Noah Dean Blackwell died Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, as a result of an accident. He was 44.
He was born May 16, 1968, to Noah "Dub" and Charlotte Blackwell in Albuquerque, N.M. When he was two the family moved to the Baca Grant Ranch near Crestone. When he was 12 the family moved back to New Mexico where he graduated from Reserve High School in 1986. He attended New Mexico State University and graduated from Texas Christian University in 1989 with a degree in ranch management.
He moved to Gunnison County to work at the Elsinore Ranch in Taylor Canyon.
On July 6, 1991, he married Rose Vader at St. Peter's Church in Gunnison.
After working on a number of ranches, including Castleton Ranch on Ohio Creek, the Vader Cloverleaf Ranch on Quartz Creek and the Cross Bar Ranch at Sargents, the couple returned in 1998 to own and operate the Vader Cloverleaf Ranch. He also owned Stampede Pest & Weed, a weed spraying business.
Mr. Blackwell volunteered for the Cattlemen's Days committee and the Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association, sat on the board of the Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy and was an owner in the Taylor Park Cattle Pool.
He enjoyed fishing and hunting, making people laugh and horseback riding in the high country.
Mr. Blackwell is survived by his wife, Rose Blackwell; his son, Noah; his daughter, Josie; his parents, Noah "Dub" and Charlotte Blackwell; his grandmother, Edna Blackwell of Delta; his sister, Stacie Ochoa, her husband Chus and their children Jeshua and Aihnoa, all of Delta; his cousin Mark; and many friends from Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma.
Services will be held Thurday, Jan. 3, at 10 a.m. at the Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison.
Accounts have been set up at Gunnison Savings & Loan, 303 N. Main, Gunnison, CO 81230, and Gunnison Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 119, Gunnison, CO 81230, to help the family defray medical costs.