Mary "Gertrude" Perotti
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6A - January 25, 2012
Mary “Gertrude†Perotti,
95, Montrose, died Jan. 23, 2012,
at Valley Manor Care Center in
Montrose.
Services are pending with
Crippin Funeral Home.
Survivors include two sons,
Jerald Perotti of Elgin, Ill., and
Orlan Perotti of Ridgway.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 7B - January 26, 2012
Gertrude Perotti, of Ridgway, CO, born March 17, 1916, in Placerville,
CO, died January 23, 2012, at Valley Manor in Montrose (her
residence for the last 9 years).
She was born to Preston Beach and Dorothy (Meyers) Beach of
Horsefly, Mesa and resided there until she lived with her grandparents
in Ridgway to attend high school. She then went to Gunnison to
attend Western State College for two and one half years before marrying
Jerald Perotti of Dry Creek and moving to his family ranch to
begin married life.
She and Jerald bought the ranch South of Ridgway in 1950, where
they lived, rearing a family and tending the ranch until she moved to
Montrose in January of 2003. She loved gardening and livestock,
and was reportedly the oldest "milk maid" in Ouray County, only
giving up the daily "pailing the bossies" in her late 80's.
She was a third generation newspaper reporter, working for the
Grand Junction Sentinel, the Montrose Daily Press, the Ouray
County Herald, and the Ridgway Sun at various times. Many residents
will remember the frequent calls from "Gabby Gert" as she
called herself.
She was a member of the Cow Creek Community Club, the
Cattlemen's Association, the Rebekahs (Mt. Hayden Lodge #54),
Legends of the West, and a tireless worker for the Mosquito Abatement
Program. She also appeared in scenes of "How the West Was
Won" and "True Grit", both of which were filmed in the Ridgway
area. In her spare time she loved playing the harmonica, singing, and
participating in local talent events as well as entertaining at Valley
Manor in Montrose.
She and Jerald had three sons, Rolan (Patricia) Perotti of Illinois;
Loran Perotti (deceased), and Orlan Perotti of Ridgway. She has
three grandsons, Rick Perotti of Virginia; Chris Perotti of Colorado,
and Joseph Perotti of Illinois. She also has three great-grand-children,
and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerald in 1992, and her
middle son, Loran in 1974, as well as a brother and three sisters.
She has a surviving brother, Leslie of Utah, as well as many nieces,
nephews, and cousins.
A viewing will be held at Crippin Funeral Home in Montrose on
Sunday, January 29, from 4 - 7:00 p.m. at Crippin Funeral Home
Chapel. Funeral services will be held at the Ridgway Community
Church at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 30, with interment at Cedar
Hill Cemetery in Ouray. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions
may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado,
P.O. Box 1804, Montrose, CO 81402.
Condolences may also be sent to the family at www.crippinfuneralhome.
com. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral
Home & Crematory, Montrose, CO.
