Russell Howard Alley December 19, 1932 – June 11, 2012
Russell Howard Alley, age 79, a Grand Junction resident, passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, AZ on June 11, 2012. His death was a result of complications after a fall while playing shuffleboard, a game he thoroughly enjoyed.
Russell was born in Del Norte, CO to Howard and Marjorie Alley and was raised in the San Luis Valley. He graduated from Center High School and attended Mesa College where he met, and married Sandra Cox.
Russell served in the US Army from 1954 - 1956, stationed in Verdun, France. Upon his return, Russell and Sandra moved to Montrose and then Gunnison. He graduated from Western State College with a BA in Business.
Several years later Russ and his brother Tom purchased SouthSide Grocery in Montrose from their parents and operated the store for 17 years. During this time Russell and Sandra raised five children.
Russell was active in the Montrose Lions Club, a coach in the Old Timers Youth program, and a lifetime member of the Montrose Elks Lodge. He was elected to the Montrose City Council from 1963 - 1971; was appointed Mayor in 1968, serving for 4 years. He was the youngest to serve as Mayor of Montrose.
During his time as Mayor, Russ was instrumental in bringing the Russell Stover Factory to the Montrose area considering this one of his proudest accomplishments as Mayor.
In 1978, Russell and Sandra moved to Grand Junction where Russ worked in the wholesale and retail grocery business. In 1986, he joined Met Life Insurance as an agent and received many awards.
Russell retired in 1997 and he and Sandra thoroughly enjoyed traveling the US. One of his fondest memories was volunteering as a host at the Coquille River Lighthouse in Bandon, OR. Russell and Sandra "wintered" in Mesa, AZ, making friends with many people from across the US and Canada.
Russ was a fun loving and dedicated husband, dad, "grandpaw", and "great-grandpaw". He never knew a stranger!
Russ is survived by Sandra, his wife of 57 years; five children, Cathy (Scott) Winter, of Arvada, CO, Karen (Tim) Elmont, of Golden, CO, Mike (Jamie) Alley, of Arvada, Bruce (Lori) Alley, of Arvada, and Kristi (Dan) Kinnett, of Grand Junction; 13 grandchildren, Amanda (Chris) Winn, Mark Winter, and Ryan (Amy) Winter, Matt and Katie Elmont, Josh, Jordan, and Spencer Alley, Nathan, Kris, and Briana Alley, Hannah (Sawyer) Boggs and Stacey Kinnett; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Caleb, and Jedidiah Winn, Jemma Winter; brothers, Blaine (Judy) Alley, of Denver, CO, and David (Carla), of Colorado Springs, CO; and many nieces and nephews.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Stevie; sisters, Charlotte Winner and Clara Jo Zarret; and brother, Tom.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held on July 27, at 12:00 p.m. at the Clifton Christian Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Clifton Christian Church Building Fund, 615 I-70 Business Loop, Clifton CO 81520 or, St. Mary's Oncology Clinic, 750 WellingtonAve., Grand Junction, CO. 81501, or the Montrose Elks Lodge, 801 S Hillcrest Dr. Montrose, CO 81401.
"Big Russ" will be missed by all.
Published in The Daily Sentinel on July 8, 2012
Russell Howard Alley, age 79, a Grand Junction resident, passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, AZ on June 11, 2012. His death was a result of complications after a fall while playing shuffleboard, a game he thoroughly enjoyed.
Russell was born in Del Norte, CO to Howard and Marjorie Alley and was raised in the San Luis Valley. He graduated from Center High School and attended Mesa College where he met, and married Sandra Cox.
Russell served in the US Army from 1954 - 1956, stationed in Verdun, France. Upon his return, Russell and Sandra moved to Montrose and then Gunnison. He graduated from Western State College with a BA in Business.
Several years later Russ and his brother Tom purchased SouthSide Grocery in Montrose from their parents and operated the store for 17 years. During this time Russell and Sandra raised five children.
Russell was active in the Montrose Lions Club, a coach in the Old Timers Youth program, and a lifetime member of the Montrose Elks Lodge. He was elected to the Montrose City Council from 1963 - 1971; was appointed Mayor in 1968, serving for 4 years. He was the youngest to serve as Mayor of Montrose.
