LaVern Johnson died on May 14, 2022; she was 94 years old and a lifelong resident of the town of Lyons. A newspaper obituary called her a powerful advocate for her community; as a member of the Lyons Historical Society snd CCVHS she advocated many civic projects of benefit to Lyons. She worked diligently to spare the old schoolhouse that is now the Lyons Redstone Museum. In May 2016 the town renamed Meadow Park the LaVern M. Johnson Park in her honor. The land surrounding her house predates the 1881 founding of the town and was homesteaded by her great-grandfather. (In case you”re interested, LaVern”s husband was also named LaVern.)
We are also sad to report the death of CCVHS member Bev Blotter who passed away on November 24 at the age of 76. Bev worked tirelessly to map accurately the Colorado half of the Smoky Hill Trail and its current owners. Under the name of Tales of the Trail, she and several fellow history buffs drew up a series of forms for exhaustively documenting the trail from Kansas to Denver and actually walking parts of the trail.
On May 14 Eugene X. Tepper died at his home in Pojoaque New Mexico. He was 101 years old and was preceded in death by Shari Tepper, his wife of 51 years. The Teppers were CCVHS members until their move to New Mexico in the 1990s when they managed a guest ranch near Santa Fe and a farm for endangered breeds of animals. In World War II Gene enlisted in the Merchant Marine and witnessed first-hand the build-up of troops and supplies to Europe. Shari was a prolific writer who authored 23 mystery books.
We are also sad to report the death of CCVHS member Bev Blotter who passed away on November 24 at the age of 76. Bev worked tirelessly to map accurately the Colorado half of the Smoky Hill Trail and its current owners. Under the name of Tales of the Trail, she and several fellow history buffs drew up a series of forms for exhaustively documenting the trail from Kansas to Denver and actually walking parts of the trail.
On May 14 Eugene X. Tepper died at his home in Pojoaque New Mexico. He was 101 years old and was preceded in death by Shari Tepper, his wife of 51 years. The Teppers were CCVHS members until their move to New Mexico in the 1990s when they managed a guest ranch near Santa Fe and a farm for endangered breeds of animals. In World War II Gene enlisted in the Merchant Marine and witnessed first-hand the build-up of troops and supplies to Europe. Shari was a prolific writer who authored 23 mystery books.
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