Spellman Schmidt Funeral Home

Walter R. Madison (Father of Donna Roberts), 89 passed away on January 25, 2012 at the Wray Community District Hospital in Wray, Colorado. Funeral services will be held at the Cope Community Church in Cope, Colorado on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. Interment will be held in the Cope Cemetery in Cope, Colorado. Memorials may be given to the Cope Recreation Club, Wray Community Distrist Hospital, Yuma Home Health and Hospice of the Plains. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado is in charge of arrangements.

Warren “Stevie” Stephenson, 90 passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at Hillcrest Care Center in Wray, Colorado. A Rosary service will be held on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado. Mass will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2012, 10:00 a.m. with Father Jonathan Dellinger officiating. Interment will be in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. Memorials may be made to the Wray Volunteer Fire Department. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home in Wray is in charge of arrangments.

Crystal Marie Bowman was born Crystal Marie Adams on May 2nd, 1921 to Tim and Lena Adams. She was well known as Chris to her family and in her later years at the Towers as Crystal. Crystal went home to the Lord to be with her beloved husband, Harold , son, Barry and her family. she was 90 years young.

April 9th, 1938, she married Harold Wilson Bowman, and they spent the next 72 years together until Harold went to the Lord’s home to wait for her with their son, Barry.

Crystal was the other half of the Bowman Farms for over 40 years, where the combine crews always looked forward to her wonderful home cooked noon meals, knowing that Crystal carried with her a container of hot water and warm wash rags so that they would wash their hands before they ate. Her  homemade potato bread was a favorite of every ones and especially good with her thick hot slices of freshly baked ham or roast beef.

Crystals love of music, theater and sports ensured her family that they too would love to appreciate it all. She loved to listen to her son, Barry play the organ, and was always supportive in his work with the Wray Ampere Theater. She started her daughter, Suzi on the road to musci by theaching her beginning piano, and always made sure that Suzi had her Saturday dance lessons with Ardie Briggs. Crystal was extremely proud of her oldest great-granddaughter accomplishment, Nicole Kippes, of Oakboro, NC in her love of music, dance, piano, and sports. She expecially enjoyed the time that Nicole could travel to Wray and present her Violin Talents for her, Harold and the residents of the Towers. Crystal also encouraged her other 3 granddaughter in their fields of entertainment, Charlie, in gymnastic, Meya in vocal, Bug in vocal, and her granddaughter, Victoria in her piano.

Crystal loved to sew and was well known for her daughter’s unique wardrobe, along with helping her son, Barry with clothing for his plays at the Wray Amper Theater. for 4 years, while her son, Barry was attending Wray High School, she made the robe for the Wray Eagles Homecoming Queen.

Crystal’s love of baking also led her to make homemade unlevend bread for her churches communion. She and her family were members of the First Presbyterian Church in Wray.

Crystal was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, her son, Barry, her sisters, Gladys, Gertie, Neta, and Beatrice and her brother, Tim. she is survived by her daughter, Suzi Bowman Jones and her husband, Lyle of NC, granddaughter, Victoria and her husband, Charles Kippes and 5 Great-granddaughters, Nicole, Charlie, Meya, and Bug and one great-grandson, Wilson, plus many friends and family.

Her family ask that in place of flowers that donations may be made to the Wray High School Band Program to help them get the so much loved uniforms that her son, Barry enjoyed while he was a part of the Wray High School Marching Band. These donations will be made in memory of Harold, Crystal and Barry Bowman.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 2:00 p.m. at the Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado with Rev. Steve Wynkoop officiating. A private Family Inurnment was held in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Walter Doyle Caldwell was born December 24, 1940 in Oilton, Oklahoma to Charley Frank and Beulah Daisy (Sanders) Caldwell. He was the 6th child of 8 born to Charley and Beulah. He passed from this life December 26, 2011 at Hillcrest Care Center in Wray, Colorado joining his wife, Linda, his parents, one sister, Florence and brothers, Edward and Frankie.

Walter served in the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division from September 1956 to December 1957. He was a member of the American Legion Post #0020 in Coffeyville, Kansas.

