John Lee Graft
March 15, 2024
John Lee Graft passed away peacefully at home with his family in Fowler on Friday, 15 March, 2024. He was born on 14 September, 1947 in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana to William John Graft and Mary Jane (Fast) Graft. He grew up in the Fort Wayne area and attended Fort Wayne public schools. He graduated from Central Fort Wayne...
Marion A. Van Dyk Portner
March 9, 2024
Rocky Ford resident Marion A. Van Dyk Portner passed away on March 9, 2024 in Fowler. Marion was born on July 11, 1927 in Rocky Ford to Murrel and Mina Anderson. She married Leonard P. "Bud" Van Dyk on March 15, 1946. After Bud's death she married Samuel Portner.
Marion served on various boards and committees throughout...
Norman Eugene Hopkins
March 9, 2024
Norman Hopkins passed away on March 9, 2024 at Crowley County Nursing Center. His children Rita Condis, Kathy Lordino, Kenneth Hopkins, Steven Hopkins and Cindy Griffin were all at his side. Norman was born June 3, 1928 to Ina Hopkins Evans and Charles Hopkins in Eastlake, CO.
Norman has 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren with...
Magdalena Nancy Esquibel
February 23, 2024
Magdalena Nancy Esquibel of Rocky Ford passed away on February 23, 2024 in Pueblo at the age of 82. Nancy was born in Vroman to Marcelino and Romelia Reyna. She married Ray Esquibel and they raised their family in Rocky Ford. Nancy worked as a CNA at Pioneer Healthcare.
Nancy is survived by her 3 children: Theresa...
Jessie Lopez
February 22, 2024
Natividad de Jesus (Jessie Nettie) Lopez, 106, of Rocky Ford, CO, passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2024, at Crowley County Nursing Center. Jessie was born in Tuloso, New Mexico on December 25, 1917, the daughter of Cecilio and Francisquita Grano.
Jessie was the widow of Louis Alfonso Lopez, who preceded her in death in 1969. She was...
Aurora Mayberry
February 12, 2024
Aurora "Dora" Medina Mayberry, age 96, went home to be with the Lord, surrounded by her family on February 12, 2024. Aurora was born on August 13, 1927 to her parents, Jose Leon Medina and Estefanita Gallegos Medina, on a ranch in Maes, NM, northeast of Las Vegas, NM.
She married the love of her life, Garland...
Joan Lavonne Williams
February 5, 2024
Joan Williams, 90, passed away February 5, 2024 at Fowler Healthcare. Joan was born August 29, 1933 at Yates Center, Kansas to Frank and Gladys Goodale. When she was a young child, her mother moved to Fowler and married Frank Denney.
She was married to Van Williams on December 18, 1950. They were married 70 years until...
Eleanor Jean Knapp
February 4, 2024
Eleanor Jean "Perk" Knapp of Rocky Ford passed away on February 4, 2024 in Rocky Ford at the age of 99. Eleanor was born at home in Rocky Ford to Carl and Nora Holder. She graduated from Rocky Ford High School in the Class of 1942 and graduated from Colorado A&M College (CSU) with a degree in Home Economics...
Markos Chavez
February 3, 2024
Markos Chavez passed away on February 3, 2024 at the age of 60 in Pueblo. Mark was born in Rocky Ford to Tony and Lucy Chavez. They moved to La Junta in the late 70s and Mark Graduated from La Junta High School class of 1982. After high school Mark joined the Army. Mark served in the Army until...
Gregory Patrick Santistevan
January 19, 2024
Gregory Santistevan, age 61, died peacefully at Crowley County Nursing Center, in Ordway, Colorado, on January 19, 2024. He was the third eldest son of Albert and Louise Santistevan of Ordway. In 1974, the family moved to Rocky Ford, living on 7th Street for seven years. In 1981, they moved to their present location on 4th Street. Greg attended...
Sally Irene Ruiz
January 11, 2024
Sally Irene Ruiz, 73, of Rocky Ford passed away on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at Pioneer Health Care. Sally was born in Rocky Ford to Benny & Merlinda Martinez. She grew up in Rocky Ford and raised her family here. Sally loved her family, especially all of her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed playing games and doing puzzles....
Shirley Gail Stuart
January 7, 2024
Shirley Gail Stuart, 82, of Hasty, CO, peacefully passed away on January 7, 2024 in Colorado Springs.
Shirley was born on March 19, 1941 to Pete and Mary Roberts in Las Animas. After Shirley graduated from Las Animas High School in 1959, she went on to enter a career in office management.
The simplest pleasure...
Doug Wayne Moses Powers
January 6, 2024
Doug Powers of Rocky Ford passed away on January 6, 2024 at the age of 59 at his home. Doug was born in Trinidad to Perry and Gloria Powers. Doug grew up in Rocky Ford. His family owned the El Capitan in Rocky Ford and Doug started working there as a waiter. Doug was at the El Capitan for...
Arthur James Montoya
January 1, 2024
Arthur Montoya of Rocky Ford passed away on January 1, 2024 at the age of 60 at his home after battling ALS. Art was born in Rocky Ford to Daniel and Jennie Montoya. He grew up in Rocky Ford and graduated from Rocky Ford High School class of 1981. After graduation Art moved to California where he worked in...
Andrew Anthony Medina
December 27, 2023
Andrew (Andy) Medina was born Aug. 25, 1948, in Rocky Ford to Manuel and Dolores (Villarreal). He married Mary Klingshirn Jan.13, 1973, in Ordway, they had 2 children: Carlos (Laura Stockwell) of Port Orange, FL, and Bonita, of Sugar City. He has 1 grandchild, Cannon, of Port Orange FL. Andrew is survived by his wife Mary, his children and...
Kenneth Eugene Grimes
December 27, 2023
Kenneth Eugene Grimes of Rocky Ford passed away Wednesday, December 27, 2023 in Colorado Springs at the age of 87. Kenny was born in Rocky Ford to Kenneth Cleveland Grimes and Velma Mae Mellon Grimes. Kenny grew up in Rocky Ford and graduated from Rocky Ford High School. When he was in high school, he also drove the school...
Doris Lavon Rons
December 20, 2023
Doris Lavon Rons, formerly of Lakewood, CO, passed away December 20, 2023 at the age 90. Mrs. Rons was born February 17, 1933 in Arcadia, KS and was a graduate of Arcadia High School. She was married to Leo Rons on December 26, 1960. Mrs. Rons was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
Doris is survived...
Sharon Kay Reeves
December 20, 2023
Sharon Kay Reeves, departed her loving family on December 20, 2023. Sharon was born in Rocky Ford on May 31, 1940 to Adam and Francis Foos. Sharon was mother to Randy, Greg, Troy, Kim and Kerri. She raised her children with love and devotion in Ordway with her husband of 66 years Richard. Sharon started as a Secretary for...
Lois Jean Smith
December 17, 2023
On December 17, 2023, Lois Jean Kiefer Smith, 90, of Rocky Ford, CO, peacefully passed away from cancer at Fowler Nursing Home. Late that afternoon, the skies ushered her into heaven to be with her dearly departed family whom she was ready to be reunited with. She was a kind and thoughtful soul and very devoted to family. She...
