Steamboat Pilot & Today

Former Routt County resident Emma Anderson passed away April 13, 2003, at the Autumn Days Assisted Living Home in Tucumcari, N.M. She was 91.
Emma was born July 3, 1911, in Oak Creek to Marino and Anna Rossi. She was the third of five children.
In 1932, Emma married coal miner Elmer C. Anderson. The couple made their home in Oak Creek, where they had three sons.
The family purchased the VanWert rooming house in 1941 and made it their home.
Emma continued to live in and operate the apartment house following her husband's death in 1986. Emma sold the building in 1992 and moved to Tucumcari to live with her son Tom.
Emma was a member of St. Martin's Catholic Church and the alter society in Oak Creek. She was also a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church and the Pioneer Senior Citizens in Tucumcari.
Emma had many dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband; a sister, Mary Schakel and two brothers, Louis and Guido Rossi.
Emma is survived by three sons, Elmer of Orange, Calif., Thomas of Tucumcari and Roy of Murray, Utah; a sister, Edith Kirby of McCoy; 13 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Rosary service was held in Tucumcari. Funeral services were held April 17, 2003, at St Martin's Catholic Church in Oak Creek. Interment followed in Oak Creek Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Martin's, P.O. Box 774198, Steamboat Springs, 80477.

Former Steamboat Springs resident Frances "Biddy" Bonham died April 10, 2003, at her home.
Frances was born Dec. 18, 1927, in Steamboat Springs.
She married Wayne Bonham March 25, 1951, in Sterling. After moving to Wyoming in 1961, the couple ranched and raised a family northwest of Cheyenne.
Biddy was a breeder of foundation quarter horses and reputable feeder cattle. She loved her life in the country.
She received the Legacy Award from the American Quarter Horse Association in 1998 for 54 consecutive years of registering good quarter horses.
Biddy was a phenomenally dedicated mother and grandmother. She had a loving and listening heart for everyone who came to her kitchen to drink her coffee and eat her cookies.
Biddy was preceded in death by her father, Marshall Peavy; her mother, Mavis Peavy; her brother, Robert Peavy; two sisters, Mary Stees and Marion Gee; a daughter, Wynne Jane Bonham and a grandson, Grady Matthew Bonham.
She is survived by her husband; three sons, Bill Bonham of Cheyenne, Peavy Bonham of Laramie, Wyo., and Marc Bonham of Laramie; a daughter, Jennie Mai Bonham and three grandchildren, Tori Bonham, Hayli Bonham and Rio Bonham.
Cremation took place at Schrader's Sunset Park Crematorium. Memorial services were held April 14 at Schrader's Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Frances P. Bonham and Marshall C. Peavy Youth Scholarship Fund through the American Quarter Horse Foundation, P.O. Box 3211, Amarillo, Texas, 79120.

Former Oak Creek resident Melva Mecham died April 12, 2003, at the age of 51.
Melva was born May 1, 1951, to Woodrow and Norma Cole in Alamosa, where the family lived until moving to Broomfield and eventually Yampa and Oak Creek.
Melva graduated from Soroco High School in 1969. Following graduation, she worked at Thatcher Bank, Pueblo Bank and Trust and Bank One. Melva also worked for Dr. Ron Jones and other businesses in Salida.
She and her husband, Roy, owned the Salida Texaco.
Melva was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Her callings in the church included seminary teacher, Sunday school teacher, Young Women's president and Relief Society president, among others. Her Testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Gospel were strength to all who knew her.
Melva is survived by her husband; children, Brian Miller of Logan, Utah, Amber Miller of Provo, Utah, Cole Miller of Salida, Jamie Makris of Salida and Neil Miller of Anchorage, Alaska; stepson, Michael Mecham of Chico, Calif.; her mother, Norma Cole of Salida; three brothers, Woodrow Cole of Colorado Springs, Earl Cole of Yampa and Bobby Cole of Salida; a sister, Illa Schipporiet; four grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
Funeral services were held April 17, 2003, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salida. Burial took place April 18, 2003, at Yampa Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Melva Mecham Scholarship Fund at Collegiate Peaks Bank.