In July of 1969, Walter was united in marriage to Madeline Caroline Smith and to this union two children were born, James Dean and Kristi LeAnn.

Walter later married Linda Jean Jones.

He worked at various jobs over the years and retired as a city maintenance worker in Grove, Oklahoma.

In 2009, Walter received his Native American name of “Big Hawk” from the Mother of the Tribe, Autumn Sky, and was a member of the United Indian Nation and an honored member of the Warrior Society.

The Warrior Society nomination reads “Welcome Walter Doyle Big Hawk Caldwell, into the United Indian Nation Warrior Society. I, Autumn Sky, feel very honored to congratulate you as a honored Warrior Society Member. Yes, honored warrior you were nominated by two people in your life that love and respect you for the man they know you to be and the man you are to your fellowman. Today you were nominated by Deb Shaded Deer Schorzman and Bud Lee Thunder Wolf Caldwell. Blessings to all you kin. Big Hawk is a brother to Sky Eagle (Edward), Watching Bear (Frankie), Drifting Cloud,  (Shirley), Signing Dove (Donna), and Big Bear (Bobby). He is the father of Thinking Hawk (James) and Medicine Wolf (Kristi) and the grandfather of Rain Lily (Kristina) and Snow Bear (Kenton).

In 2011, Walter Big Hawk was made an Honorary Chief in the Four Sacred Nations.

He leaves to celebrate his life, his son, James Dean Caldwell of Roundrock, Texas, his daughter, Kristi and husband, Kyle Naval of Chugiak, Alaska, two grandchildren, Kristina and Kenton. His sisters, Shirley and Frank Smith of Wray, Colorado and Donna and Jesse Joplin of Coffeyville, Kansas, one brother, Bobby and Sue Caldwell of Maud, Oklahoma and sister-in-law, Wanda Caldwell of Eagan, Minnesota. He also leaves numerous cousins, nieces and nephews all of whom loved him dearly.

Funeral services were held Friday, December 30, 2011, 10:00 a.m. at the Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado with Rev. Harold Jackson officiating. Interment was held in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia research Foundation, 3520 Lake Avenue, Suite #202, Wilmette, IL  60091-1064.  Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Fern E. Lippert, 85 passed away January 21, 2012 at Hillcrest Care Center in Wray, Colorado. Fern was born March 18, 1926  to James S. and Anna Frances (Hahn) Brown in Wray, Colorado. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 2:00 p.m. at the Wray United Methodist Church in Wray, Colorado with Rev. Norman Stott officiating. Interment will be in the Glendale Cemetery in Vernon, Colorado.  Memorials may be made to the Vernon Fire Department or Hospice of the Plains.  Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangments.

Daniel John Winfree, 57 passed away January 14, 2012 in Wray, Colorado. Daniel Winfree was born February 17, 1954 in Denver, Colorado to Roy and Elizabeth (Gorman) Winfree. Cremation was requested.  Memorials may be made to the Dan Winfree Memorial Fund, c/o Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home, 427 Adams Street, Wray, Colorado 80758.Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

A graveside service with interment was held in the Hope Valley Cemetery in Cheyenne Co., Kansas, Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. MST with Jack Soehner officiating. A memorial service took place in the Wray Southern Baptist Church in Wray, Colorado at 2:00 p.m. following the interment. Memorials may be made to the Wray Southern Baptist church, 1005 Lincoln Street, c/o 1943 Arlyn Court N, in Wray, Colorado 80758. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Sondra Lee Lohman was born on June 1, 1933 in New Castle, Indiana, the first born of Rex and Ellen Chalfant.  Sondra graduated from Mount Summit High School in Mount Summit, Indiana in 1951. she moved to Colorado in 1966 and has called Eckley her home since. Sondra worked as a bookkeeper at the Yuma Livestock Auction for 16 years and Duckwall’s in Wray for three. She then retired and enjoyed being home. She was blessed to raise six children, Karla, Karen, Brenda, David, Shara and Anna.

