Darralee Anne Mathews
Marriages
Richard Mathews
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 6B - May 21, 2023
Darralee Mathews of
Palisade, CO. passed away
at Hope West Hospice
with her husband Richard
Mathews at her side she
was 71. Darralee was born
on North Island US Naval
Air Station, San Diego CA.
to Lt. jg Darrel N. Coba and
Barbara Anne Coba August
27, 1951.
She was the oldest of 3
children. The family traveled with her father’s duty assign-
ments until returning to Colorado, where Darralee began
her schooling. She attended schools in Salida, Saguach,
Saint Scholastica in Canyon City, graduating from Salida
High School. She went on to the University of Northern
CO. graduating with a degree in English in 1973.
It was there while working on the college newspapers
she developed her lifelong passion for journalism, news-
papers and graphic arts. After graduating she moved to
Phoenix, AZ. and worked for the Do It Now Foundation, an
organization dedicated to helping curb drug use in society.
Always interested in learning something new she took
classes in pottery and cooking, becoming quite accom-
plished. As life and the job changed, she came back to CO.
and began a new phase in her journey, living with her sister
Pam and brother-in-law King Loyd on a ranch on Garfield
Creek. She worked for the Glenwood Post and later the
Showmass Sun in various capacities.
It was during this time that her sister and brother-in-law
introduced her to what would become another passion, riv-
er rafting. With her sister, brother-in-law and friends she
rafted the 275 miles of the Grand Canyon spending 30 days
on the river on that trip, she also rafted the Delores and San
Juan rivers. She enjoyed being on the waters. As her life
changed, she briefly moved back to the Salida area and then
decided to come to the Grand Valley.
She was hired as a reporter for the Palisade Tribune,
it was there in an interview she met her future Husband.
The ownership of the paper changed and for a period of
time she, worked as a graphic artist and then manager of
the copy center at Office Max, she also worked for Alpha
Graphics in graphic arts, layout and production.
She joined the Grand Mesa Chorus, Sweet Adolines, and
enjoyed singing and preforming with the chorus she was
the secretary for the management team for several years.
She was hired at the Free Press in Grand Junction where
she handled customer orders as well a wrote a weekly food
column.
Always interested in archeology from her college cours-
es she begins studying ancient Egypt and became quite
knowledgeable. When the opportunity arose, she got a spot
in a Smithsonian Institutes’ Museum of Western CO. spon-
sored a trip to Egypt. This, to her, was the trip of a lifetime.
Things changed again at the Palisade Tribune and
Darralee came back this time as General Manager/Editor.
She had found her small hometown roots again.
She enjoyed supporting the local groups and activities in
town and reported on activities and the Town Council and
wrote another food column.
She was asked to join the Palisade Altrusa Chapter. Her
dedication to literacy, civic service and the community
projects were perfect fit.
She served as secretary for both the chapter and the re-
gional governor. She enjoyed her special friends and their
time together. She often said how fortunate she was to have
these like-minded ladies as friends and be able to give back
to the community she so loved.
Among her other talents she loved to paint and was a
gifted beader, many of her friends have bracelets, earrings,
and pendants she made. She rarely gave a gift she had not
made. She also won several prizes, at the County Fair and
Peach Festival for homemade jams, with fruit from the fam-
ily orchard.
Things changed again at The Palisade Tribune. It was
sold and Darralee went to work in the classified dept at the
Daily Sentinel. She retired at 66 and spent time reading,
beading, and working worth with Altrusa International in
Palisade.
Those who have known Darralee will tell you she was
a humble person that always put others needs before her
own. She was generous with her time and talents, always
contributing something for the cause. She was dedicated to
her profession and beliefs. She was brave throughout her
life, and she stood on her own two feet and faced whatever
life presented and managed a smile. She was the best friend
you could ever have.
She was diagnosed with ALS in October of 2020 and
passed away in December of 2022. She and Richard were
together, rarely apart, for 31 years and married for 13 years.
They meet in a newspaper office!
She was preceded in death by her father, her mother, and
brother John.
Darralee is survived by: Her husband Richard, step-
daughter Jennifer (Andrus) March, Stepson Dr. Mason
Mathews, granddaughters: Sophia, Isaline, Sister Pam
(King), nephews Ryan (Jessica) Christopher, and many
cousins, and her one uncle, as well as her dogs Angus and
Nia.
A celebration of life will be held at The Palisade
Veterans Memorial Building in Palisade 120 w 8th st.
24 May 2023 starting at 1 PM.
Please consider donation in Darralee name to Hope
West or the ALS Association
Rocky MT. chapter 10855 Doverst,ste 500 Westminster,
CO 80021
