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Funerals/Obituaries

James Lee Herod
1938-2002
Craig resident James Lee Herod died Friday, Jan. 4, 2002, at his home. He was 63.
Herod was born Oct. 24, 1938, in Craig to Robert I and Ruth (Lippard) Herod. He was raised and attended school in Craig. He married Lottie M. McLane on Nov. 1, 1954, in Grand Junction, Colo. They were married for 33 years.
At the age of 16, Herod joined the National Guard and later the U.S. Army, where he served for more than 21 years. He served in France, Okinawa, Germany, Viet Nam and at various duty stations in the U.S. At the time of his retirement, he was a First Sergeant. Among his military decorations, Herod was awarded the Bronze Star, two Army Commendation Medals with the Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Service Medal, the Viet Nam Service Medal with two Bronzes Service Stars, the Viet Nam Campaign 60 Device Meritorious Unit Citation, the Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Good Conduct Medal six times.
Herod enjoyed his Arabian stallions, wildlife, his home in Box Canyon and occasionally building model airplanes.
In 1975, Jim was chosen in a drawing at the Moffat County Clerk’s Office to be the serviceman to receive the license plate “YJ-1,” and he proudly retained that number until his death. It will no be returned to the Clerk’s Office for distribution to another worthy veteran.
Herod is survived by his mother, Ruth Herod of Craig; sister, Cynthia Hobbs of Craig; daughters, Tamara (Tim) Klinetobe, of Craig and Serena K. Herod of Cawker City Kan.; son, James P. (Jean) Herod of Burdick, Kan.; grandchildren, David S. Herod of Burdick, Kan., Starla M. Gonzales, Korena L. Montoya, Ammiel D. Klinetobe, all of Craig, Mariah Varela of Farmington, N.M., Leah Power, of Salina, Kan., Bethany Eastham of Fort Collins, Colo., and Jasmine Herod of Cawker City, Kan; great-grandchildren, Lane Gonzales, Isaac Montoya and Sean Newton and his former wife, Lottie Herod of Cawker City, Kan.
Herod was preceded in death by his father; sister, Marjorie Bransvold and grandson, James G. Herod.
Funeral services for Herod were Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, at the Grant Mortuary Chapel with Beryl Wright officiating.
Selections were “Amazing Grace,” “If That Isn’t Love” and “Just a Closer Walk With Thee.”
Pallbearers were David Herod, Gabe Montoya, Dwayne Gonzales, Dennis McGilton, Tim Klinetobe and Joe Skufca. Honorary pallbearers were Paul McGilton, Bob Shelton, Dean Pritchard, Dale Biskup and Kenneth Blevins.
Interment was at the Craig Cemetery with a graveside service by the officers of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4265

Margueritte L. Rolando
1922-2001
Steamboat Springs resident Margueritte L. Rolando died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at the Doak Walker Care Center in Steamboat Springs following a lengthy illness. She was 79.
Rolando was born April 14, 1922 in Avondale, Colo., to Alice Pearl (Johnston). She had five brothers and three sisters. Her step-father was Orville Fankhouser.
Rolando grew up and attended school in Avondale. She married Roy R. Kirk in 1937. To this union, seven children were born.
The family lived in Scott City, Kan.
Roy died in 1957 and in 1961, moved to Hayden, Colo., where she married Orville Rolando.
She enjoyed crafts, her dogs, cats, birds and horses, as well as painting and drawing.
Rolando worked as a cook at the nursing home in Craig and also Steamboat Springs. She was also a cook at the school in Hayden.
She is survived by her daughters, Rita (Danny) Gingrich of Hayden, Colo., Aleece (Larry) Collamore of Cedar Hills, Texas; step-daughter, Cherie Trussel of Missouri; sons, Richard (Wanda) Kirk of Scott City, Kan., Melvin L. Kirk of Grand Prairie, Texas, Klifton (Doreen) Kirk of Milton, Fla., and Gale (Betsy Kirk of Scott City, Kan.; step-sons, Chuck (Josie) Rolando of Arizona and George Rolando; sisters, Bernice Lamson of Anchorage, Alaska, Wilma Robertson of Nevada, Winnie Potter of Avondale, Colo.; brothers, Earl Fankhouser of Brighton, Colo., Vernon Fankhouser of Texas, Ray Fankhouser of Springfield, Colo.; 24 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Rolando was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Allen and Ed; her husbands, Roy Kirk and Orville Rolando; and a stepson, Dewayne Rolando, his wife Ronda and infant son Arles.
Graveside services were Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, at the Hayden Cemetery with Time Driver officiating. A duet was sung by J’Lea and Tim Driver.
Interment followed at the Hayden Cemetery.
Kelly Ryan Bemis
1967-2002
Craig resident Kelly Ryan Bemis died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002 at his home. He was 34.
Bemis was born on Aug. 17, 1967, in Hayden, Colo., to Jervis and Doris Jean (Combs) Bemis. He was raised and attended school in Yampa and Oak Creek, graduating from high school in Oak Creek.
Bemis lived in the Yampa Valley almost his entire life. He spent a short period of time in Florida. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, monster truck ralleys, race cars and being with friends.
Bemis is survived by his son, Dustin J. Harrison of Craig; mother, Doris Jean Bemis of Craig; sister, Cindy Smith of Craig; half brothers, Rick Bemis is Palisade, Colo., and Stuart Bemis.
He was preceded in death by his father and a half brother, Michael Rudell.
Services were on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002 at the Grant Mortuary Chapel with Gay Albers officiating. The organist was Anne Carr with Wanda Brown as the soloist. Selections were “Amazing Grace” and Wind Beneath My Wings.”
Honorary pallbearers were Tom Cramer, Kirk Buffham, Tom Mathers, Mike Mathers, Jimmy Hunter and all his many friends.
Services concluded at the mortuary.