Hobbies included gardening, canning, making crafts, traveling, including trips to Indiana to see her sister, Sonya, and shopping with her daughters. Her canning received many awards at the Yuma County Fair. Sondra could also be found at local auctions chatting and bidding on various antiques, which was her favorite pasttime. She loved playing games and going fishing with her grandchildren, and telling them stories.

She is survived by her sister Sonya King of Middletown, Indiana and brother, Errol (Joe) Fowler of West Harrison, Indiana, also daughters, Karla McCoy and Tony Weber of Yuma and children, Robert, Steve, Jeana and Derek; Karen Paul of Eckley and children, Aspen and Mark; Brenda Williams of Eckley and children, Jodi and Katie, son, David Capps of Eckley and children, Monica, Aaron and A.J.; daughters, Shara Berghis of Wray and husband, Kirk and children, Brandy, Cam and Carson; Anna Castor of Eckley and children, Sierra, Logan and Addie.

Also her great-grandchildren, Ethan, Eli, Abbie, Alex, Chase, Gracie, Chasity, Connor, and Natalie and a host of nieces and nephews.

Sondra is preceded in death by her parents, Rex and Ellen, her brothers, James Fowler and Richard Cave and three grandchildren.

There is a special Part of our Mother in Every One of Us

Do you ever wonder where we got our good looks, or why we all turned out to be such good cooks,

Knowing we have very little money we still love to shop, it sure beats cleaning house and pushing a mop,

Why do we love to fish all day, even when fish won’t bite, and when we disagree with someone we just hate to lose a fight,

In the spring we love to plant our garden and flowers and watch them grow, where we got our green thumb. God only knows.

Brenda’s always on the go, Karen serves the friendly skies, Anna and Shara are both expecting babies in July.

David works hard at his job, earning every dime, me I’m struggling to get ahead, living one day at a time.

But if we ever wonder why we do the things we do, or if life gets us down, remember to keep our chin up and smile,

In God we should put our trust, because in a very loving way there’s a special part of our Mom in every one of us.

Karla McCoy 1989

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 10:00 a.m. at the New Life Fellowship in Eckley, Colorado with Pastor Glen Kline officiating. Interment was held in the Eckley Cemetery in Eckley, Colorado. Memorials to the Eckley Christmas Lights Fund. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Dorothea Diana Pittenger was born October 14, 1933 in Wray, Colorado to Clyde Grant and Dorothea Diana (Hopkins) Pittenger. She passed away December 21, 2011 in Wray, Colorado at Hillcrest Care Center at the age of 78 years. Cremation was requested. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado was in charge of arrangements.

Lontime resident, Robert Lee Murray, better know to everyone as “Wimpy” passed away on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at Hillcrest Care Center in Wray, Colorado.

Robert was born July 30, 1932 to Ed and Vera Mae (Post) Murray in Gothenburg, Nebraska. Robert Grew up with two brothers in Laird, Colorado and went to school through the eighth grade. He was drafted into the U.S. Army January 22, 1953 in Denver, Colorado. His most significant duty assisgnment was at the 371st Evacuation Hospital in Ft. Lewis, Washington. He was discharged in 1955 from the Transfer Station in Fort Lewis, Washington.

Robert acquired the name of “Wimpy” by eating lots of hamburgers! He went to work for Bill Crews and Ashton Wilson, as a ranch hand for several years. He worked for Dave Crossland’s hog farm, Charlie Adamson’s lawn service. He enjoyed being with Charlie and Teresa puttering around the shop. Robert also enjoyed the time he spent at the Wray Vet’s Club playing cards asnd hanging around. He was a member of the American Legion Post #96 and severed many years as an Honor Guard.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Wayne. He is survived by his brother, Gene and his wife, Shirley of Imperial Valley, CA and one aunt, Mary Lou Brown and husband, Wilbur of Wray, three nieces, and two nephews and numerous cousins.

Memorial services were held on Monday, December 19th at Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado with Rev. Harold Jackson officiating. Interment was held in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. Memorials may be sent to the Hospice of the Plains, P.O. Box 365, Wray, Colorado 80758. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangments.