DeVelVa May ‘Mae’ (Patterson) Austin

Sept. 2, 1926 —  April 6, 2009

— Obituary written by daughter, Eulah Hawks —

DeVelVa is the daughter of James Franklin, and Bernice Mable (Howlett) Patterson. DeVelVa was born in McPhee, Colorado. There were 17 children, DeVelVa was the second child and Florence was the oldest child. DeVelVa herded and milked around three hundred head of goats along with help from her siblings. It was mostly DeVelVa who herded the goats every day, but she still found time to do her school work.

Her brother, Jim ‘Junior’ would bring her homework home so she could do it , and Jim ‘Junior’ would take it back to school for her. She received A’s and B’s and graduated from the 8th grade from Nucla school district. She would maybe attend school one day a week if that.  

After milking, DeVelVa and her brothers and sisters would have to separate the milk for cream, then sell the cream. One day when DeVelVa was herding the goats, she was sitting on a U shaped rock, and slid out of the rock, not knowing her feet and legs had gone to sleep, landed and crushed both of her ankles. DeVelVa crawled toward home with her goats right after her. A friend of the family, Larry Madison came to the rescue and carried her home to her father.  DeVelVa was unable to walk for quite some time with both legs in casts. DeVelVa still herded the goats, with the help from her brother, Jim ‘Junior’ even though he would always lose some of them. She would tell Jim where he could find them, and there they would be, so then he would bring them home. DeVelVa would lose her eyesight while herding goats. She would hang on to her pet goats, so they would guide her home.  DeVelVa had names for each goat; to name a few, Googles, Betsh, Gingles, Pollie Ann, MaryAnn, and Julie Ann. Her favorite, named May Goat would stand on her back legs when DeVelva’s dad would call her to come milk the goats.  May Goat would blot and sound as if to say Mmmmmaaaeee.

DeVelVa always tried to live her life for the Lord. She always gave a helping hand in a time of need, and would always be the first to respond. DeVelVa never asked for payment back and was a true Seventh-Day Adventist member. She attended church until was no longer able. DeVelva married Lawrence Jess Austin, Aug. 31, 1945, and divorced in 1967. She never remarried.  DeVelVa and Lawrence had 10 children. DeVelVa delivered seven children at home and three at Montrose Memorial Hospital. She was brought to Montrose by the ambulance for her last child.  A family friend, Mr. Harry Hawks gave her a ride home back to Norwood after she was released from the hospital. Harry drove the mail truck between Montrose and Norwood and DeVelVa would often catch rides with him. DeVelVa would walk into Norwood to do her shopping for the entire month, packing groceries little by little until she got them to Kirk Alexander’s place, but would also take her four oldest children to help carry the rest of them home, going back and forth until the job was done. DeVelVa was a seamstress, made quilts and embroidered animals on white sheets and tea towels. She was also an artist. DeVelVa’s favorite holiday was Christmas. DeVelVa would come to Montrose and do her Christmas shopping. And one sister-in-law Gladys Wright who she could always count on to send their children toys and goodies.  DeVelVa had a special, Blanch Daugherty from Montrose, who would send Christmas gifts for their children. Blanch was the aunt to Sam Hawks. DeVelVa enjoyed the houses all decorated in lights at Christmas time. She resided in Norwood, Nucla and Naturita area most of her life. She also lived in Grand Junction, Utah, and then returned to Montrose where she made her home until her time of death. DeVelVa is survived by her brothers, Jim (Marilyn) Ross of Rawlins, Wyo.,  Arthur Anderson of Success, Mo., Bobb (Linda) Radditz of Palm Dale, Calif.; sisters, Erma Knox of Montrose, Colo., Laveta (Mose) Pacheco of Cedaredge, Colo., Madge Rogers of Rawlins, Wyo., Marlene Shrock of Arvada, Colo.

DeVelva May ‘Mae’ is also survived by seven children; three daughters, Lila (Roy) Olson of  Salt Lake City, Utah, Neda (Gary) Strean of Apache Junction, Ariz., Eulah (Sam) Hawks of Montrose, Colo.; four sons, Clarence (Sandra) Austin of Fort Garland, Colo., Jessie Austin of Montrose, Colo., Leonard Austin of Delta, Colo., Jerry (Elvira) Austin of Montrose, Colo.; a special Uncle in Texas, Lester (Alice) Thompson and special cousin Cody Howlett; 25 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1401 S. Townsend. Burial will follow the service at Grand View Cemetery, west of Montrose, Colo.