Mary Elizabeth "May Dell" (Haller) Kendall Workman
Marriages
Richard "Dick" Kendall - November 22, 1940
LeRoy Workman - January 1982
Burial Details
Obituaries
Steamboat Today - October 31, 2014
Mary Elizabeth May Dell Hallar Kendall Workman, age 94, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on October 27, 2014, after a long illness. She was lovingly taken care of by the wonderful people at HopeWest Hospice and the staff of Mesa Manor Center in Grand Junction.
She was born in Paonia, Colorado on December 20, 1919, to Bernie and Walsa Decker Hallar. She spent her childhood in Bowie where her father was a coal miner and boarding house operator. Later she lived at the family Dairy farm in Paonia. She graduated from Paonia High School in 1938 where she was President of the Senior Class. After graduating from Ross Business College in Grand Junction in 1941, she married Richard “Dick” Kendall on 22 November 1940. They lived in Gunnison from 1944 to 1945 where he was District Manager for Rio Grande Motorways.
During the 1950’s she worked at the family business, Hallar’s Feed and Hardware, at the top of Fifth Street Hill in Grand Junction while raising her four sons.
The family moved to Craig in 1961 where she worked as Secretary for the Principal of Sunset Elementary School. Returning to Grand Junction in 1965, she worked as Secretary for the Director of Mesa County Library until retirement. Richard died in 1972.
She married LeRoy Workman, former owner of Mesa Barber shop, in January 1982. After retirement they lived at their farm near the Colorado River.
May Dell loved the outdoors in Western Colorado, and she enjoyed travel including cruises, a trip to Europe, and a raft ride through Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River. She loved cooking and canning fruits and vegetables such as peaches and apples from her sister’s orchard and okra, string beans and hot chillies. She was an avid fan of the Denver Broncos and the Colorado Rockies. She was well looked-after by her cat Trixie.
May Dell was active in the Rebekah Lodge Number 40 in Grand Junction attaining her 25 year jewel. She served as the Republican Party Election Monitor for many elections in Mesa County. She was active in community activities including PTA, Cub Scouts, the Living History Project and the Food Bank. She was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Clifton.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Ellen Swanson and brothers Orie and Glenwood Hallar and foster brother Orville McCrumb.
She will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving, firm and steady refuge from the turmoil of our world.
Her survivors include: LeRoy Workman, husband; children and wives: son and wife Glen Kendall and Ems Magnus of Amsterdam, Netherlands, granddaughter Ginger Clark, San Ramon, California, and great grandchildren Natalie and Ryan; son and wife Ray and Eileen Kendall, Carson City, Nevada, grandsons Jonathan, London, England, and Nate, Park City, Utah, and great grandchildren Brandon and Francie; son and wife Bernie and Andrea Kendall, Greeley, Colorado, granddaughters Shaela, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Anna, Fort Collins, Colorado, and Mallory, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and grandson Alex; Commerce City, Colorado; son Mike Kendall, Brownsville, Texas, and grandsons Stephen, Mathew and Carlos and granddaughters Millie, Mary, and Maria. She is also survived by step children in Grand Junction: son Loren Workman; son and wife David and Tracie Workman, grandson David and granddaughters Krissie and Whitney and great-great granddaughter Ella and great grandson Cameron; son and wife Steve and Jill Workman and granddaughters Kelsey and Bryenna; son and wife Dan and Tanya Workman and grandsons Darris, Dalton and Logan; and daughter Pam Workman, Portland Oregon, and granddaughter Alyssa.
Visitation will be at Martin Mortuary, 550 North Avenue, Grand Junction, 7:00 to 8:00PM, Friday, October 31. Services will be held at Redlands United Methodist Church, 527 Village Way, Grand Junction, at 10:30AM, Saturday, November 1, followed by graveside services at Orchard Mesa Cemetery. A reception will be held at the Redlands United Methodist church afterwards.
Donations in May Dell’s name can be made to Hospice HopeWest, 2754 Compass Drive No. 377, Grand Junction CO 81506.
