Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

Jay Verzuh would be proud to be remembered as an avid outdoorsman who was successful creating a business around his passions. His family and friends also remember him as much more; a loyal friend, devoted husband, supportive father, and a strong older brother. Jay was a big hearted person who truly tried to do his best with everyone he knew and loved. Jay grew up in Gunnison, Colorado. He was raised in the mountains of Crested Butte hunting, fishing, and tending to the family ranch. These times with his family helped to foster his love of being in the woods and the wild. He stayed in Gunnison after graduating high school to ultimately pursue a dual Masters in both Business and Psychology....

Robert Fredrick Walsh, of Mack, Colorado, passed away on April 17, 2024 at St. Mary's Medical Center in Grand Junction. He was 73. Bob was born on April 13, 1951, in Inglewood, California, to Fredrick and Mildred (Boogaard) Walsh. He grew up in California, living in Norco, and Anaheim, Yucca Valley. As a teen, he spent some time in Laramie, Wyoming before moving to Golden, Colorado to work in the mines. Bob was drafted into the US Army, serving in El Paso, Texas, and Germany. It was in El Paso that he married the love of his life, Sarah Swegler, on October 24, 1975. The couple lived in a short time in Golden, and then moved to California, living in Landers, Yucca Valley, and Perris. Bob...

Gene P. Alexander, age 86 of Grand Junction, CO, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Capella of Grand Junction. Gene was born in Porter, OK on October 8, 1937 to Sumner D. Alexander and Mamie Bernard Alexander. Gene spent his childhood in Muskogee, OK where he graduated from Muskogee High School in 1956. As a young man, Gene put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ as savior. He served in the music ministry for many years. He went on to study at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK where he graduated with a Bachelor of Art's Degree in May of 1962. In March of 1962, Gene married Susan Sheffield in Ft. Gibson, OK and remained married for 51 years until her death in March of...

Darnell Joan Andrews, 79, of Grand Junction, Colorado, passed away peacefully surrounded by family Friday, April 12, 2024. She was born in Montrose, Colorado, the daughter of Marjorie and Ira Potter. Darnell was raised in Colorado and then moved to Hawthorne, California where she attended school until she found the love of her life Ed and married him in June 1958. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Los Angeles Temple in December 1966. The young couple moved to Hawaii in 1958 after Ed enlisted in the United States Navy. After 4 years of military service, they moved back to Southern California for 10 years before moving to Grand Junction, Colorado. After several job transfers,...

Kristin Ohlson Melnikoff of Collbran, CO passed away on April 11, 2024. She was saved by her Lord and Savior in 1999 and attended Fellowship Church in Grand Junction and Calvary Temple Church in Kerrville, Tx. She was an amazing wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend, Kris will be missed by many. She had an infectious laugh and loved nothing more than having fun and spending time with her family and friends. Kris was born on May 1, 1966 in Chicago Il. She grew up in Evergreen, CO. She graduated from Tarleton State University with a degree in Agricultural Education. She married the love of her life, Harry Melnikoff, in 2000. They settled in Collbran, CO where she was a very engaged...

Diana Jo Diers passed away April 10, 2024 in Grand Junction, Colorado . She was born in Denver Colorado, on September 8, 1936. Diana was the daughter of the late Alva "Fred" Frederick and Margaret (Sollenbarger) White. She grew up in Wheat Ridge, Colorado and graduated from Wheat Ridge High School. Diana was a loving wife, revered mother, doting grandmother, and great grandmother. As a self-proclaimed "Boulder Snob", she was an activist and a staunch supporter of many foundations and civic causes in Boulder during the 1960's, 70's, and 80's. She taught us all to be introspective, to be an individual, to speak up for what we believed in and to verbalize thoughtfully from our...

Robert 'Bob' Mackler Stanley, 89, of Delta Colorado, peacefully passed away in his home surrounded by his family, after a long and well lived life on Wednesday April 10, 2024. Bob was born on June 14, 1934, to Rufus Thomson Stanley and Zurah Irene Miller in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The youngest of five children, he grew up in a small town called Pitman, New Jersey. After Bob graduated from Pitman High School in 1952, he followed the trail of his oldest brother Garland Miller Stanley who served in WWII in the Asiatic and Pacific Theater receiving the Purple Heart. Bob became a member of the United States Marine Corp for which he was very proud of, he was assigned navigator on a old...

