Louis Cummins Obituary

Durango native Louis Michael Cummins died after a long battle with Parkinson's disease Saturday, March 13, 2010, in

Mancos. He was 82.

Mr. Cummins was born to Michael and Myra Cummins on April 23, 1927, at Mercy Hospital in Durango. He attended St.

Columba School and graduated from Durango High School in 1944.

Mr. Cummins enlisted in the Army and served in Germany with the Third Army 514th Truck Transportation Group until

December 1946. In June 1946, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserves.

After returning from his military service, Mr. Cummins completed his education at the University of Wyoming, earning a

bachelor's degree in civil engineering. From 1946 to 1951, Mr. Cummins worked for the Nebraska Department of Highways

and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as a civil engineer.

In 1951, he was recalled to active duty and assigned to Fort Eustis, Va., where he was promoted to first lieutenant and

sent to Inchon, South Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1953.

Before shipping over to Korea, he married Patricia J. Ellis on June 17, 1952, in Durango.

During the summer of 1953, Mr. Cummins earned his real estate license. With his father, he formed M.L. Cummins Real

Estate Inc. Mr. Cummins was active in real estate until 1995. During this time, he taught real estate classes through

the University of Colorado and San Juan Vocational Technical School. He was a member of the Veterans Administration and

Housing and Urban Development Fee Panels. On April 16, 1981, Mr. Cummins was designated by the American Association of

Certified Appraisers as a Certifed Appraiser-Senior, and he was certified by the state of Colorado Board of Real Estate

Appraisers in July 1991.

Mr. Cummins was a lifelong member of St. Columba Catholic Church. He was an active member of the parish and member of

the Knights of Columbus for more than 60 years. He also was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4031 and

American Legion Post No. 26.

“Louis was a loving and giving father, grandfather, brother and uncle," his family wrote. “He loved the outdoors and

was an avid angler and hiker. He was a great supporter of all military organizations and a defender of the unborn. He

loved Durango and was well-known for standing up for what he believed was the best for his hometown."

Mr. Cummins was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, Patricia Ellis Cummins.

He is survived by his daughter, Janna Longenette, of Hesperus; son, Christopher Cummins, of Los Lunas, N.M.; sisters

Margaret Pargin of Tomé, N.M., and Rita Adkins and Teresa Moulds, both of Albuquerque; five grandchildren; and numerous

cousins, nieces and nephews.

A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 18, 2010, at St. Columba Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial

will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, March 19, 2010, also at St. Columba. The Rev. Raymond Decker, a cousin from

Sebastopol, Calif., will be the celebrant. Burial will take place afterward at Greenmount Cemetery. A reception will

take place after burial at the St. Columba Parish Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Blue Star Moms of Durango, c/o American Legion Post No.

26, 878 East Second Ave., Durango, CO 81301.