Obituaries

Heidi K. Seelhoff

Heidi K. Seelhoff

Oct 4, 2025

Heidi K. Seelhoff passed away peacefully in her home on October 4, 2025. Born in Weiherhammer, Germany, to Adolf and Margareta (Rothascher) Gebhard, she grew up in Amberg, Germany during WWII, moved to Switzerland after the war where she worked as an au pair and physician assistant. Heidi had to often ski or hike to see her patients in the...

Sharon Diane Brickell

Sharon Diane Brickell

Oct 4, 2025

Cherished wife and best friend who lived with grace, kindness, and steadfast spirit Forever loved, Sharon Diane Brickell November 25, 1953 – October 4, 2025

Sharon Diane Brickell, 71, of Montrose, Colorado, passed away on October 4, 2025. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Sharon earned her master’s degree in Food Sciences and devoted her career to helping others as a registered dietitian....

Kenneth "Ken" M. Shorter

Kenneth "Ken" M. Shorter

Oct 3, 2025

Kenneth M. Shorter

1948 – 2025

Kenneth “Ken” M. Shorter was born on March 13, 1948, to Bill and Elizabeth Shorter in Denver, Colorado. He grew up in Edgewater with his three sisters—Carol, Janet, and Sharon—and in 1963 his family moved to Montrose. Ken graduated from Montrose High School in 1966 and went on to attend Colorado State University.

On March 22, 1972,...

Ronald Lee "Pete" Mattics

Ronald Lee "Pete" Mattics

Oct 1, 2025

Ronald Lee “Pete” Mattics was born Feb. 4, 1935, to LaRue LaRoy and Lucille (nay Davies) Mattics in Cañon City, Colo. He passed October 1, 2025, at his home on the farm surrounded by family, including his ever faithful dog, Jill.

As a toddler, he moved with his family to Casper, Wyo., then on to Oak Ridge, Tenn., where his father...

Darlene Clair

Darlene Clair

Oct 1, 2025

Darlene Clair was born on September 14, 1947, in Alamosa, CO, at Alamosa Hospital to Howard and Billie June Bradley. Darlene passed away on October 1, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Billie June Bradley, and son Richard Robert Clair. She is survived by her husband Richard Clair, Daughter Angela (Robert) Morgan of Grand Junction,...

Inoc Perez

Inoc Perez

Sep 30, 2025

In Loving memory of Inoc Perez, born February 15, 2001 and passed on September 30, 2025 in Montrose CO. Inoc was a loving father, caring brother, wonderful uncle and son. Inoc’s memory is carried on by his son Majteo (Mylee), his brothers Victor (Maizey) and Cesar, his sister Vanessa (Paolo) and parents Guadalupe and Anna. The jokester of the family,...

Steve Mathis

Steve Mathis

Sep 25, 2025

Steve Mathis passed away peacefully in his home on September 25th, 2025. Montrose just lost one of its finest.

Born in Chicago Illinois to Arlis A. Mathis and Mary Jean (Trowbridge) Mathis, Steve was raised in Boone Iowa and attended Cornell College in Cedar Rapids. After serving 2 years in the Army he returned to Iowa, attended law school at Drake...

Thomas E. Courtney

Thomas E. Courtney

Sep 23, 2025

Thomas E. "Tom" Courtney, an 81-year-old husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather known for his vibrant personality, passed away surrounded by love. Born in DeKalb, Illinois, to Thomas and Marilyn (Sanderson) Courtney, he was their firstborn child and cherished first grandchild in both the Courtney and Sanderson families.

Tom had a lifelong dream of living in the mountains of Colorado, a dream...

Margaret "Marge" Baird

Margaret "Marge" Baird

Sep 22, 2025

Margaret (Marge) Baird passed away at Willow Tree Care Facility on September 22, 2025. Marge was born in New Mexico on December 25, 1937. During her years of marriage, she and her husband Lynn lived in various places as they raised their four children. They lived in California, Arizona, Idaho, Colorado and finally settled in Montrose. She most recently lived...

Charlotte Grace Simkins

Charlotte Grace Simkins

Sep 22, 2025

Charlotte Grace Simkins of Montrose was born on March 31, 1938 and passed away on September 22,2025. She was born in Wyoming to Sumpter and Grace Patterson. The family moved to Boulder CO where she grew up and graduated from Boulder HS. She then went to college in Gunnison CO where she majored in music.

