Helen Brown Obituary

Funeral services for former longtime Cortez resident Helen Marie Brown will be held at St. Barnabas Church on Wednesday, March 21, at 10 a.m., with burial following in the Cortez Cemetery.

Helen was born to Ralph and Allie Ward Aspaas, June 12, 1920, in Durango. She spent her childhood in the Hesperus area, attending elementary school at the old Fort Lewis campus. Helen graduated from Durango High School in 1937 and attended Fort Lewis College for one year. She then completed nurse's training at Mercy Medical Center in Denver, receiving her baccalaureate degree at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Denver in 1941. Upon graduation from nursing school, Helen became an officer in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, serving in mobile army surgical hospitals in France, Germany and England during World War II. Helen was present at the Battle of the Bulge, caring for wounded American soldiers; when the German forces took the hospital, she stayed behind to care for the U.S. soldiers who could not be moved and the German wounded, as the hospital was under German command. When the war ended, Helen returned to Western Colorado. On Dec. 19, 1945, she married Fred Blackmer, and settled in the Cortez area to pursue a long career in nursing, first with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, providing care to the Ute Indian Tribe in Towaoc, and later at the Southwest Memorial Hospital. Helen continued her education, receiving a master's degree in Public Health Administration. The last of many years of her career were spent in public health as the Director of the Tri-County Health Department.

Helen married Charles Dewey Brown, longtime owner/publisher of Cortez Newspapers, in Cortez on June 15, 1974. Together they enjoyed many happy years traveling the world and finally retiring to Sun City, Ariz. in the mid-eighties to concentrate on playing golf and enjoying their family and many friends. Helen enjoyed a very busy and active retirement. She was an accomplished painter, both on canvas and china, an avid bridge-player and always looking forward to the next social event. Dewey passed away in Arizona on Nov. 29, 1991.

Helen is survived by one daughter, Christine Hoffman of Grand Junction, Colo.; one son, Patrick Blackmer and wife Cindy of Grand Junction; seven grandchildren, Kelly Wright of Grand Junction, Robert Wright III of Cortez, Nikki Flingos of Savannah, Ga., Casey Blackmer of Dolores, Brady Blackmer of Fruita, Colo., Callie Blackmer of Denver, and Clarissa Blackmer of Grand Junction; one step-grandson, Ryan Williams of Grand Junction; and seven great-grandchildren. Also surviving are many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Ellannette and Ruth; and three brothers, Ward, Carl and Max.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church or to the charity of your choice. Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.