During his time as Mayor, Russ was instrumental in bringing the Russell Stover Factory to the Montrose area considering this one of his proudest accomplishments as Mayor.
In 1978, Russell and Sandra moved to Grand Junction where Russ worked in the wholesale and retail grocery business. In 1986, he joined Met Life Insurance as an agent and received many awards.
Russell retired in 1997 and he and Sandra thoroughly enjoyed traveling the US. One of his fondest memories was volunteering as a host at the Coquille River Lighthouse in Bandon, OR. Russell and Sandra "wintered" in Mesa, AZ, making friends with many people from across the US and Canada.
Russ was a fun loving and dedicated husband, dad, "grandpaw", and "great-grandpaw". He never knew a stranger!
Russ is survived by Sandra, his wife of 57 years; five children, Cathy (Scott) Winter, of Arvada, CO, Karen (Tim) Elmont, of Golden, CO, Mike (Jamie) Alley, of Arvada, Bruce (Lori) Alley, of Arvada, and Kristi (Dan) Kinnett, of Grand Junction; 13 grandchildren, Amanda (Chris) Winn, Mark Winter, and Ryan (Amy) Winter, Matt and Katie Elmont, Josh, Jordan, and Spencer Alley, Nathan, Kris, and Briana Alley, Hannah (Sawyer) Boggs and Stacey Kinnett; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Caleb, and Jedidiah Winn, Jemma Winter; brothers, Blaine (Judy) Alley, of Denver, CO, and David (Carla), of Colorado Springs, CO; and many nieces and nephews.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Stevie; sisters, Charlotte Winner and Clara Jo Zarret; and brother, Tom.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held on July 27, at 12:00 p.m. at the Clifton Christian Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Clifton Christian Church Building Fund, 615 I-70 Business Loop, Clifton CO 81520 or, St. Mary's Oncology Clinic, 750 WellingtonAve., Grand Junction, CO. 81501, or the Montrose Elks Lodge, 801 S Hillcrest Dr. Montrose, CO 81401.
"Big Russ" will be missed by all.
Published in The Daily Sentinel on July 8, 2012
Russell Howard Alley December 19, 1932 – June 11, 2012
Russell Howard Alley, age 79, a Grand Junction resident, passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, AZ on June 11, 2012. His death was a result of complications after a fall while playing shuffleboard, a game he thoroughly enjoyed.
Russell was born in Del Norte, CO to Howard and Marjorie Alley and was raised in the San Luis Valley. He graduated from Center High School and attended Mesa College where he met, and married Sandra Cox.
Russell served in the US Army from 1954 - 1956, stationed in Verdun, France. Upon his return, Russell and Sandra moved to Montrose and then Gunnison. He graduated from Western State College with a BA in Business.
Several years later Russ and his brother Tom purchased SouthSide Grocery in Montrose from their parents and operated the store for 17 years. During this time Russell and Sandra raised five children.
Russell was active in the Montrose Lions Club, a coach in the Old Timers Youth program, and a lifetime member of the Montrose Elks Lodge. He was elected to the Montrose City Council from 1963 - 1971; was appointed Mayor in 1968, serving for 4 years. He was the youngest to serve as Mayor of Montrose.
During his time as Mayor, Russ was instrumental in bringing the Russell Stover Factory to the Montrose area considering this one of his proudest accomplishments as Mayor.
In 1978, Russell and Sandra moved to Grand Junction where Russ worked in the wholesale and retail grocery business. In 1986, he joined Met Life Insurance as an agent and received many awards.
Russell retired in 1997 and he and Sandra thoroughly enjoyed traveling the US. One of his fondest memories was volunteering as a host at the Coquille River Lighthouse in Bandon, OR. Russell and Sandra "wintered" in Mesa, AZ, making friends with many people from across the US and Canada.
Russ was a fun loving and dedicated husband, dad, "grandpaw", and "great-grandpaw". He never knew a stranger!
