William “Bill” Gee passed away at his home on July 31st 2013 at the age of 86 to be with our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, known to all as “Papa” or “Bill.”
Bill is survived by his wife Lee; sister Patricia Galloway (Herman); sister-in-law Eva Patterson; children Toni (Kirk), Robin (Lynn), Karen, Robert (Adrienne); grand-children Sean (Darlas),Christopher (Angela), Heather (Marcelo), Hilary (Jeff), Jennifer (Brad), Jamie (Chad), Joe, Mylissa; great-grandchildren Chelsea (Eddie), Garrett, Jonathan, Brittany, Allison, Victoria, Nathan, Nicholas, Mitch, Niko, Jase, Halie; extended family Henry, and Timarie.
Bill was preceded in death by his brother Robert Patterson, and daughters, Judy and Terri.
Bill was born in Mineral Wells, Texas, to Edward Gee and Minnie Fort and was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps. He retired from Continental (previously Frontier Airlines) after 46 years of service. Bill spent much of his life farming, and ranching. He had a strong love of his church and he had a love for the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing and skiing. Bill leaves his family a legacy of these traditions as he taught many the art of these sports.
A Celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, at the Fourway Baptist Church, 9966 County Road 41, Fort Lupton. There will be no viewing.
Donations in Bill’s name can be made to the following of his favorite charities:
• Fourway Baptist Church- 9966 CR41 Ft. Lupton CO. 80621
• National Jewish Hospital- Gifts by mail, send your check made out to National Jewish Health PO Box 17169 Denver CO. 80217-0169 or visit the National Jewish website at http://bit.ly/14oCdiX.
• Salvation Army of Greeley- www.donate.salvationarmyusa.org and choose to donate to the Greeley location.
• Or, just go out and help someone in need.
Brighton
Patricia A. Fitch
Patricia A. Fitch, 78, of Brighton, passed away July 28, 2013, at her home. She was born Oct. 30, 1934, in Moorefield, Neb., to Jesse and Marjorie (Wollom) Warner. She graduated from high school in Sutherland, Neb., in 1952. She moved to Brighton with her first husband at the age of 22 and together they had three children. On Aug. 22, 1970, Patrica married Freal Fitch, her husband of 36 years. Together, they co-managed Phillips 66 then purchased and operated their family business, Six Pak liquors. In addition to her entreprenrurial endeavors, Patricia had a various number of occupations. She was a dental assistant, worked for the county, was an ad saleswoman at the Brighton Blade, a teachers aide at Southeast Elementary, a cosmetic representative, and most importantly, a great wife, mother and homemaker.
Patricia loved the Brighton community and was an avid volunteer with the Chamber of Commerce. She loved to play golf and was a 16-time Riverdale Golf Course Women’s Champion. She also enjoyed bowling and country western dancing with her beloved Dean. She was a loving mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed.
Patricia is survived by her mother, Marjorie Frels, of Southerland, Neb.; husband and companion, Dean Valentine, of Brighton; daughters, Lesa Chesebro, of Vancouver, Wash., and Rhonda Taylor, of Irving, Texas; son, Tom (Cathy) Stockton, of Westminster; brother, Jim Warner, of Arnold, Neb.; sister, Peggy Rotert, of Sutherland, Neb.; and nine grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, and her husband, Freal, in 2006.
Visitation was Aug. 1, 2013, at Tabor-Rice Funeral Home. Memorial Service was Aug. 2, 2013, at the Brighton United Methodist Church.
Tabor-Rice Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Donald D. Smith
Donald D. Smith came into this world April 6, 1938, as the sixth of eight children born to Mearl and Bernice Smith.
He grew up in the farming communities of southwestern Iowa. Don served in the United States Army from 1961 to 1963.
He married Saundra in 1964 and they settled in Colorado where they raised three children: Scott (Paula), of Brighton, Cindy (Brooks) Massey, of Brush, and Doug (Lorri), of Seaside, Ore. Don’s family has grown over the years to include 10 grandchildren, Carrie Yeager, Paul Murray, Jessica Rivero, Chad Murray, Kyler Massey, Kevin Massey, Korbin Massey, Sierra Smith, David Kerns, Aubrey Kerns; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Don was a quiet man whose actions spoke volumes. He was the first one to volunteer to help his children and grandchildren with home projects. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s school functions and sporting events.
Don felt honored to be able to lend support to his youngest son and his family for over a year as Doug battled brain cancer, succumbing in 2011. Don enjoyed being useful and active. He participated in the Brighton Turkey Trot for the first time November 2012 impressing the family by placing third in his age group.
Don received his own diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in May 2013. He then decided to live forever… or at least until he witnessed his grandson’s wedding, a visit from his brother, and his son’s college graduation. He passed away peacefully on Aug. 3, 2013.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Doug; brothers, Robert and Cleo; and sisters-in-law, Mary Smith and Sandy Smith.
He is survived by Saundra; children, Scott and Cindy; brothers, Dale (Delores), Gene (Betty), Marvin and sisters, Dorothy (Lester) Bozwell and Beverly (Wendell) White.
Don has a presence that will be forever remembered and sorely missed.
