Gertrude Mary Eppich Etchart died July 4, 2014, in Colorado Springs at age 99.

Born in Mancos on March 31, 1915, to John and Mary Eppich, she was the oldest of nine children.

She earned her Registered Nursing degree from Mercy Hospital in Denver before joining the Veterans Affairs Administration as a psychiatric nurse. She moved to Las Animas in the 1930s to work at the Fort Lyon Veterans Hospital. She retired from the VA after a 33-year career.

After retirement, Gertrude moved to Farmington, N.M., in 1975 to be closer to her mother, sisters and brother. In 2009, she moved to Colorado Springs.

Gertrude is survived by two sons, Patrick John (Janet Minor) Etchart and Michael Phillip Etchart; a daughter, Jennifer (David Edward) Anderson; two grandsons, Davin Anderson and Danyon Anderson; five granddaughters, Patricia Etchart, Angela Etchart, Rachael Etchart, Carol Etchart and Kajsa (Dan) Novembre; and five great-grandchildren, Andrew Moses, Haley Grace, Rhys Adam and Anniston Hope Novembre, and Findley James Anderson.

Burial was at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Mancos on July 9, 2014.