Mary and Howard Williams took God’s outstretched hand and were released from their
earthly bonds and pain on October 1 and October 3, respectively. Mary was 96 and
Howard was 91. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Daniel’s Catholic Church in
Ouray, at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, October 16. After the ceremony, there will be a short
reception in the church basement, with interment to follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery,
near Cedaredge.
Mary was born in Kansas City, MO, to Alvie and Elizabeth (Brandenburger)
Glinkman. Mary graduated from St. Mary’s College as a registered nurse in 1939, and
accepted a position as a surgical nurse at the old St. Mary’s
Hospital in Grand Junction. She and Howard were married in 1942. After WWII,
Howard’s job ended and they moved to Montrose in 1946. She worked in private care,
as well as at Montrose Memorial Hospital and the Miner’s Hospital in Ouray. She was
appointed the first public and school nurse for Ouray County, retiring in 1976. She
was active in St. Daniel’s Altar Society, loved to provide many of her beloved and
abundant flowers for the church.
Howard was born near Delta, CO, to James Howard Williams and Bertha (Beach)
Williams. He attended Blair Business College in Colorado Springs for two years, and
Colorado A & M in Fort Collins for one year, but was forced to return to work on the
family farm due to the economic difficulties of the Depression. They moved to Ouray in
1952, and in 1956 he became Office Manager and Accountant for Camp Bird, Ltd. He
held this position until operations at the mine ceased in 1982. He served on the Ouray
City Council twice, and was appointed to the Ouray County Commission in 1968,
continuing in this office until 1992. He was most proud of his part in seeking
installation of the snow bridge that carries the Riverside Snowslide over Highway 550.
He loved fishing and jeeping in the mountains, and writing poetry. He liked being a
third-generation native Coloradan. Winter snow and a large, flower-filled yard forced a
move the Montrose in 1995.
Howard was preceded in death by his sisters, Adele Read and Ellen Valerius. Mary was
preceded in death by her brother, Leo Glinkman, of Klamath Falls, OR, a half-sister
and half-brother, of the Denver area, as well as three sons who died in infancy. Mary
and Howard are survived by a daughter, Margaret and husband (Marty) Bauer, of
Los Angeles, CA, a son, Leo (Mary) Williams of New Castle, CO, a grandson and two
granddaughters who they loved and of whom they were quite proud, as well as two great
grandchildren. Howard is also survived by his brothers, Orville (Eleanor) of
Cedaredge, CO and Robert (Helen) of Plymouth, WI.
Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, 802 E. Main St.,
Montrose, Co 81401