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Shirley Jean LoSordo, a devoted mother of four who passed away on April 9th, 2024. Shirley was a hard-working and loving mother who dedicated her life to providing for her family. She was born in Denver on June 9th, 1945, to Clarence and Dorothy Bash. Shirley was recognized for her steadfast commitment to her job and unwavering devotion to her family. She worked tirelessly to provide for her family and ensure her children had everything they needed to succeed. Shirley was not only a devoted mother but also a loyal friend and a person with a heart of gold. Her kindness and selflessness were not just traits but a part of her...

Jacqueline "Jackie" Rose Meyn Renfrow was born on April 15, 1923 and passed away peacefully at St. Mary's Hospital after a brief illness on April 7, 2024, just 8 days shy of her 101st birthday. Jackie was born and raised in De Beque, Colorado, the middle of five sisters. Her parents, Rudy and Virginia Meyn, sisters, Virginia Buescher, Evelyn Paradis, Bobbie Fuoco and Joann Griffin, all pre-deceased her. Jackie graduated from the Colorado State College of Education in July of 1945 and worked as a teacher. She married Melvern "Mel" Renfrow on March 6, 1947 and they were married for 52 years before his passing. Their daughter, Rena Hoefling, passed in 2022. Jackie was known to be a...

Kathleen Ellen Gray, of Grand Junction, passed away at her home on April 6, 2024. She was 69. Kathleen was born on August 3, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Albert and Barbara (Costello) Burns. She had two brothers, Allen and Bob. She married Leonard Wayne Gray in Rifle, Colorado, at the age of 17. They later divorced. Kathleen attended beauty school at the Academy of Beauty Culture in Grand Junction. She later became an instructor at Life Academy and traveled to Las Vegas for seminars. She was the proud owner of three salons in Grand Junction, including the Chip 'N' Nails Salon. She officiated weddings and was invited to work with police to assist with solving cases. She loved dancing...

It is with great sadness that the family of Margery Hoener Fillinger announce her death on April 5, 2024. She died holding her husband Norm's hand, surrounded in prayer by her family and so many others that loved her. Her passing will leave an empty space in our hearts, but we know that she is with our Savior and for that we give thanks. We will walk slowly, pausing often, and be gentle with ourselves and our loved ones, as we walk with the grief of our loss. Margery is survived by her beloved husband, Norm, and her daughter, Deborah Coles, and husband Chris; her son, Michael Daniels, and wife, Barbara; stepdaughter Julie Knight, and husband Dean, and her brother Bud Hoener, and wife...

Stephanie Jean Pitton, 43 passed away peacefully on 4/2/2024 in Grand Junction, Colorado. Stephanie has gone to heaven to reunite with family and friends. She is survived her husband and 3 children as well as many loving family members. Stephanie had an impact on many lives and will be greatly missed So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. John 16:22 She will be forever remembered and forever missed.

Rodney Lynn Hollandsworth passed away March 31st following a long illness.He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Gary and Chris. Born April 16th, 1953 in Grand Junction, CO, he was the son of Alonzo and Shirley Hollandsworth. Graduating from Grand Junction High school in 1971, Rodney went on to graduate from CSU and later in life obtained a masters degree from DU. His career ranged from a firefighting, a banker, a counselor, and lastly as an administrator with Garfield County Criminal Justice Services. Rodney was charismatic and loved making new friends. He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends whether it was watching football or playing bingo. Rodney is...

Virginia Lee Womack (Ginger) went to be with the Lord on the morning of March 29th, 2024. Ginger passed away peacefully surrounded by family. Ginger was born in Fruita, CO to Joseph S. Dalley and Marguerite L. Dalley on Sept 21, 1934. She spent her childhood years in Fruita where she completed her schooling. In 1958 Ginger met and married the love of her life, Steve W. Womack in California. Ginger and Steve lived in West Covina, CA for the next 24 years where they raised 4 children. During that time Ginger was a Cook at West Covina High School. In 1982 Ginger and Steve moved to Loma, CO and Ginger became a Cook at Dist. 51 School Dist. Ginger retired from the school district in 2007 to...

