RIO BLANCO COLORADO - OBIT: SYKES, William (d. 1953) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Greg Berthelson flinx@cmn.net June 20, 1999 *********************************************************************** For sloanes@asis.com From the Meeker HERALD, 19 Nov 1953: William Sykes County Pioneer Suffered Heart Attack Last Friday William Sykes, a resident of this county for over fifty years, passed away last Friday at his Meeker home in the northwest part of town. Mr. Sykes had gone to the garage that morning with the intention of going to town as was his usual habit. When he did not return home in the evening Mrs. Sykes became worried and came downtown looking for her husband but no one had seen him. Later her son-in-law asked Mrs. Sykes if she had looked in the garage. There they found Mr. Sykes where he had leaned over to open the bottom hook of the garage door. It is thought that he suffered a heart attack as he was opening the garage door and collapsed at the rear of the car where he was found. William Sykes was born March 15, 1892 at Atlantic City, New Jersey, the son of John Pierce and Ella Ireland Sykes. When William was just a small child, the family moved to Colorado, first locating at Canon City and later coming on to Meeker to make their home. The father was a contractor and mason and after the fire and earthquake in San Francisco in 1906 he decided to go to the West Coast where there was lots of work. It was on the West Coast that William Sykes completed his education and at the age of eighteen started to learn his father's trade. In the fall of 1913 he came back to Meeker for a visit but soon decided to stay and make this his home. He was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Peltier on July 25, 1916, and to this union were born five children. After Mr. & Mrs. Sykes were first married they moved to Axial Basin where Mr. Sykes worked for the Hulett outfit. Next they moved to the 84 ranch on Yellow Creek to work for Mr. Critchlow. Later they leased the Ben Jacobs ranch on Limekiln which was the family home some years. Mr. Sykes also operated his brother's place on Marvine Creek for a time. During the years Mr. Sykes ranched he also followed his masonry and plastering trade on the side. Ten years ago the family moved to Meeker and Mr. Sykes devoted his full time to cement and masonry work. He suffered a heart attack the 28th of November a year ago and after quite a spell in the hospital was able to be up and around but he was forced to retire and turned the contracting business over to his son-in-law Ernest Mintz. The deceased was a hard worker and a good father. He had a ready smile and made many friends throughout the county and it was a distinct shock to everyone when they learned of his sudden death. The deceased was an active member of Valentine's Lodge IOOF. He leaves to mourn his passing his widow and life partner, three children, a son Raymond G. Sykes of Grand Valley, two daughters Mrs. Willetta Shults and Mrs. Ada Marie Mintz, both of Meeker; two children preceded him in death, a daughter Ella Margaret who died at age 18 and William who passed away at 19 months; four brothers Dan Sykes of Rifle; Willard Sykes of Weote, California, Raymond Sykes of Grand Junction, and John Sykes of Whittier, California; and one sister Mrs. Lyla Kilduff of Anaheim, California. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon from the Meeker Funeral parlor with Rev. W. O. Richards, vicar of St. James church, officiating. Burial was in Highland Cemetery where the IOOF lodge held graveside services. The pallbearers were Don Longley, Howard Joy, Julian Klein, Albert Kirkpatrick, Mike Schueller and James Kyle.