United States High School Yearbooks by County
Ann Kitt
Ann (Lu Ann Mae) Kitt, 85, died Feb. 11 in Dallas.
Kitt was born on Dec. 5, 1918, to Rose Pearl Carter Chapman
and George Andrew Chapman in Earlton, Kan.
When Kitt was seven years old,
her family moved to Lamar, Colo., where she graduated from
high school. Soon after graduation, she moved to
Leadville and began her career with Mountain Bell Telephone
Company as a telephone operator. She retired as a
customer service representative with the phone company in 1976.
She met her husband, Raymond Kitt, when he was her snowskiing
instructor in Climax. On Aug. 12, they celebrated 52
years of marriage.
They resided in Leadville for several years, moved briefly to
Colorado Springs, and then settled in Denver, where they
remained until their move to Summer Ridge Retirement
Village in Rockwall, Texas, in August of 2001.
Kitt was an avid reader, loved a good cup of coffee, and
delighted in being “Aunt Ann” to her numerous nieces and
nephews, as well as spoiling her many “great” and “great
great” nieces and nephews.
During their lifetime, the Kitts enjoyed many activities
together including traveling, fishing, horseback riding, water
skiing, snow skiing, and gourmet cooking, as well as
activities with the Telephone Pioneers, Masons and Shriners.
Kitt enjoyed a second career as a beauty consultant for Mary
Kay Cosmetics
She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather Lem
Barnard; mother- and father-in-law Ada and Raymond Kitt;
brothers (and their wives) Ralph (Dena) Chapman; Dale
(Bonnie) Chapman; and John Chapman; sister Sue Weber
and her husband Art; niece Dorothy Chapman; and nephew
Kenny Weber.
Following a memorial service celebrating her life at the
Summer Ridge Retirement Village, burial services were held
at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery. Condolences
may be sent to her husband Ray Kitt c/o Summer Ridge
Retirement Village, 3020 Ridge Road, Rockwall, Texas
75032.
Leonard Schieven
Leonard Schieven, 91, died March 1, 2004, in Oceanside,
Calif.
Schieven is survived by his daughter Barbara Schieven,
Leadville; son Gary (Dorothy Rowe) Schieven,
Lawrenceville, N.J.; companion of 14 years Irene Swoboda,
Encinitas, Calif.; and beloved “grand-pets,” Barbara’s dogs,
cats and horses.
Lawrence Von Bamford
Former resident Lawrence Von Bamford, 66, Loveland, died Feb.
28, 2004, at Columbine Care West. He was born in Nevada, Iowa, on
July 18, 1937, to Walter and Isabel Bamford.
Bamford earned a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Iowa, a
Ph.D. from the University of Northern Colorado, an M.A. from
Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.
Bamford was an architectural
historian and designer, artist, professor, author, inventor and
outdoorsman. He possessed an unbridled enthusiasm for
education, especially including the discussion of design,
architecture and aesthetics with his students. Bamford’s the
author of Leadville Architecture, A Legacy of Silver: 1860-
1899, published in 2000.
Over the course of his life, he worked for Boise Cascade, the
Atomic Energy Commission, Arizona State University,
Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, and Colorado State
University.
He recently discovered the summits of the Rockies from the
perspective of mountain biking.
He is survived by his wife Camille; sons Cheyne (Cheryl) and
Kyle (Helen); sister Bette Meishner, Scottsdale, Ariz.; and
grandchildren Heather, Kristen and Haley.
A celebration of life will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday,
March 5, at 1727 Rangeview Dr., Fort Collins. The Bamfords
may be reached at 2308 Juniper Lane, Loveland, CO 80538.
William Henry “Hank” Harelson
73, died March 21 at his home in Leadville.
Harelson was born in Lexington, Ky., on Aug. 14, 1930, to Henry
L. and Katharine (Cleveland) Harelson.
He grew up in Lexington and received a bachelor of science
degree in mining engineering from the University of Kentucky.
He came to Climax in June, 1952, his first summer out of school.
That fall he went on a two-year tour of active duty with the
U.S. Army Signal Corps. Following his
discharge, as a first lieutenant, he returned to Climax.
On Dec. 28, 1954, Harelson married the former Dorothy Neal
in Owensboro, Ky. For six months, the couple lived in
Kokomo before moving to Climax. Henry and Dorothy lived
in the same house at both Climax and West Park, after it
was moved down in 1961. Married 49 years, the Harelsons
raised seven children in this home.
“Hank,” as he was known at Climax, was very proud to be a
miner and his happiest years at the mine were those he
spent underground. He worked in various engineering
positions and underground production, which he enjoyed the
most. He retired from Climax after 30 years of service.
Following his retirement from mining, Harelson started his
own engineering consulting business. As part of this
business, he worked as an inspector for the Colorado
Tramway Board making sure ski lifts were safe.
In addition to work, community service was also an
important part of his life. For many years, he was one of a
group of men who regularly made the trek up Mosquito Pass
to construct and maintain the translator facilities that
provided “over the air” television and FM radio service to the
people of Lake County. Most recently, Harelson was the
chairman of the board for the Leadville Sanitation District.
Harelson loved the outdoors and took full advantage of the
beauty and recreation the mountains offered. He spent much
of his free time throughout his life skiing, fishing, mountain
climbing and camping throughout Colorado. His greatest joy
was spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren,
more often than not outdoors.
As his family proudly recalls, Harelson could build or fix
anything. He was an accomplished amateur radio builder and
operator – an avocation he discovered as a boy. He held the
“amateur extra” class of license for more than 40 years.
Always ready to introduce young people to this hobby,
Harelson proctored the licensing exams conducted at the
junior high school ham radio class.
The Harelsons loved to travel. He was an excellent planner
and organizer of their many trips. Harelson had wonderful
language skills and was able to easily communicate while in
foreign countries. He always prepared a fun and flexible
travel itinerary.
In recent years, Harelson discovered the joys of cooking. His
longtime specialty was fried chicken, but the extra time
afforded by his retirement allowed him to widely expand his
gourmet menu.
Harelson was a “renaissance man,” a lifelong student who
enjoyed learning and the arts just for the sake of challenging
and expanding his mind. He read several hours every day,
studied and used new technologies. He listened to operas
and classical music and could recite bluegrass and pop lyrics.
His dry, ironic sense of humor would often cause him to
chuckle at the mundane
Harelson was a registered professional engineer, and a 50-
year member of the American Institute of Mining,
Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers. He was also a
member of the National Geographic Society.
Harelson was an excellent man. He shared many gifts with
his wife and children. By his encouragement, support,
honesty and respect, he showed how he loved them all. He
adored and cherished his wife; they worked as a team to
build an outstanding life for their family.
Harelson was preceded in death by his parents; daughter
Ann, who died in 1957 at 16 months; and sister, Elizabeth
Kissling.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy, Leadville; his sons David
Harelson, Charlton City, Mass.; Daniel (Laurie) Harelson,
Pocatello, Idaho; Stephen (Jan LeCocq) Harelson, Lakewood;
Thomas (Kristy) Harelson, Loveland; and Timothy Harelson,
Leadville; and daughters Jane (Kris Husted) Harelson,
Leadville; and Susan (Jeff Stahla) Harelson, Loveland; sister,
Katie (Robert) Shaw, Lexington, Ky., and eight grandchildren:
Andrew, Lindsey, Nina, Guang Guang, Emma, Henry, Kate and Will.
Memorial services are planned for Saturday, March 27, at 11
a.m. at the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum.
Those who desire may make memorial contributions to the
National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum.
