Mary James Obituary

Funeral services for lifelong Cortez resident Mary Louise (Goode) James will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 7 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery.

Visitation has been set for Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ertel Memorial Chapel.

Mary Lou was born May 22, 1933 in McPhee, Colo. to John Ward and Velma (Journey) Goode and passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the golden age of 78.

On March 21, 1951 Mary Lou married the greatest love of her life, Roy H. James in Aztec, N.M. To this union three children were born. On Oct. 18, 1991 Mary Lou and Roy accepted the Lord as their Savior. She lost the love of her life in December 1991.

Mary Lou was a homemaker, a great mother and a wonderful grandmother. When the children were old enough to go to school she began a career cooking. She worked for the local schools in their cafeterias and went on to work as a cook in many of the area restaurants. She'll always be known for the pies she made. They were the best pies ever. She was a giving, caring, loving and compassionate woman that sure could cook. One of the best moments for the grandchildren was cooking with Grandmother.

Her husband, children and grandchildren always came first in her life. She was always there for them. When the kids brought friends home she always made them feel welcome.

Mary Lou loved taking trips with Roy to the mountains, looking at the beautiful countryside and she had a gift for spotting wild game. There were many family trips up the Dolores River for fishing and picnics.

Surviving Mary Lou are her three children, Linda James, Carol Click and Perry James and wife Gaylene, all of Cortez; her grandchildren, Cheri Osterloh, Kenny Brengle and wife Koralisa, Christine Brengle, Crystal James and Neil Cook, Cimber James and Michael Moran, and Perry James II and wife Cassie; great-grandchildren, Amanda Johnson, Chroy and Brianna Provstgaard, Dillon and Orion Brengle, and Katalina and Novelyn Moran; and one great-great-grandchild, Jaylyn Koontz.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her loving husband, Roy H. James; her mother and father; a granddaughter, Michelle Osterloh; her sister, Irma Nell Sexon; and her three brothers, Roy, James and Robert Goode.

Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Mary Lou James with Hospice of Montezuma, PO Box 740, Cortez, CO 81321. 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.