Ronald Coons Obituary

Former Durango resident Ronald M. Coons died Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, at his home in Rimrock, Ariz. He was 69.

Known as "Butch," he was born to Milford and Marjorie Heckard Coons on March 10, 1941, at the family home in Landess, Ind. His stepfather, Paul Bandy, raised him as his own.

He met Jenny Muller, a Fort Lewis College student, while working at Ah! Wilderness guest ranch in Durango in 1966. The couple married on Feb. 15, 1969, in Hutchinson, Kan.

The Coonses returned to Durango and lived here for several decades.

Mr. Coons owned Southwest Drywall Construction in Durango for more than 20 years. In his retirement, he went to Mississippi to help restore homes after Hurricane Katrina.

He was a Cub master with the Boy Scouts and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Durango, where he sang in the Chancel Choir.

Mr. Coons enjoyed tinkering, and the Coonses enjoyed camping all over the San Juan Mountains.

Mr. Coons is survived by his wife of 41 years, Jenny Coons, of Rimrock; sons, Shane Coons of Del Mar, Calif., and Corey Coons of Lemon Grove, Calif.; daughter, Dusti Carroll, of Chandler, Ariz.; brothers, Terry Bandy of McPherson, Kan., and Richard Bandy, of Canton, Kan.; and four granddaughters.

A funeral was held Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, in Sedona, Ariz. Burial of the cremated remains took place on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010, in Durango.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Christ Center Wesleyan Church, 580 Brewer Rd., Sedona, AZ 86336.