Funeral service is Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, at the Community Baptist Church, 15559 Weld County Road 2, Brighton. Burial will follow at The Brush Cemetery, in Brush.
Tabor-Rice Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Derek E. Candelarie
Derek E. Candelarie, 23, of Brighton, passed away Aug. 3, 2013. Born Dec. 1, 1989, in Denver, to Joey Candelarie and Robin Saatmann, he attended school in Broomfield.
He worked for Midwest Inspection Service and most recently for Team Industrial Services for over one year and has lived the majority of his life in the Barr Lake area. In his free time, Derek loved fishing and the outdoors. He was a loving father and enjoyed spending as much time as he could with his children.
Derek is survived by his paternal grandfather, Joseph Candelarie, of Barr Lake; maternal grandfather, Eugene Saatmann, of Forest City, Iowa; father, Joseph Candelarie, of Barr Lake; mother, Robin Saatmann, of Barr Lake; twins, Trey & Trinity Candelarie, of Brighton; brothers, Jason (Kristina) Candelarie, of Brighton, and Joey J. Candelarie, of Barr Lake; and sister, Feliciaa (Josh) Rodriguez, of China.
A Rosary Service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013, at Tabor-Rice Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Brighton.
Tabor-Rice Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Bill (O.W.) Colgate
Bill (O. W.) Colgate passed away July 22, 2012. He was born July 22, 1921, in Cañon City, to Albert B. Colgate and Lillian (Geraghty) Colgate in the home his grandfather built for his grandmother. He was the sixth child of nine.
Bill Colgate attended school Canon City, graduating from Canon City High School in 1939. Later, he served overseas during World War II with the United States Air Force (Army Air Corp) in the China/Burma/India theatre.
In 1946, Bill married Mable Wolff in Silver Cliff, where he worked in the local mines. In 1948, Bill and Mable, with daughter Sharon moved to Fort Collins, where son Bobby was born. Bill attended Colorado State University under the G.I. Bill, obtaining a degree in agronomy.
After graduation Bill worked for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service in the Flagler, Ft. Lupton and Brighton, Colorado areas for over 30 years. Bill always spoke fondly of the many good friends and companions he found amongst his co-workers, S.C.S board members, and the farmers and ranchers with whom he worked.
Bill retired from the Soil Conservation Service in 1979 and returned to the family home in Cañon City. His main hobby was completing work on his cabin in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, constructed largely from salvaged materials.
In retirement Bill also enjoyed working in his yard and orchard, fishing the lakes and streams of southern Colorado, and visiting with friends and relatives. Bill Colgate was a life member of Elks Lodge 610 in Cañon City, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Bill is survived by his wife, Mable (Wolff), of Cañon City; three daughters, Sharon Wilson, Patricia Stuckey (Jeff), Peggy Colgate; and his younger brother George Colgate. He is also survived by one son-in-law, three grandsons, one granddaughter, and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and three sisters, and his only son Bobby (Robert) Colgate.
Bill’s wishes were for immediate cremation with no services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Colorado 4-H Foundation (www.co4hfoundation.colostate.edu), the Wounded Warriors Foundation (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), the WWII Veterans Foundation (http://wwiifoundation.org), or any local FFA (Future Farmers of America) scholarship organization.
John Ben Montoya
John B. Montoya, 93 of Brighton, Colorado, passed away on Friday, Aug. 2, 2013. John was born in San Luis, Colorado, in April 1920, to Leandro and Severa (Lopez) Montoya. He married Patricia (Gomez) in 1949, while living in Los Angeles, Calif. Together they had three children: Cynthia, Lorenzo and Sandy. John and Patricia moved to Brighton in 1978.
John volunteered at the Brighton Senior Center for several years after his retirement and he took immense pride in his yard and garden.
John is survived by his three children, Cynthia (Darwin) Johnston, Lorenzo Montoya and Sandy (Tom) Sedlmayr, as well as seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and siblings Marbella, Alonzo and Henry. John was predeceased by his wife Patricia, both of his parents and nine siblings.
A Vigil Service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, with visitation one hour prior. Celebration of Life will follow at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. All services will be held at The Healing Place, 17801 East 160th Avenue in Brighton. Interment at Elmwood Cemetery.
Tabor-Rice Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Dacono
Larry Townsend
Larry Townsend, 56, of Dacono, passed away July 30, 2013. He was born March 30, 1957, in Marion, Ohio, to Cecil and Elaine Townsend. He attended high school in Ohio and worked as a diesel mechanic.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1974 to 1977 at Fort Leonardwood, Mo., and Fort Knox, Ky., rising to the rank of Private First Class.
He is survived by his siblings, Steve (Mariene) Townsend, Danny (Linda) Townsend, Scott (Jill) Townsend, Kevin (Lynn) Townsend, Marilyn Federly, and Carolyn (Mike) Hunter; his children, Jessica (Scott) Douglass, and Cecil (Bernadette) Douglass; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a son, Josh Townsend.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at Milavec Lake Park. Interment will follow with military honors.
Memorial gifts may be made to Jessica Douglass, c/o Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church in Frederick. Erlinger Funeral Home of Fort Lupton is handling the arrangements.