2008 was quite a stressful year for us. Our home building, living in a camper for 3 months, Rob switching jobs, economy & so on..
But, I wanted to post this sooner, but wanted to reflect on a few people Montrose has lost in 2008. There also was a lot of great famous people in 2008 that have passed on too, it surely was a different year & as always hope this year is better!
I have three different photos I’ll be posting… But I’m going to also post my thoughts on each and the write up from the newspaper…
ALBERT TORRES…
He used to live across the street from us while we were renting. His daughter and son enjoyed playing with Tiffany as often as they could. We tended to be very busy and tired since at the time we were traveling to Grand Junction and back to visit and be with Kaden. I always felt bad that we never seemed to connect as often as we should of. He was a very good person and filled with much “joy”. He could have a conversation with anyone about anything. His wife, Melanie is also a very thoughtful person and showed much compassion as well. I talked to Melanie about a week before Al’s death. Tif was having a b-day party and wanted Amanda to come. They just closed on their home they bought on a Thursday (june 19th) and had plans on going camping on Friday,(june 20th) which was Tif’s b-day party day so they couldn’t make it. A few days later I found out he passed away on that morning. It was tough and I really haven’t stopped thinking about or praying for this family since. Here’s the info…
Feb. 26, 1957 — June 20, 2008
MONTROSE — Albert Torres passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 20, 2008 in Montrose, Colo. He was born Feb. 26, 1957 in Indio, Calif. to Alfonso and Berta (Ortiz) Torres. He spent his childhood and graduated from high school there. Albert met Melanie Brown in Indio and they were married March 25, 2001 in Las Vegas. They resided in Montrose for three years after moving from Indio. Albert and Melanie were members of Montrose Christian Church.
Albert loved the outdoors and playing softball. He enjoyed four-wheeling and camping. The main focus in Albert’s life was his family and children.
Survivors include his wife, Melanie; his children, Amanda, age 6, and Daniel, age 4, all of the family home in
Montrose; father and mother-in-law, Terry and Sally Brown of Canyonville, Ore; brothers, Art Torres of Puerto Vallarta, Alex Torres of Indio; sister, Teresa Riding of Escondido, Calif.; brother-in-law, Jeff and Cindy Brown of Lakewood, Colo.; and numerous aunts and uncles. Albert was preceded in death by his parents.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alpine Banks of Montrose, a memorial for Albert Torres, for the benefit of Amanda and Daniel Torres. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2008, at 11 a.m., at the Montrose Christian Church, with Minister Steve Shaw officiating. The service will conclude at the church. Burial will take place on Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at 3 p.m., at Lake City Cemetery in Lake City, Colo. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.
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SHANE HASTINGS
I didn’t know him well personally, but he was our pharmacist. He knew us since we moved here and was extremely helpful and nice. Tif was going through her feeding problems and us trying to find out what was wrong. To say we were discouraged with doctors and insurance issues was an under statement! And he understood. Of course, he had to deal with that everyday. He was always caring about asking how the children were doing and his children took similar medicines as well, which made it helpful. I’m disappointed that I didn’t know of his passing, until a few months ago! I always thought I’d had missed him when picking up medicine, or maybe they had moved. At any rate – he had made a difference and I wanted to type this to always remember that there really are some good people around here. … .Info…
Stephen “Shane” Hastings
April 13, 1977 — April 16, 2008
MONTROSE — Shane Hastings went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, due to sudden heart death. He waits there with Jesus Christ for those of us who also believe in that NAME.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am.” John 14:1-3
Shane was born April 13, 1977 in Oklahoma City, Okla. and graduated from Moore High School in Moore, Okla. in 1995.
While attending Moore High School, Shane met the love of his life, Amanda McCay. They were married July 12, 1997 in Moore, Shane and Amanda moved to Weatherford, Okla., where Shane graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a degree in pharmacy.
They moved to Montrose in 2000, where Shane was a pharmacist at Wal-Mart and Walgreens. In 2001, they welcomed their first daughter into the world, Emma Grace “Daddy’s Precious.” Two years later they welcomed their second daughter, Hanna Joy “Daddy’s Joy” into the family. Emma and Hanna were his pride, joy and legacy. Together, the Hastings family were inseparable and their love for God and each other was a beacon of light to all with whom they came in contact.
Shane is survived by his amazing wife, Amanda Hastings; two daughters, Emma Grace and Hanna Joy; Shane’s parents, Elwyn and Cyndy Hastings of Moore, Oklahoma; Amanda’s parents, Keith and Cheryl McCay of Montrose, Colo.; brother, Travis Hastings and sister-in-law, Claire of Derby, Kan.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jason and Tami McCay and nieces and nephew, Corinne, Lauren and Nathaniel McCay all of Olathe, Colo., along with numerous grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
A funeral service in celebration of Shane’s life will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 3 p.m. at the Montrose Christian Church. The service will conclude at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Shane’s memory to “Shane Hasting’s Children’s Education Fund” c/o Montrose Bank, either bank locations, or 16550 S. Townsend, Montrose, CO. 81401.Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, 802 E. Main, Montrose, Colo. (970) 249-2121.
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“PEBBLES”
Pebbles was the pet of Mike and Karen Manry. They were are neighbors in our first house we owned here in Colorado and our very great friends. Pebbles was one of their pets and very loved. Her and Dakota were a joy to watch. We were pet sitters for them both on occasion and enjoyed playing with them and taking care of them. Tif named one of her Pet Shop dog toys after a cute little dog with a bow on it. I feel bad, it’s as if we lost our own dogs all over again, Pebbles will be greatly missed.
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So, that is my famous list for 2008. They all brought kindness, greatness and joy to the area and everyone they met. All I can say is that god must have bigger plans for all of them. Through our struggles, I feel that each of them will continue to help and guide us at a much higher power and are now Angels in Heaven. I miss you all and I know they are all even closer to us now than they were.