Chrysoula Patsantaras, 87, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2024, in the presence of family. She was born in the small village of Kastri-Lamias, Greece, to Athanasios and Eleni Rouska. Chrysoula was a lifelong member of the Greek Orthodox Christian Church. She worshiped at St. Nicholas' Grand Junction, Colorado. Her faith, church and family were the cornerstones of her life. She also made the most amazing baklava and spanakopita. Chrysoula's youth in Greece was loving and busy with two brothers, Kosta and Elias, her mother and father, and her grandmother living and working together on their family farm where they raised food for their own table as well as commodities for sale, including...

Our precious sister, Geneva Dee Barnes, 80, formerly of Centennial Colorado, was called home on March 23, 2024, in Scottsdale Arizona. Born in 1943 in Choteau Montana, Dee was one of the eight daughters of Joe and Elizabeth Christesson. A 1961 graduate of Farmington (NM) High School, Dee continued her education at Mesa College in Grand Junction CO, meeting and marrying the love of her life. Dee and Wayne Barnes married on May 30, 1964. They were blessed with their daughter, Kathryn Brooke (Katy) Barnes in 1973. As Wayne pursued his career, Dee continued as a supportive wife and mother, managing the household and caring for Katy: taking her swimming every day in the summer, making practices...

Marianna Rice passed away at her home on Thursday, March 21, 2024 in Grand Junction, Colorado at the age of 87. She was born on November 7, 1936 in Nucla, Colorado to Arthur and Kittie Mae Enstrom. She grew up on the family ranch with her brother, Herbert Enstrom. Donald Rice and Marianna were married in 1956. She graduated from Western State College in Elementary Education and received a Master's in Education from Colorado State University in 1981. Don and Marianna purchased the family cattle ranch from his parents and there they raised three children Christine Villard (Lynn), Michele Bergmann (Steven) and John Rice (Tammy). Marianna worked alongside Donald on the cattle ranch herding...

Debra Janece Bingham was born January 17, 1956 in Grand Junction, Colorado to James Wallace Bingham and Doris Lee Bingham. The Binghams moved from their home on Gunnison Ave to Country Club Park in 1958 where Debra and her 3 siblings grew up. She attended the Assembly of God church at 4th and Grand until her sister Judy left for college and she no longer had a ride. Debra then attended the Methodist Church at 5th and White with her parents until she graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1974 and left for college. Debra earned an Associate Degree from Mesa State, in 1975, then a Bachelor's Degree from Oral Roberts University in 1979, and returned to Grand Junction where she took a job...

Eleanore (Ellie) Walworth (nee Ferencsik) was born in Muskegon, Michigan and died of natural causes at age 83, March 16, 2024 in Grand Junction, Colorado with her family at her bedside. The eldest daughter of immigrant parents from Hungary, she grew up in a small house with her 6 other siblings, working on the family farm. She graduated from Muskegon High School and she initially attended community college. However, Ellie had her sights on both University of Michigan and a particularly dashing engineering student. So the story goes, she parked herself across from Marv in the commons area, and next thing they were bar hopping through their first date. Together, they went to U of M on...

Rita Bertha Perron Haag, a long-time resident of Grand Junction, died on March 15, 2024 in Montrose. Mrs. Haag was born on July 6, 1930 in Glover, Vermont to Ernest and Maria Gagnon Perron, immigrants from Quebec. She was born at home on the family farm, the sixth of sixteen surviving children. At home she helped her mother to care for her many younger sisters and brothers, and with the many farm and household chores. She first learned English when she began school at age six; she was very proud of her French Canadian heritage and her ability to speak French. Rita graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Newport, Vermont in 1948. She worked for a time for Ralston Purina in St. Johnsbury...

Arvella Jean Dere 84 of Grand Junction, Colorado was born to John O Krabbe and Irene Marie Pattee on June 26, 1939 in Grand Junction, Colorado and passed away at HopeWest Hospice on March 15, 2024. Arvella went to school in Green River, Utah and grew up in Silverton, Colorado and Olathe, Colorado. On October 24, 1964 she married the love of her life, Stanford Richard Dere in Rifle, Colorado and moved to Grand Junction where they lived for 60 years. When working, Arvella was a Cosmetologist. Arvella loved travelling - her favorite country was Switzerland when she loved visiting the Matterhorn. She also love visiting New York City, Germany and especially The White House. She loved her...