Rosalie Robertson
MOAB – Longtime Moab resident, Rosalie (Garcia) Robertson, died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, in the Family Health West Nursing Home in Fruita, Colo. at the age of 92.
Rosalie was born to Eulemia (Ella) and Manuel Garcia on June 25, 1909 in the hilltop community of Abiquiu, N.M. Rosalie and her family traveled by covered wagon to Castleton (Castle Valley) in 1921.
She was married in 1935 to Alonzo (Lon) Robertson. The following year, the light of their lives was born, Juanita Rosalie Robertson, who everyone fondly called “Honey.” Lon passed away in 1945, leaving Rosalie and Juanita to share their home with Rosalie’s mother, Ella
Juanita moved to Texas after her marriage in 1955 and Ella passed away in 1965.
Rosalie had maintained her independence ever since.
Later, around 1923, the family moved to Moab in order for Rosalie to continue her education. Rosalie was the first Hispanic person in Grand County to go to college. She became the first Hispanic woman to graduate from the University of Utah in 1930 and went on to become a teacher of music and Spanish.
Her teaching career spanned 30 years and included schools in Salt Lake City, Monticello, Price, Spring Glen, Colombia, Wellington, Carbon County, San Juan County and Grand County.
She will be remembered as a woman who took great pleasure in any combination of family, friends, food and a festive occasion. She loved music and was often heard singing by those closest to her.
She never forgot to acknowledge a birthday or repay a debt, and was particularly well known for her consistent correspondence.
During her life, she was known to be kind, independent, frugal, entertaining, stylish, and a terrible driver.
Rosalie dearly loved her family and friends and helped them in any way she could. Her last two years had been a struggle, but now she is at peace.
She was very active in the community, particularly with the Altar Society, Literary Club, Rotary Club, senior citizens and Utah Education Association. She was named Catholic Woman of the year in 1979.
She was an avid reader and writer and submitted articles to the Times Independent for more than 30 years. Locals will recall her reporting of their comings and goings, with notable phrases like “they motored” to their destination and “a good time was had by all.”
Throughout her adult life, she went to Texas annually, first to visit her daughter, then her grandchildren and later, her great-grandchildren. She also traveled to Mexico, Spain, Italy and Portugal.
Rosalie is survived by her sister, Beatrice Luckinbill, Moab; grandchildren, Narlene Manson, Michele Blackburn and Lisa Blackburn, Moab; Gilbert Blackburn, Houston, Texas; great-grandchildren, Iris Blackburn, Louis Manson, Alan Manson, and Bobbi Sue Manson, all of Moab; Fleda Koehler, Las Vegas, Nev.; Jack Blackburn, Steven Blackburn, Amy Blackburn, Adam Bires and Neil Metcalf, all of Houston, Texas. Rosalie’s nieces include Vivian Jean (V.J.) Montayne-Voyles, Abiquiu, N.M.; Pamela Garcia, Helper; Judy Wilson, Mesquite, Nev.; Mary Key, Moab; Lily Thompson, Silver Springs, Md.; Juliette Marshall, Houston, Texas; Elizabeth Ann Marshall, Santa Cruz, Calif.; and nephew, Ross Montayne, Beaumont, Texas. In death, Rosalie joins her parents, Ella and Manuel Garcia; husband, Lon Robertson; stepdaughter, Faye Titus; grandson, Lonnie Titus; sister, Genevieve Marshall; brother, Bennie Vigil; niece, Mary Francis Marshall; beloved daughter, Juanita Frost; and many other loved ones and cherished friends.
Funeral Mass was Saturday, May 25, St. Pius X Catholic Church. Graveside services and Interment were at the Grand Valley (Old) Cemetery.
Rosalie’s family gratefully acknowledges arrangements by Don Palmer and Kyle Kimmerle of Moab Memorial Mortuary and the loving support of relatives and friends.
Linda Durfee
PRICE-Our loving wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, sister and compassionate care-giver, Linda Rose Sacco Hayes Durfee, age 48, passed away May 27, 2002 in Price.
She was born Feb. 23, 1954 in Price to Rudolph “Rudy” Sacco Sr. and Bessie Mathena. Married Shelby Durfee Oct. 31, 1988 in Spring Glen.
Lifelong resident of Carbon County. Linda graduated from Carbon High School and Weber State with her bachelor’s degree in nursing.
She was a wonderful mother, devoted grandmother, good listener, and she was very outgoing and friendly. She was an avid antique collector and will be dearly missed by all.
Survived by her husband, Shelby “Durf” Durfee, Price; daughter, Laska (Fred) Newman, Carbonville; Levi Hayes and Lynnsi Swasey, Spring Glen; mother, Bessie Sacco, Spring Glen; daughter, Laurie (Bryan) Burrows, Richfield; daughter, ShaLee Smith, Monroe; son, Shelby L. (Lea) Durfee, Nampa, Idaho; mother-in-law, Lyla Barney, Aurora; six brothers and two sisters, Rex (Debbie) Sacco, Carbonville; Vic (Frankie) Sacco, Price; Rudy (Gina) Sacco, Spring Glen; Joe (Billie) Sacco, Spring Glen; Janet Sacco and Jeff Stoddard, Elmo; Ross (Jayme) Sacco, Price; Jeana (Cal) Jensen, Cleveland; Albert Sacco, Spring Glen; 11 loving grandchildren. Preceded in death by father, Rudy Sacco
Funeral service, Friday, May 31, 11 a.m., Mitchell Funeral Home. Family will be at Mitchell’s Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday one hour prior to services. Interment, Mountain View Cemetery, Helper.
Francis Scartezina
PRICE/TUCSON, Ariz.-Longtime Price resident and well-known businessman, Francis Joseph Scartezina, 86, passed away Sunday, May 19, 2002, after a short illness.
Born in Denver, Colo., April 7,1916 to Guiseppi and Mary Barich Scartezzini, he was the eldest son of six children.
Francis married Emma Lucile Gunderson on Sept. 21, 1940 and, together, they had three children, Sandra (Martin) Turbidy, Paul (Dolores) Scartezina and Dan (Linda) Scartezina; grandchildren, Nancy, Angela, Dan, Mike, Nick and Max; also great-grandchildren Anthony J. (A.J.) Scartezina and Lucille Elizabeth Pietri. Emma preceded Francis in death.
Francis was active in the community and was a past president of the Carbon Country Club, former president of the Western Boys Baseball Little League and lifetime member of BPOE 1550. He donated time and resources to many community and religious projects.
His early years were spent caring for his mother and family because of his father’s premature death.
A successful businessman, he was owner/operator of Scarty’s Construction Company, from which he retired at an early age and continued to pursue his interests in land acquisition, travel and fishing with his family.
He and Emma celebrated over 50 years together and had a retirement that we would all wish for.
In accordance with Francis’ wishes, he will be cremated. Friends and family may call Tuesday, June 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mitchell’s Funeral Home and from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday prior to graveside services, scheduled June 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the Price cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Emma Scartezina Nursing Scholarship Fund, CEU, 451 E. 400 North, Price, UT 84501.