She married the love of her...

Bruce Chuchuru

Bruce Chuchuru

Sep 19, 2025

Bruce Chuchuru of Montrose, Co. passed away on Friday, September 19,2025. Bruce is preceeded in death by Bernard and Virginia Chuchuru. Bruce is survived by his wife of 25 years, Robin Chuchuru (Hranchak), his brother Kent Chuchuru and wife Marilyn and his two sisters, Debra Chuchuru of Phoenix, Az. and Vicki Scott (Ron) of Phoenix, Az. Bruce had two adopted...

Norman Kay Smith

Norman Kay Smith

Sep 18, 2025

Norman Smith exemplified the quote by Plato: “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” Norman’s entire life was dedicated to helping others unlock their own song of life.

He was born and raised in Delta, CO into a very musical family. His grandmother used to play piano for the...

Philip G. Blackford Sr.

Philip G. Blackford Sr.

Sep 17, 2025

On September 17, 2025, Philip G. Blackford Sr. returned home to the Kingdom of God. He passed early that morning after courageously battling leukemia for more than eight months.

Phil was born on April 22, 1949, to Chet and Rita Blackford. He was the eighth of twelve siblings raised in Denver, Colorado. Soon after high school, he met and married Tresea...

Martin "Mick" Frank Jr.

Martin "Mick" Frank Jr.

Sep 16, 2025

Martin “Mick” Frank Jr. was born on April 3, 1952 in Montrose, CO to parents Martin Frank, Sr. and Evelyn Frank. After a brief battle with illness, he joined his Creator on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. His last days were filled with loving visits and phone calls from friends and family.

Mick was married to DeEtta Frank, now of Fulton, Missouri,...

Carl Lee McClung

Carl Lee McClung

Sep 15, 2025

Carl Lee McClung, age 86, of Ridgway, Colorado, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2025, in Montrose.Carl was born on January 31, 1939, in Lawrence, Kansas to Wilma (Harrison) and Carl C. McClung. He graduated from Lawrence High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kansas. He later achieved his Master's in...

Orlando Lawrence Bercillio

Orlando Lawrence Bercillio

Sep 15, 2025

Orlando Lawrence Bercillio passed away September 15, 2025, at Montrose Memorial Hospital. He was born November 26, 1988, where his mother Charlene Bercillio started her devoted journey of being his “mama bear” as he chose that name for her early on in his life. He graduated from Montrose HS in 2007. He then moved to Denver, Co where he lived...

Albert (Bert) Henry Bellgardt

Albert (Bert) Henry Bellgardt

Sep 15, 2025

Gone Fishing!

Albert (Bert) Henry Bellgardt (1951-2025) went on the greatest fishing trip of his life- with Jesus- on Monday, September 15th, 2025. Not even cancer kept him from fishing here on earth, and he even fished just days before his death.

Albert was the son of Albert and Luella (Flowers) Bellgardt and a 3rd generation Montrose native. His grandpa moved here...

John Henry Young

John Henry Young

Sep 14, 2025

John Henry Young passed away on Sunday September 14th 2025 at his home in Montrose Colorado. He was 38 years old.

John was born in Houston Texas to John Edward and Glenda White Young on March 28th 1987. The family moved to Ridgway Colorado in 1999 where John attended and graduated from Ridgway High School. John attended college in Durango Colorado...

Patricia Ann Bain

Patricia Ann Bain

Sep 12, 2025

Patricia Ann "Murray" Bain was born on April 5, 1941, to Lewis E. Greenwood and Lula E. Greenwood. Pat passed away peacefully on September 12, 2025, at the age of 84. Pat was married to Tom Bain of Montrose, Co for 23 years. 

Pat was preceded in death by her late husband Roger D. Murray Sr (1997), her son Steven E....

Stephen "Steve" Hamblin

Stephen "Steve" Hamblin

Sep 11, 2025

Stephen "Steve" Hamblin, 75, passed away on September 11, 2025, in Rifle, Colorado. Born on April 28, 1950, in Delta, Colorado, Steve was a proud lifelong resident of the Western Slope—a region he held close to his heart and called home throughout his life.

He was the son of Kenneth and Bonnie Hamblin, both of whom preceded him in death. Steve...