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Obituaries

Longtime Routt County resident Mavis Guire died April 6, 2003, in Craig at the age of 86.

Mavis was born May 12, 1916, in Wilsonville, Neb., to Hubert and Maude Young.

Mavis was raised in the Oak Creek and Steamboat Springs area. She graduated from high school in Steamboat.



She married Ralph F. Guire on June 2, 1934, in Steamboat.

Mavis was a ranch wife all her life and lived for a time in Kansas. Most of her life was spent in Steamboat Springs.



She moved to Craig in February 2003 to be cared for in her daughter-in-law’s home.

Mavis was a member of the Congregational Church. She enjoyed gardening, embroidery, sewing, fishing, camping, ranching and raising sheep.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three sons, Fred, Cory and Frank; a daughter, Selma Lee and three grandchildren.

Mavis is survived by a daughter, Rhoda Guire of Steamboat; a son, Ralph Guire of Addy, Wash.; two daughters-in-law; 11 grandchildren; and 18 great grandchildren.

Services were held April 11, 2003, at Calvary Baptist Church.

Longtime Routt County resident Vernice Morton died April 19, 2003, at the Doak Walker Care Center. She was 87.

Vernice was born Dec. 15, 1914, in Benkelman, Neb., to Cyrus Henry and Ruth Ann Harper. She was raised in Benkelman and attended Benkelman High School.

In 1933, she married Victor Morton in Benkelman. The couple then moved to Goodland, Kan., where they farmed and ranched for three years before moving to Hayden, where Victor worked in Mount Harris coal mines.

The couple purchased a farm near Milner in 1941. The farm is still owned and operated by the family.

Vernice remained on the farm after Victor passed away in 1983. Eventually she moved to the Doak Walker Care Center, where she passed away.

Vernice enjoyed ranching and livestock. She was active in the order of the Eastern Star and the Home Demonstration Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; four brothers and four sisters.

Vernice is survived by three sons, Ken, Vern and Wayne Morton of Steamboat Springs; three brothers, George Harper of Benkelman, Neb., Lee Harper of Longmont and Glenn Harper of Grand Junction; one sister, Lola Main of Gerhing, Neb.; four grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held April 25, 2003, at the Yampa Valley Funeral Home.

Memorial donations may be made to the Doak Walker Care Center of the Arthritis Foundation in care of the Yampa Valley Funeral Home, 2095 Curve Court, P.O. Box 776090, Steamboat Springs, 80477.

Maybell resident Edna Brannan passed away April 6, 2003, at Valley View Manor in Craig. She was 76.

Edna was born Feb. 20, 1927, just west of Craig to John and Goldie Gerber. She was raised and attended school in Craig, where she graduated from high school.

She married Dale Brannan on July 11, 1948, in Craig. Following their marriage, the couple lived on Upper Greasewood until 1956, when they moved to Maybell.

The couple spent the remainder of their lives in Maybell.

Edna enjoyed sewing and being with her family. She was an excellent embroiderer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Maxine and Ruby; three brothers, Leonard, Carl and John; her husband; and an infant son and daughter.

Edna is survived by a daughter, Louise Irvine of Lander, Wyo.; three sons, Pat Brannan of Hayden, Wayne Brannan of Maybell and Fred Brannan of Maybell; four sisters, Mary Black of Montrose, Norma Herman of Colorado and Arizona, Goldie Arroyo of Craig and Judy Ruth of Riverton, Wyo.; four brothers, Eldon, Erv, Jim and Steve Gerber of Craig; and six grandchildren.

Services were held April 11, 2003, at Maybell Community Church.

Memorial donations may be made to Maybell Community Fund in care of Grant Mortuary, 621 Yampa Ave., Craig, 81625.

Former Steamboat Springs resident Ray Egan Fisher died April 20, 2003. He was 55.

Ray was born Oct. 22, 1947, in Panama City, Panama, where his father, Dr. Charles Fisher, was stationed in the U.S. Army.

Ray grew up in Colorado Springs and served honorably with the 1st Marine Division during the Vietnam War. Ray received numerous awards, including three Purple Hearts.

Upon his return from Vietnam, Ray joined his family in Steamboat, where he resided for 20 years.

He then moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where he met his wife, Sandy. The couple moved to Libby, Mont., where they resided for the past 10 years.

Ray worked for Stimson Lumber Company and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing and spending time at the couple’s Bull River cabin.

Ray is survived by his wife; his mother, Rae Corrine Fisher of Aurora; four brothers, Charlie and Joe of Aurora, Ben, and Pat of Lafayette; and a sister, Mary Durant of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Ray will be dearly missed.

Hayden resident Marguerite Velasquez passed away April 18, 2003, at Doak Walker Care Center. She was 86.

Marguerite was born Jan. 12, 1917, in Mount Harris to William and Mabel Hayes. Marguerite was raised and attended school in Mount Harris and Hayden.

In 1935, Marguerite married Wilbur Velasquez in Craig. The couple lived in many places, including Pieance Creek, Wash., California, Vernal, Utah, and Hayden.

Marguerite worked as a cook in hospitals and nursing homes. In later years, she kept busy raising her large family.

She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge in Hayden, and she enjoyed camping, fishing, dancing, crafts and crocheting.

Marguerite is preceded in death by her parents; five brothers, Warren, Howard, Calvin, Jimmy and Myron; a sister, Sylvia; her husband; two sons, Howard and Monty; and two daughters, Barbara and Sheila.

She is survived by two daughters, Donna Gregory and Terrie Walker of Hayden; four sons, Robert Hayes of Hayden, Vernon Velasquez of Grand Junction, Gary Velasquez of Longmont and Tommy Velasquez of Maybell; two sisters, Coleen Kowach of Silverlake, Kan,, and Kathleen Frasier of Missouri; six brothers, Bill Hayes of Craig, Larry Hayes of Grand Junction, John Hayes of Wheatland, Wyo., and Jay, Dennis and Mickey Hayes of Hayden; 21 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Services were held April 24, 2003, at Hayden Congregational Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Doak Walker Care Center in care of Grant Mortuary, 621 Yampa Ave., Craig, 81625.


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