Helen R. Southers
1911-2002
Baggs, Wyo., resident Helen R. Southers died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, at Valley View Manor in Craig. She was 90.
Southers was born Oct. 6, 1911, in Antwerp, N.Y., to Fred and Nettie May (Mix) Dobson. She grew up and attended school in New York and following high school, she attended a teachers college for two years.
She married John Southers on Oct. 6, 1945, in Detroit, Mich. Southers worked for a time as a teacher in a one-room school house and then for many years as a bookkeeper for the railroad.
She lived in various places, including Michigan and West Virginia.
Southers and her husband moved to Baggs, Wyo., from Detroit in 1973, where she worked as a bookkeeper for the Baggs Telephone Company under James Munter, then at Sting Oilfield Service, and then as a dispatcher for the Baggs Police Department
Southers was a member of the Baggs Community Church and an avid Bunco player. She also enjoyed reading, playing cards, watching Westerns, watching the deer and birds from her home, and she was very fond of her dogs.
She is survived by the Curtis families of Baggs, Wyo, Craig and Erie, Colo., and a niece, Margaret Ellis of Kemp, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Glenn; sister, Susie; husband, John, and longtime friend, Floyd Curtis.
Services were Monday, Jan. 14, 2002, at the Baggs Community Church with Paul Prestrud officiating. Soloist was Rae Lynne Prestrud with pianist Debbie Myers. Selections were “In the Garden” and “The Old Rugged Cross.”
Honorary pallbearers were all of Helen’s many friends.
Interment of cremains was at the Reader Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Noyes Health Clinic Ambulance Fund, the Baggs Fire Department and the Baggs Community Church.



Eva Christensen
1916-2001
Former Baggs, Colo., resident Eva Christensen died Dec. 26, 2001, at the Salem Hospital in Salem, Mo. She was 85.
Christensen was born July 23, 1916, in Vernal, Utah, to William Earl and Ivia (Mott) Gadd. She married Alfred Christensen Feb. 8, 1935. They were the parents of seven children.
Christensen enjoyed flowers and feeding and watching the birds and squirrels.
She is survived by her children, Nancy (John) Wickam of Wichita, Kan., Lynn (Carolee) Christensen of Great Falls, Mont., Ray (Glenda) Christensen of Craig., Kelly (Joan) Christensen of Simi Valley, Calif., and Linda (Tony) Hernandez of Fayetteville, N.C.; sisters, June Sherrill of Grand Junction, Colo., and Deloris (Bud) Dembowski of Vernal, Utah; 15 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alfred Christensen; two sons; two grandsons; two brothers; and one sister.
Services were Dec. 29 at James and Gahr Chapel with Kendall Jacobs officiating. Music was provided by Mark Mathes.
Pallbearers were Rick Wickam, David Wickam, Brad Wickam, Shaun Norris, Ernie Gomez and Roy Christensen.
Interment was in the North Lawn Cemetery.


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