George Ross Durant was born May 29, 1917 in Leon County, Texas. He passed away Jan. 3, 2013 in Huntsville, Alabama at the age of 95.
Ross was raised on a farm/ranch in rural southeast Texas, joined the CCC's (Civilian Conservation Corp) in the 1930's and was assigned to Mesa Verde National Park working on some of the original infrastructure of the park. He married Cora Ava Freeman, of Mancos, moved to Rico as a miner/electrician and later to Dove Creek to run the Denny and Jones dealership there. He was mayor of both Rico and Dove Creek. Ava passed in 1962 and Ross ended up back in Rico in the mine.He married Lee Morton of Cortez in 1970, moved to Telluride as an electrician in the mine, then back to Cortez upon retirement in 1979.
Ross is survived by his wife of 42 years, Lee, of Huntsville, Ala., son Robert (Donna) Durant of Cortez, stepchildren Curtis (Nancy) Morton of Huntsville, Ala., Anna (Clinton) Taylor of Weatherford, Texas, Duane (Irene) Morton of Grand Junction, Colo. and Vickie (Tim) Ward of Cool, Calif., one brother, Joe (Lois) Durant of Palestine, Texas, 15 grandchildren and step grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, numerous nephews and nieces, and many friends.
Preceeding him were his parents, four brothers and four sisters, and first wife, Ava.
Ross was a 60+ year member of the Masonic Lodge. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping and cooking over an open fire. He loved his kids and grandchildren and will be missed by many.
Cremation has occurred and a small service will be held in Huntsville on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. A service will be scheduled in Colorado at a later date and he will ultimately be laid to rest in Mancos.