From Garfield County, Colorado:
James Lee Johnnie
January 7, 1935 - February 1, 2001
James (Jim) Lee Johnnie passed away at his Rifle, Colo. home February 1, 2001.
Jim was born in Ft. Worth, Texas to Leon & Allene Johnnie.
He and his family moved to Long Beach, California when Jim was just a young boy. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, Jim attended two years of college before beginning working for Douglas Oil Company. He stayed with the company for over 27 years and watched as his company switched hands from Douglas to Conoco.
During his time in California, he met his wife Carolyn. They were married December 29, 1973 in Bellflower, California and loved each other for 27 years.
In 1982, Jim left California and went to work for Unocal in Parachute, Colo. where he worked on the oil shale project. He retired in January, 1995.
Jim was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish. In his younger days, he raced motorcycles competitively and continued to enjoy all sports throughout his life.
During his retirement, Jim and Carolyn traveled extensively and he truly enjoyed learning about other parts of the world.
Jim was also a wonderful cook.
Jim was preceded in death by his father Leon, and his mother Allene. He is survived by his loving wife Carolyn, son Brad (Jody) Jordan of Glenwood Springs, his brother Roger of Rifle, six grandchildren, and daughter Jody of California.
A celebration of Jim Johnnie's 66 years of life was held Tuesday, February 6, at the Church of Christ in Glenwood Springs, 260 Soccer Field Road (behind Burger King and the Middle School in West Glenwood Springs). Services were held at 2:30 PM.
In leiu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Neuro Sciences Fund, C/O CU Foundation, 4200 E 9th Ave., Box A065, Denver, CO 80262.
Morris Levy
September 17, 1920-April 8, 2000
Morris Levy of Rifle died Saturday, April 8. He was 79.
Mr. Levy was born in Washington, D.C. on September 17, 1920. He moved to Colorado in 1995, and was living at Crossroads Assisted Living in Rifle, CO.
Mr. Levy was a retired printer and a very stay-at-home Dad due to medical disabilities.
He is preceded in death by his devoted wife, Frances Sarah Curtis, of 45 years.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Irving and Shoshanna Levy, their three sons: Elan, Amir, and Danial of Isreal; daughter and son-in-law, Marsha and Steven Jurek and Marsha's son, Philip McPherson of Red Wind, MN; and daughter and son-in-law Phyllis and Fred Billmeyer and their son, Curtis from Silt, CO. Morris also has a sister, Helen Silfies, in Orlando, FL.
Morris leaves behind many people who love him, including Alice Billmeyer (mother of Fred); staff and residents of Crossroads Assisted Living; staff and residents of Open Gate Assisted Living, and all of his 'adopted' children, young and not so young.
A private burial will take place at the Silt Cemetery on Wednesday, April 12, at 9:30.
Services for Mr. Levy will take place at Crossroads Assisted Living, 375 W. 24th Rifle, on Wednesday, April 12, at 11:15 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Activities Program of Crossroads Assisted Living.
Peggy Hazelbaker Ivie
October 19, 1933-April 20, 2000
Peggy Ivie died April 20, 2000 at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs after a long illness of respiratory problems and diabetes. She was 66.
Peggy was born Oct. 19, 1933 near Meeker to Joe Paul Hazelbaker and Dorothy Elizabeth Warren. Peggy attended two different one-room country schools for first and second grade. Her family moved to Meeker, where Peggy attended grades three through twelve. She graduated in 1951 from Rio Blanco County High School.
Peggy married Leonard Ivie on March 3, 1952, in Boulder. This union produced two sons, Mark Lee Ivie of Golden, and Steven Paul Ivie of Stansbury Park, Utah.
Peggy and Lenard were involved with ranching in Rio Blanco County until 1957, when they moved to New Castle. There, Peggy and Lenard leased the Frank Delaney ranch for 20 years and bought land in Peach Valley where they built their home.
