Obituaries

May 29, 2022

John G. Reed, 48, passed away unexpectedly on May 29, 2022, at his La Junta home. He was born on November 3, 1973, in La Junta to Roy & Kathy (Allsworth) Reed. John graduated from La Junta High School in 1992. After graduating high school, he began working for DeBourgh Mfg. as an assembly technician kick starting a 30-year career...

May 25, 2022

Heath Michale Grantham October 27, 1976 – May 25, 2022 Heath Michale Grantham, 45, passed away on May 25, 2022, at his Ordway home. He was born on October 27, 1976, in La Junta to Fred R. & Michalle Kay (Bravo) Grantham. He attended Swink Schools and graduated in 1995 as the class salutatorian. Heath participated for several years in...

May 24, 2022

Eva Jean Tanner Apker, 94, passed away on May 24, 2022, at the University Park Care Center in Pueblo. She was born in Wiley, Colorado on Monday, September 26, 1927, to Frank & Eva (Willem) Tanner. She was the youngest of the children born to her parents and joined four other siblings. She was named in honor of her mother...

May 20, 2022

Juan Refugio “Cuco” Lopez Galindo, 82, of La Junta, passed away on May 20, 2022, at the Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. He was born on June 24, 1939, in Valparaiso, Zacatecas, Mexico to Fernando Lopez & Josefa Galindo. Cuco worked as a ranch hand most of his life. He enjoyed the outdoors and working with all the animals, especially...

May 10, 2022

Emilio “Mills” Albert Archuleta was born on Sept 23, 2002, in Thornton CO, to Kristin Anaya and Ugene “Gene” Archuleta, was called home unexpectedly on May 10, 2022. Throughout his life Mills was a loving son who enjoyed spending time with his family, friends and fiancé. Stubborn and big hearted he cherished the relationships with those closes to him and...

May 3, 2022

Frankie R. Lovato, 33, of Rocky Ford, passed away on May 3, 2022 in Colorado Springs as a result of a vehicle accident. Frankie was born Jan. 20, 1989, in La Junta, Colorado to Tracy Lovato. He attended and graduated from La Junta High School in 2007. Frankie was proud to be a Tiger. Frankie began his career with The...

May 1, 2022

Longtime La Junta resident Lillian Sayklay Malouff died May 1, 2022, at 96 years of age. She was a resident of Evergreen Gardens at that time. She was originally from El Paso, Texas, before moving to La Junta in 1946. Mrs. Malouff was preceded in death by her husband Phillip Malouff Sr., a well-known businessman in La Junta, and one...

Apr 30, 2022

Nash Ayala departed this life on April 30, 2022 at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. Nash was born on April 11, 1926 in Greeley, Colorado to Santiago and Guadalupe Ayala. Nash worked many jobs in his life, the three most memorable being the Fox Theatre where he worked for 20+ years, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish School and of course...

Apr 29, 2022

Sharon Kay Phillips, 61, passed away on April 29, 2022, at her Cheraw home. She was born on May 20, 1960, in Craig, Colorado to James & Sharon (Hall) Johnson. She graduated from La Junta High School with the class of 1978. She later went on to OJC and received her AS degree in 1980 and her ASN degree in...

Apr 26, 2022

Judith Kay Miller was born September 19, 1941, in Trinidad, Colorado to parents Leonard Benjamin SR and Irma Joyce (Flaiz) Hannebaum. She went home to be with the lord on April 26, 2022, at her home in La Junta, Colorado. 

She was the cornerstone that kept the family together through her passion and love of cooking and baking for every...

Apr 25, 2022

Gregory Wayne Grenard, 59, of La Junta passed away on Monday, April 25th, 2022, at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. Greg was born to Ruth Muth Grenard and Max L. Grenard on April 1st, 1963, in La Junta. He was a 1981 graduate of Swink High School where he was class president, and a third-generation attendee of Swink School. In...

Apr 22, 2022

Harrison “Mac” McCune, 96, passed away on April 22, 2022, at the Crowley County Nursing Center in Ordway. He was born on February 15, 1926, to Vernon & Nona McCune in La Junta. He was a member of the Koshare’s and troop 232 obtaining his Eagle Scout. After graduation he enlisted in the Navy during WWII serving on the SS...

Apr 22, 2022

Peggy Jane Sinclair Allen, 98, of La Junta passed away on April 22, 2022, after a brief illness at the Crowley County Nursing Home in Ordway with her daughters and sons-in-law by her side. She was born on September 15, 1923, at home in Limon, Colorado to Alvin C. & Mary Evella (Welbourn) Sinclair. After graduating from Limon High School...

Apr 21, 2022

Paul F. Gonzales, 83, passed away unexpectedly on April 21, 2022, at his La Junta Home. He was born on October 26, 1938, in Watuors, New Mexico to Manuel S. & Mary Ursula (Martinez) Gonzales. Paul attended Swink School and was a self-educated man. He managed Montini Feedlot, worked at Nibco and Paul’s Tree Service. He was a member of...

Apr 17, 2022

Apr 15, 2022

Judy Ann Lewis, 75, passed away on April 15, 2022, at the Pioneer Health Care Center in Rocky Ford. She was born on December 13, 1946, in Pueblo to George & Ada Lee (Cook) Franklin. She married Timothy Lewis on October 13, 1983, in La Junta; he preceded her in death on August 1, 1999. A graveside memorial service will...

Apr 14, 2022

Della Mae Merwin March 21, 1933 – April 14, 2022 Della Mae Merwin, 89 years old, of Rocky Ford, Colorado went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 14, 2022, peacefully at her home. She was born on March 21, 1933, in Thurston County, Nebraska to Robert E. and Lizzie B. Ferguson. Della was married to Roger Merwin on...

Apr 13, 2022

Judith R. Anderson, 75, passed away at her Kim, Colorado home. Judith was born in 1946 in La Junta, CO to AJ and Edith Anderson. She grew up in Kim, graduating from Kim High School. Judy continued her education at Trinidad State Junior College and Adams State College. After graduation, Judy taught on a Navajo Reservation in Arizona. During that...

Apr 12, 2022

Paul Albert Michael Romero, 52, passed away on April 12, 2022, at the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in La Junta. Albert was born on October 23, 1969, to Joe and Alberta “Tina” (Vigil) Romero in Denver. Albert enjoyed fishing with his dad Joe and working outdoors. He was a great help in assisting with his mother and father's need...

Apr 7, 2022

Leonard Paul Yergert, 71, passed away on April 7, 2022, at his La Junta home. He was born on October 20, 1950, to Paul & Lydia (Miller) Yergert. He attended school in La Junta graduating with the class of 1968. He attended OJC and UNC Greeley. He worked for his oldest brother, Clarence on the farm in Fort Bent during...