Russ is survived by Sandra, his wife of 57 years; five children, Cathy (Scott) Winter, of Arvada, CO, Karen (Tim) Elmont, of Golden, CO, Mike (Jamie) Alley, of Arvada, Bruce (Lori) Alley, of Arvada, and Kristi (Dan) Kinnett, of Grand Junction; 13 grandchildren, Amanda (Chris) Winn, Mark Winter, and Ryan (Amy) Winter, Matt and Katie Elmont, Josh, Jordan, and Spencer Alley, Nathan, Kris, and Briana Alley, Hannah (Sawyer) Boggs and Stacey Kinnett; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Caleb, and Jedidiah Winn, Jemma Winter; brothers, Blaine (Judy) Alley, of Denver, CO, and David (Carla), of Colorado Springs, CO; and many nieces and nephews.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Stevie; sisters, Charlotte Winner and Clara Jo Zarret; and brother, Tom.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held on July 27, at 12:00 p.m. at the Clifton Christian Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Clifton Christian Church Building Fund, 615 I-70 Business Loop, Clifton CO 81520 or, St. Mary's Oncology Clinic, 750 WellingtonAve., Grand Junction, CO. 81501, or the Montrose Elks Lodge, 801 S Hillcrest Dr. Montrose, CO 81401.
"Big Russ" will be missed by all.
Published in The Daily Sentinel on July 8, 2012
Russell Howard Alley, age 79, a Grand Junction resident, passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, AZ on June 11, 2012. His death was a result of complications after a fall while playing shuffleboard, a game he thoroughly enjoyed.
Russell was born in Del Norte, CO to Howard and Marjorie Alley and was raised in the San Luis Valley. He graduated from Center High School and attended Mesa College where he met, and married Sandra Cox.
Russell served in the US Army from 1954 - 1956, stationed in Verdun, France. Upon his return, Russell and Sandra moved to Montrose and then Gunnison. He graduated from Western State College with a BA in Business.
Several years later Russ and his brother Tom purchased SouthSide Grocery in Montrose from their parents and operated the store for 17 years. During this time Russell and Sandra raised five children.
Russell was active in the Montrose Lions Club, a coach in the Old Timers Youth program, and a lifetime member of the Montrose Elks Lodge. He was elected to the Montrose City Council from 1963 - 1971; was appointed Mayor in 1968, serving for 4 years. He was the youngest to serve as Mayor of Montrose.
During his time as Mayor, Russ was instrumental in bringing the Russell Stover Factory to the Montrose area considering this one of his proudest accomplishments as Mayor.
In 1978, Russell and Sandra moved to Grand Junction where Russ worked in the wholesale and retail grocery business. In 1986, he joined Met Life Insurance as an agent and received many awards.
Russell retired in 1997 and he and Sandra thoroughly enjoyed traveling the US. One of his fondest memories was volunteering as a host at the Coquille River Lighthouse in Bandon, OR. Russell and Sandra "wintered" in Mesa, AZ, making friends with many people from across the US and Canada.
Russ was a fun loving and dedicated husband, dad, "grandpaw", and "great-grandpaw". He never knew a stranger!
Russ is survived by Sandra, his wife of 57 years; five children, Cathy (Scott) Winter, of Arvada, CO, Karen (Tim) Elmont, of Golden, CO, Mike (Jamie) Alley, of Arvada, Bruce (Lori) Alley, of Arvada, and Kristi (Dan) Kinnett, of Grand Junction; 13 grandchildren, Amanda (Chris) Winn, Mark Winter, and Ryan (Amy) Winter, Matt and Katie Elmont, Josh, Jordan, and Spencer Alley, Nathan, Kris, and Briana Alley, Hannah (Sawyer) Boggs and Stacey Kinnett; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Caleb, and Jedidiah Winn, Jemma Winter; brothers, Blaine (Judy) Alley, of Denver, CO, and David (Carla), of Colorado Springs, CO; and many nieces and nephews.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Stevie; sisters, Charlotte Winner and Clara Jo Zarret; and brother, Tom.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held on July 27, at 12:00 p.m. at the Clifton Christian Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Clifton Christian Church Building Fund, 615 I-70 Business Loop, Clifton CO 81520 or, St. Mary's Oncology Clinic, 750 WellingtonAve., Grand Junction, CO. 81501, or the Montrose Elks Lodge, 801 S Hillcrest Dr. Montrose, CO 81401.
"Big Russ" will be missed by all.
Published in The Daily Sentinel on July 8, 2012
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