Byron Red Obituary

Former Southern Ute Tribal Council member Byron James Red Sr. died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango. He was 54.

The cause of death was not disclosed.

Known as "BJ," he was born to Anthony Bernal and Shirley A. Red on Jan. 15, 1957, in Durango. He was an enrolled member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.

Mr. Red attended Ignacio schools and graduated from Ignacio High School in 1975. He attended Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute to study drafting.

In August 1979, he married Lucille "Alice" J. White in Ignacio. The couple had known each other since high school.

Mr. Red began working with the Southern Ute Reservation crew and went on to hold a variety of positions with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. At various times, Mr. Red was director of the Natural Resources Division and executive officer for the tribe. In addition to serving on the tribal council two different times in the 1990s, he was a member of the Southern Ute Housing Board and Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum Board.

Mr. Red was a carpenter by trade and was also an artist.

He was a Sundancer and a member of the Four Corners Gourd Society. He loved to travel and enjoyed being in the outdoors and visiting amusement parks as well as golfing, fishing, archery, bead working, doing crafts and painting.

Mr. Red particularly enjoyed spending time with his Aunt Eloisa Apachito, an elder of Taos Pueblo, who taught him about his father's culture.

"He was devoted to his spiritual upbringing," his family said, "loved his family and grandkids and loved working for his tribe,"

Mr. Red is survived by his wife and companion of 38 years, Lucille "Alice" J. Red, of Ignacio; daughter, JoGenia M. Red, of Denver; sons James B. Red of Durango and Byron J. Red Jr. of Ignacio; mother and stepfather, Shirley A. and Stanley R. Frost, of Ignacio; brother, Vernon Frost, of Ignacio; sisters Vivian Frost and Cheryl Frost, both of Ignacio; two granddaughters; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in Ignacio and Taos Pueblo.

A rosary will be recited at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, at Hood Mortuary Chapel, 1261 East Third Ave., with visitation afterward from 2 to 4 p.m. A wake will be held at the family home after the visitation on Sunday.

A sunrise service will take place at the family home Monday, Aug. 29, 2011. A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, at the Gathering Room at Southern Ute Memorial Chapel, 258 Ute Road in Ignacio. Burial will occur at Ouray Memorial Cemetery. A reception will take place at the Gathering Room in the Southern Ute Memorial Chapel after the burial.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Four Corners Gourd Society, c/o Andrew Frost, P.O. Box 737, Ignacio, CO 81137.