Edith Lucille Lindsey (Pagotto)

Edith Lucille (Pagotto) Lindsey passed away on October 25, 2023 at Colorow Care Center in Olathe, Colorado. She entered her eternal resting place 30 days before her 100^th birthday.  She lived in her own home in Montrose, Colorado until January 2023. What an admirable accomplishment.

Edith’s father, Marco Pagotto, had immigrated to the U.S. and secured a position as a coal miner.  He soon sent for his lovely wife, Regina from Italy to join him.  Edith came into this world on a chilly Saturday, November 24, 1923, in the small coal mining town of Somerset, Colorado. Sundays were polenta days in the Pagotto household.  Regina made the best polenta with rabbit gravy. Regina hunted for and cooked wild mushrooms. She would put a silver dollar in the pot as the mushrooms cooked.  If it did not turn black, she said the mushrooms were not poisonous.  The family could often hear music coming from the music room in the old schoolhouse.  Edith became one of 18 violin players called the “Cowboy Girl” orchestra that performed at the Paonia Theatre and many community clubs.

Edith ventured off to Mesa College in Grand Junction, Colorado (presently Colorado Mesa

University). She then went to Gunnison, Colorado, for one year.  She was offered a teaching position in Somerset, replacing the 5^th and 6^th grade teacher, getting additional pay to organize a local band.  She provided music lessons for $.35 per lesson.  Back in the ‘40’s she thrived.  She taught there for three years and received her B.A. during that time. Tiring of this after 3 years, it was off to Grand Junction to teach the 4^th grade.  She was encouraged to apply for high school positions.  Fruita High was her next adventure for three years, but then the city life called her to Littleton, Colorado.  But before starting, a trip to her parents’ native land was in order. She was able to visit kin in Orsago (Province of Terviso), in the northwest part of Italy. She traveled on a Vespa with her cousin Emma throughout the area. It was, and remained a very endearing time in her life.

Edith received her Master’s Degree from Western State College in 1961.  She relocated to Montrose where she met Loyd Lindsey, her future husband, and his two children Sharon and Terry.  They were wed in Montrose on July 28, 1962.  She returned to teaching as a substitute for a period of time.  She went on to teach at a small college in Montrose, Colorado Western College in 1967.  The college closed and she received a position at Montrose High School, instructing business and typing. After a period of time, she resumed substitute teaching until 1998.

She was an active swimmer and loved long walks around her neighborhood.  She was a very devout Catholic and attended mass daily for many years.  Her true passion was her little dogs whom she loved dearly and later, her cat, Oleo.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, husband Loyd, sister Nellie Smith and nephew Mark Smith. She is survived by her stepson Terry Lindsey, stepdaughter Sharon Lindsey Fearon, grandson Tyler Lindsey Fearon, nieces Jeneen Smith Joseph and Kathleen Smith Chamberlain, four great nieces, one great nephew and six great-great nieces and three great-great nephews.

A visitation will start at 5:00 PM with a Vigil to follow at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 7th at Crippin Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 10:00 AM, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Montrose, Colorado.  Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Hotchkiss, Colorado. Crippin Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.