Shirley Louise Sutphen (Baker)

Shirley Louise Sutphen

October 2, 1935 ~ February 15, 2016

Shirley Louise (Baker) (Patrick) Sutphen was born on 2 October 1935 in Garden City, Kansas to Emerson and Emily (Hinkle) Baker. She was preceded in death by her parents as well as a step-grandson, Nicholas Marcon. Shirley was raised in the mining town of Stone City, Pueblo County, Colorado, where she attended Grade School in a 2-room school house. She graduated from Stone City Grade School when she was 12 years old. She then attended Centennial High School in Pueblo, graduating in June 1952 at the age of 16. A week later, she began her 35 year Civil Service career at the Pueblo Army Depot.

She married Victor Patrick on 26 July 1957; they purchased a home and moved to Boone, Colorado. Shirley continued to work at the Pueblo Army Depot. From this marriage, her two daughters were born (Carol and Cheryl.) This marriage ended in divorce.

She continued working at Pueblo Army Depot to support her children, and continued her classes at Pueblo Jr. College. In 1972 she earned her College Degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Following her College graduation from the University of Oklahoma in 1972, she married Earl James Sutphen in 26 August 1972 in Lake City, Colorado. They began their life together in Pueblo, Colorado, where they both worked at the Pueblo Army Depot. In 1974, they moved to California, where they both pursued their individual careers in Civil Service. Her Analyst position called for her to do extensive travel within several branches of the Armed Services, Department of Defense. After their retirements in 1989, Shirley and Earl moved to Montrose, Colorado, where they have lived since. They have traveled extensively across the United States, sometimes taking their children on their vacations.

Shirley is survived by her loving husband Earl, and her daughters Carol Mitts (living in Longmont), and Cheryl Patrick (living in Commerce City). Shirley has one granddaughter (Jennifer Mitts) in Boulder. Shirley is also survived by her brother Donald Baker and his wife Kathy, who live in Florida.

Mrs. Sutphen also had two step-daughters, Diana (Mario) Marcon from Livermore, CA, and Susie Sutphen from Pueblo. In addition she has 3 step-granddaughters. They are Ann Pershin, Erica Marcon, and Gina (Paul) Herman as well as 5 step-great grandchildren.

Her hobby was genealogy and writing. She had finished writing a published her BAKER Family Genealogy, and was currently “almost finished” with her STEVENS Family History book. She belonged to the local Uncompahgre Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, having served as Regent and in other offices. She was also a member of the Western Slope Richard Gildersleeve I Chapter of the National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century, serving as the Colorado State President for two years. She is also a member of the Mayflower Society. Additionally, she truly enjoys being a member of P.E.O., here in Montrose.

She has been a member of Eastern Star #40 in Montrose since she moved here, and served as the Colorado Grand Marshal for the “In Tune with the Times” Grand Family in 2000 – 2001. She was previously an Eastern Star member of Fidelity #144 in Pueblo, joining in 1975. She also belongs to many local organizations.

One of her last endeavors included helping her husband Earl finalize his life history with his family, was driving trip last fall to Earl’s birthplace in Portal, North Dakota. The purpose of the trip was to present to the town of Portal a quilt that Earl’s grandmother stitched from the turn of the century representing all the early settlers in the Portal area.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow the service at Cedar Cemetery, in Montrose.  She will be interred in the family plot in Cedar Cemetery, Montrose, Colorado. Arrangements are under the care of Crippin Funeral Home and Grand View Cemetery.