Larry Sturdevant Obituary

Longtime Cortez resident Larry Eugene Sturdevant died after suffering a stroke Wednesday, July 16, 2014, in Chicago. He was 66. He and his wife, Judy, were in Chicago to welcome their second grandchild. Michael Lawrence O'Donnell was born one week after his death.

Mr. Sturdevant was born to Everett Laverne Sturdevant and Mabel Nancy Simpson on Sept. 12, 1947, in Hastings, Nebraska. After his father died when Mr. Sturdevant was 11, he moved to New Zealand, his mother's homeland, with his mother and brother, Richard.

"He treasured his time in New Zealand and spoke fondly of his family and lifelong friends there," according to his family.

Upon their return to the U.S., the Sturdevants moved back to Hastings. After his graduation from Hastings High School, Mr. Sturdevant earned his certification as a heating-ventilation-air conditioning technician at Milford Technical School in Nebraska.

He served in the Army from 1967 to 1969 and was stationed in Germany.

In 1970, he married Judy Sass of Hastings. The couple raised four children together.

Mr. Sturdevant went on to earn a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a master's degree in vocational education administration from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. During his time in Fort Collins, he taught at the Larimer County Vocational Center.

In 1995, the Sturdevant family moved to Cortez, where Mr. Sturdevant was an administrator at San Juan Basin Technical College, now part of Southwest Colorado Community College.

"He was a lifelong advocate of vocational technical training and education and a dedicated teacher and administrator who inspired many students over the years," according to his family. "Wherever they lived, Larry was active in his wife's and children's lives, activities and education. He will be remembered for his fun-loving and adventurous spirit and great love for the outdoors."

Since his retirement nine years ago, the Sturdevants have traveled to Israel, Turkey and New Zealand as well as several countries in Europe.

Mr. Sturdevant is survived by his wife of 44 years, Judy Sturdevant, of Cortez; children Ann Theine and Mark A. Sturdevant, both of Durango, John D. Sturdevant, of Telluride, and Molly Sturdevant, of Chicago; two grandchildren; and numerous sisters, nieces, nephews, great-niece, great-nephews and cousins.

A rosary and prayer service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, 2014, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 28 East Montezuma Ave., in Cortez. It would have been his 67th birthday. A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, also at St. Margaret Mary. A reception will be held afterward.

Memorial contributions may be sent to St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, St. Columba Catholic School in Durango or the homeless shelter in one's community.