Conn Marsden was born in Parowan, Utah, on August 23, 1925. He passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness, on March 26, 2013, at Vista Grande Nursing Home in Cortez, Colo. at the age of 87.

When Conn was a youngster, the family moved to Cedar City, Utah, where his father owned and operated Marsden's Men Store. Conn's job was to get an education, of course, and he easily managed a successful graduation from Cedar City High School. Now the plan was college, but along came the big distraction - WWII. Conn was eager to serve. He signed and suited up joining the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as a bomber pilot from September 1943 to March 1946. He trained and flew stateside, to his frustration, during his tour of duty. Then when he finally got the order to get into the action, the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Everything stopped. Time to go home, get on the GI Bill and become a college freshman at the University of Utah. He became house manager at his fraternity (ex military guys, not kids) and they all tried very hard not to allow studies to interfere with their social lives. However, they all got their degrees and were ready to move on.

And moving on meant moving on to Las Vegas, Nev. Conn tried to become a craps dealer but couldn't quite make the grade with the pit boss. It was a good thing because he then did some serious looking and was hired by Nevada Power Company as a rate analyst. In June of 1966, Conn married his buddy and best friend, Terrym who worked in television at the CBS affiliate KLAS-TV. They had great times in Vegas, but loved to vacation in Colorado. They knew Colorado would be home after retirement. And that's what happened. Conn stayed with Nevada Power for some 35 years and retired in 1990 as Vice President of Rates and Regulatory Affairs. It was time to pack up.

Conn and Terry knew the Mancos area very well and soon bought a small horse property up on Summit Ridge and arrived in the '90/91 deep snow winter. A big culture change from the Nevada desert. Conn just loved it. They bought a couple of paint horses, rescued three dogs and too many cats. Then they got a bass boat. Not quite active enough, Conn, being the business and utility man, joined the board of directors of the very first Summit Ridge Water District. In his spare time he began doing income tax for a number of families and started Summit Tax Service.

In 2003, while now a member of the Mancos Chamber of Commerce, Conn felt that the town could use more of the "art colony" feel. He offered up an idea to his friends, Marilyn Kroeker and Barbara Hackett, and the beginnings of The Artisans of Mancos became a reality.

Surviving Connell is his devoted wife, Terry; his sister, Marjorie Hayborne (Rick); and brother, Jerry Marsden (Lee). He said the only kids they had had four legs. Passing before Conn were his parents and a younger sister, Barbara (Bobbie) Jones. He also leaves behind many wonderful friends, too many deceased before him. Conn loved Colorado so much and was grateful to have spent the last 23 years of his life in this beautiful state.

He requested no formal service or flowers, and asked that contributions be made in his name to Hospice of Montezuma, P.O. Drawer 740, Cortez, Colo. 81321 and For Pets Sake, P.O. Box 1705, Cortez, Colo. 81321.

Arrangements were made through Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.