Peggy was preceded in death by both her parents. She is survived by her husband Lenard; son Mark and his wife Sharon Ivie and their children, Jared, Joshua, Shannon and Stacie; son Steven and his wife Barbara Ivie and their children, Chad and Bobbie; brother Larry Hazelbaker; sister-in-law Arloa Young; brother-in-law Daryl Ivie; nephews Jim and Paul Young, Gary, Terry, and Donnie Ivie; nieces Cindy Mocaby, Nona Young, Cheri Foster, and Holly Ivie.
Funeral services were held Monday, April 24 at the Congregational Church in New Castle. Graveside services followed at the Highland Cemetery in Meeker, Colorado. The family requests that donations be made to LIFT-UP in lieu of flowers.
Donna Marie Finnell
March 30, 1924-April 18, 2000
Donna Marie Finnell, 76 years old. Finnell was born on March 30, 1924 in Fairbury Nebraska, she died April 18, 2000 in Battlement Mesa, Colorado.
She is survived by her Husband: Walter Scott Finnell Jr., a sister, Margery Dodson. Children: Nicolas Finnell, Heidi Houston, Gretchen Finnell, Walter Scott Finnell III. Grand Children: Hart Houston, Sammy Houston, Adam Smith, Ryan Finnell, Reagan Alex Finnell.
Donna Finnell was involved in the Garden Club and the Senior Center.
During her history, she was a national championship baton twirler, Miss Nebraska, Mrs. New York City, and actress in Hollywood, a TV talk show hostess in Reno, Nevada, a land developer, poet and artist. She has lived in Colorado for over 30 years and in the Parachute area for over 9 years. She was married to Walter Scott Finnell in 1958, who survives her today.
Services were held on April 24, 2000 at the Grand Valley Christian Church located at 116 West Second Street in Parachute, Colorado
A reception followed at the Grand Valley Christian Church.
In lieu of flowers donations should be made to the local valley hospice program in memory of Donna Marie Finnell. Please send your donations to: Roaring Fork Hospice, 410 20th Street Suite 203, Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81601.
Gladys Evelyn Carpenter Eddy
January 17, 1907-April 19, 2000
Gladys Evelyn Carpenter Eddy, 93, passed away on April 19, 2000 at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs. She was born at Silt, Colorado on January 17, 1907 to Bert and Celia Carpenter. She was raised in Silt where she attended school. In 1923, she married Leo Frances Cook in Glenwood Springs. Her husband passed away in 1925 after which she moved to Salida where she made her home. She was also preceded in death by her 3 brothers and 1 sister. She survived by her son...Leo "Bud" Cook of Salida and daughter...Marie Jowell of Silt...Also 7 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held Tuesday at 1:00 PM at the Silt Congregational Church of the Valley. Burial followed at Divide Creek Cemetery. Memorial's may be made to the Church. Rifle Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Billie Lee Smith
November 14, 1924-May 9, 2000
Willie Lee Smith, age 75 of Grand Junction, died Tuesday, May 9 at Mesa Manor Care Center.
Visitation was held May 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, 2515 Patterson Road. A graveside service followed at 10:00 a.m. in the I.O.O.F Cemetery with Reverend Eldon Coffey officiating.
Mr. Smith was born Nov. 14, 1924 in Alexandria, Kansas to William Alfred and Hannah Jane Kraft Smith. He attended schools in Colorado and then served as a Yeoman in the U.S. Navy for four years during Word War II. He married Laura P. Clay in 1964 in Denver. Mr. Smith worked for Garfield County as a draftsman, then as a station manager and then worked as a cattle rancher in Parachute for many years.
Survivors include his wife Laura P. of Grand Junction; sons Victor L. of Woodland Park, Colorado, Bill of Grand Junction, Mike of Silt; a daughter Dorothy L. Smith of Grand Junction; a brother Dwight and Jackie Smith of Roy, Utah; a sister June Webber of Jasper, Texas; a sister in law Dorothy Smith of Grand Junction and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Ransom and Vernon Clark (Jiggs).
Callahan-Edfast was in charge of arrangements.
