Phil Griego Obituary

Durango resident Phil Leroy Griego died of liver cancer Wednesday, July 23, 2014, in Durango. He was 58.

Mr. Griego was born to Feliciano and E. Dora (Martinez) Griego on Nov. 26, 1955, in Henderson, Nevada. He grew up in Pagosa Springs and Denver.

On May 26, 1979, he married Helen Montour in Denver. The couple raised four sons together in Las Vegas before moving to Durango in 1997.

An experienced handyman, Mr. Griego was known for his craftsmanship and work ethic.

"No matter what needed to be fixed, Phil would find a way to fix just about anything and everything," according to his family.

Mr. Griego enjoyed watching his sons grow into the men they are today, and he made sure family was always his highest priority, according to his family. He never missed a sporting event and was always his sons' No. 1 fan.

"Mr. Griego loved his four grand boys and his only granddaughter," according to his family. "When around his grandchildren, his face would light up like the sky on the Fourth of July."

His family was the foundation of his happiness, according to his family.

Mr. Griego was preceded in death by his son Anthony Griego.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Helen Griego, of Durango; sons Jonathan Griego and Orlando Griego, both of Durango, and Phillip Griego, of Farmington; mother, E. Dora Griego, of Commerce City; siblings Lorenzo Griego, of Pueblo, Elsie Archuleta, of Federal Heights, David Martinez, of Westminster, Patricia Hunt, of Las Vegas and Curtis Martinez, of Fort Worth, Texas; and five grandchildren.

A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. today, July 29, 2014, at the Hood Mortuary Chapel, 1261 East Third Ave., in Durango. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at St. Columba Catholic Church, 1800 East Second Ave. Burial will take place afterward at Greenmount Cemetery, 900 Cemetery Road.