Raymond was born on May 28, 1929, in Yuma, Colorado to Lavina Angeline Myers and John Franklin Ware. He was a lifetime resident of Delta County. He served our country as an engineer in Korea in the United States Army. He was a very proud patriot and loved this country. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, the outdoors, farming, spending time with his family, and absolutely loved roses. Raymond is survived by his son Raymond Ware Jr., his daughter Cecilia Ware, his...

The good Lord called me home on October 8, 2024, in Hotchkiss, Colorado surrounded by my loving family, after complications from a slight case of Lou Gehrig's disease. Born on September 17, 1965, in Delta, Colorado to John (Jack) and Maxine O'Connell, I came into this world on a Friday in the early afternoon, forever changing my parents' lives. They would soon learn that I'd crawl, climb, or walk anywhere I desired, no permission necessary. I gave them many scares and gray hairs. I claim them all. They loved unconditionally and I was fortunate enough to live through a few falls, fires (self-set), a couple bike wrecks that would have killed a normal kid, and a car wreck that resulted in my...

John Davis Kirkpatrick was born in Delta, Colorado on December 26, 1949, to parents Thelma Helen Davis and William Franklin Kirkpatrick. He died September 28, 2024, at his home in Austin, Colorado. John is preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Robert and Thomas. He is survived by his wife of nearly 42 years, Julee Pat Kirkpatrick; four children, Emily (Bill) Griffin of South Carolina, Beau (Kelley) Norris, of Cedaredge, Angela Kirkpatrick of Aurora, and Summer (Cody) McBroom of Georgia; five grandchildren; as well as three great-grandchildren. John was known to many as a farmer and rancher in Delta County as a hard worker, an active leader who was generous to the community,...

Gregory Jay Smith, age 60, of Cedaredge, passed away on September 25th, 2024, peacefully at his home in Cedaredge, CO. Greg was born on February 11, 1964 in Denver Colorado, to Barbara Elizabeth Frick and Jay Conrad Smith. He grew up in the Denver-Metro area. Greg made his way to Delta County making Cedaredge his home. He loved the Western Slope and all of the friends that became family over time. His career path led him into a Western Slope Area Manager position with Rise Broadband. He enjoyed the work, had a great team and loved the remote locations his job would take him. When not working, Greg enjoyed being in the great outdoors and loved spending time with his family. His favorite...

John Wallace McCombs of Hotchkiss passed away on September 23, 2024. He was 76 years old. John was born on March 17, 1948, in Great Lakes, IL to Joseph & Marion McCombs. He graduated from Delta High School, class of 1967, then served in the Navy after high school. He was a carpenter and painter by trade. He owned a successful business with his brother Terris called "Two Brother's Painting" which included custom cabinetry. He took great pride in his craftsmanship and attention to detail. There was not one project John couldn't do, and he loved the challenge of bringing wood projects to life to include building the house he has lived in for the past 22 years. John is survived by his...