C.J. Helmericks Obituary

Former Durango resident C.J. "Jim" Helmericks Jr. died Wednesday, April 2, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz. He was 90.

Mr. Helmericks was born to Abbie Ladelle (Cornelius) and Clarence James Helmericks Sr. on Nov. 26, 1923, in Ford County, Ill., where he graduated from high school in 1941. He soon left home and went west to Arizona, where he worked as a ranch hand and miner before joining the Army Air Corps. He was a B-17 tail-gunner in Europe until the end of World War II.

After his military service, Mr. Helmericks moved to Montrose, where he met Elizabeth "Betty" or "Betts" Trickel. The couple married there in 1947. They had four children together before the marriage ended in divorce in 1969.

The newlyweds soon moved to Tucson, Ariz., where Mr. Helmericks earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arizona. The family then moved to Phoenix, where Mr. Helmericks worked for International Harvester and Garrett Corp. They moved to Durango in 1962.

In 1965, Mr. Helmericks bought Telluride Iron Works, a steel-fabrication business that engineered and designed heavy equipment for the mining industry. At about the same time, he worked with Ray Duncan on the idea for Purgatory Ski Area, becoming project engineer for its original phase. Mr. Helmericks' family said he also is credited with the proposal that eventually created Bodo Industrial Park in south Durango.

In 1973, Mr. Helmericks married Clara "Jemmi" Welling, moving shortly thereafter to the Prescott area.

Avid "RVers," they also enjoyed playing and singing gospel bluegrass music, performing at festivals, churches and nursing homes.

Mr. Helmerick was proud to be a 13th generation grandson of Mayflower Colony Pilgrim Gov. William Bradford of Plymouth, Mass., his family said. He was a lifetime member of the Bradford Compact and of the General and Arizona societies of Mayflower descendants.

In addition to his wife of 38 years, Jemmi Helmericks, he was preceded in death by his son Gregory Helmericks in 1986; and former wife, "Betts" Helmericks, in 2010.

He is survived by his sons Jim Helmericks III of Durango and Steve Helmericks of Fort Collins; daughter, Becky Welcome, of Medford, Ore.; stepdaughters Ronda Bilderback, Christie Kaiser and Beth Buzzello; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. today, April 11, 2014, at Hampton Funeral Home, 240 S. Cortez St., in Prescott. Visitation will take place for one hour before the service. Burial will occur at 2 p.m. at the Arizona National Cemetery in Cave Creek.

Memorial donations may be sent to Christian Academy of Prescott, 148 S. Marina St., Prescott, AZ 86303.