Western Slope Obituaries 2-18-13
Betty “Marshall” Cornell
Betty “Marshall” Cornell, 83, long time resident of Cedaredge, Colo., passed away February 3, 2013 at the Delta Memorial Hospital.
She was born to Shirley “Mac” Marshall and Della (Rolfe) Marshall on January 30, 1930 just south of Cedaredge, Colo. She spent most of her childhood in Cedaredge, Colo. Betty graduated from Cedaredge High School with the class of 1948.
On July 24, 1948, Betty married her high school sweetheart, Boyd Cornell in Cedaredge, Colo. To this union, three sons were born. Boyd and Betty had the honor of sharing 63 years of love and marriage.
She was a wonderful Colorado State Park Manager’s wife—whether she was helping Boyd with park “stuff” or packing for that next move. Although she enjoyed Boyd’s adventures in fishing, hunting, waterskiing, scuba diving, and finding out where roads went, Betty was not just a parks manager’s wife. When Boyd started Sweitzer Lake State Park near Delta, Colo., she became a beautiful floral designer. At Lathrop State Park near Walsenburg, Colo., her green thumb was instrumental in the park’s natural beauty; at Navajo State Park near Arboles, Colo., she gave of her time to assist in archeological digs; and at Rifle Gap/Rifle Falls State Park near Rifle, Colo., she became a mom all over again, assisting Roger in raising his great twins. Betty was happiest whenever she was in her kitchen, garden or green house. She loved spending time in a book or with family and friends playing cards. She was always full of life and had a smile for everyone.
Betty was a member of The Rebecca’s as well as TOPs in past years. She had lived in Cedaredge, Colo., for the last 22 years, moving from Rifle, Colo.
She is survived by her three sons: William “Bill” Cornell of Lillian, Ala., Roger Cornell and Gary Cornell, both of Cedaredge, Colo.; her sister, Carol Ann McMillon; six grandchildren, James, Tim, Brandi, Bryan, Andy and Mike; and seven great-grandchildren, (Tim’s) Amelia, Kaleb, Logan, Tyler, (Brandi’s) Paul, Ryan and Alyssa, (Bryan’s) Ava Renee, and (Mike’s) Daniel, Robert and Elaina.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Boyd; parents, Mac and Della Marshall; two brothers, Bud and Bruce Marshall; and sister, Edith “Deed” Wiseman.
Memorial services were held February 28, 2013 at the Taylor Funeral Service Chapel in Cedaredge, Colo.
Memorial contributions may be made in Betty’s memory to the American Diabetes Association.
View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at TaylorFuneralService.com. ❖
William Wallace Cunningham
William “Bill” W. Cunnigham, 88, passed away February 4, 2013 at his home in Grand Junction, Colo., of natural causes.
An only child, Bill was born May 13, 1924, to Katherine (Turner-Jones) and Wallace Cunningham in Denver, Colo. After a brief time in Iliff, Colo., they moved to the family ranch, north of Cisco, Utah in 1927. Bill was the third generation to be on the Cisco ranch. When not in school, Bill spent time with the cowboys, following the cows as they wintered on the desert around Cisco, Utah, and migrated up into the Bookcliffs for summer grazing. Weaned calves would be trailed from the ranch headquarters to the stockyards in Cisco, Utah, where they’d board the train to Kansas City. His life on the remote ranch taught him the value of hard work, good people and family. A rain on the desert, grazing cattle in the rims and “a horse watching a cow” were his greatest pleasures besides his family. Boarding with family and friends, Bill attended school in Fruita, Colo., until going to Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, where he graduated from high school.
He served in the Navy in the South Pacific during WWII. Upon returning he attended Colorado State University for two years before joining his parents on the ranch in Utah.
He married Joyce Allen from Eagle, Colo., on July 12, 1952. Joyce and Bill had one son and two daughters, Greg, Carolyn and Leslie. The kids spent their summers with Bill, trailing cows to the mountain, packing salt, cutting trail and fixing fence. Learning from their father, sharing time with the cowboys and making meals from a sour-dough jug—they helped with the cattle operation. The family operation continued and their son, Greg joined Bill and Joyce in 1973, full time and later Greg’s wife Mary. In 1991, the Cisco ranch was sold and the cattle operation moved to Kaycee, Wyo., with Greg and Mary.
Bill has lived in Grand Junction, Colo., since then, remaining involved in his children’s lives, watching the cattle market and staying abreast of the world affairs. Of life, Bill often said, “All I ever wanted was good horses, good cows, good dogs and lots of good country to run them in.”
A cowman and conservationist, he was a long-time advocate for grazing on public lands, Bill served on the BLM Grazing Advisory Board in Moab, Utah, for 38 years, and also served on the Utah State Advisory Board and the National Public Lands Council. He was Area Director and Vice-President of the Utah Cattlemen’s Association for several years. The American Society of Range Management, Utah Section awarded him the Rancher of the Year in 1968, and he was recognized as the Utah Cattleman of the Year in 1989.
A fair, accepting man, Bill knew no strangers and could tell a story with the best. Bill has friends scattered from the seats of Ethel’s Café in Cisco, Utah, and the rodeo grounds of Green River, Utah, to the streets of Denver, Colo., and Salt Lake City, Utah, and beyond. His love of the range and regard for his fellow man will be the lasting mark this true cowboy leaves on his family and those that knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce, of 60 years; Greg and Mary Cunningham; Carolyn and Tony Litfin; Leslie and Dale Heikes; and six grandchildren, Ben, Charlie (Cami) and Hannah Cunningham, Kate and Will Litfin and Tanner Heikes.
A memorial service is planned for later in the spring.
Memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s memory to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, 3090B North 12th St., Grand Junction, Colo., 81606. ❖
Peter August Gunesch
Peter August Gunesch, 72, of Delta, Colo., passed away February 7, 2013 of natural causes.
He was born June 23, 1940 to William E. and Ruth H. (Leonard) Gunesch in Denver, Colo. Pete attended school in Wheat Ridge, Colo., and Littleton, Colo., graduating from Littleton High School in 1958. He attended Colorado State University from 1958–1961.
Pete worked at Park Floral Company Greenhouses, Red Bird Farms, American Coleman and Crestwood Restaurant in the Englewood/Littleton, Colo., area until his retirement in 2003.
In 2005 Pete moved into the Delta House Assisted Living Facility in Delta, Colo., and remained there until his death.
Pete will be remembered for his work ethic, his shy smile, his dry humor and his eccentric attire. He was an active member of the Delta Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
He is survived by his sister Jo Ann (Jo) Johnston Clugg (Lyle) of Montrose, Colo..; nephews Eric, Kevin (Emily), Justin and Jeremy Gunesch of the Denver, Colo., area; nephew Kirk Johnston (Jennifer) of LaSalle, Colo., and niece Mariann Johnston of Santa Fe, N.M.; great-nieces Emma and Tessa Johnston, Chloe Gunesch and Allison Stone; and great-nephew Cartier Gunesch.
He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother Michael L. Gunesch.
Memorial services were held February 17, 2012 at the Delta Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Memorial contributions may be made in Pete’s memory to Delta House, 233 Main St., Delta, Colo., 81416; Delta Seventh-Day Adventist Church, PO Box 91, Delta, Colo., 81416 and The A. M. Binkley Memorial Scholarship, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University Foundation, P.O. Box 1870, Fort Collins, Colo., 80522.
View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at TaylorFuneralService.com. ❖
