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Sandra Sue Smith
Sandra Sue Smith
Obituaries
By News Staff, on March 1, 2023
Sandra Sue Smith

July 11, 1944-Feb. 19, 2023

Sandra Sue Smith, was born in Aurora, Colorado on July 11th, 1944. She graduated from Granby, Colorado, then married Thomas Tucker in September 29, 1962. She had her 1st born son, Shane Tucker, he was born in September 29, 1963. Followed by his sister Cassy Tucker on October 31, 1966. They moved from Fraser, Colorado to Ouray, Colorado in 1972, where she found employment at Duckett’s Market for the following 16 years. That was followed by opening her home to daycare for many of the county’s growing population to whom she became a mother-like figure. In the following years she closed her home as she sought employment at Wolf Creek Cattle Company, where she retired in 2004.

After the passing of her husband Thomas Tucker, she moved to Aztec, New Mexico. She attended a high school reunion in 2004. She met an old high school acquaintance, Fred Smith, and shortly after they got married in 2005 and then for the next 17 years they enjoyed many travels, fishing and camping as well as their children and their grandchildren and followed by many great grandchildren. In her life she made many cherished friends and loved ones, her life was a life full of love and happiness, which was her wish, for her and her family. She passed away on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at 11:56 a.m. surrounded by her loved ones per her wishes in her home.

Ridgway to grow capacity to fight wildland fires
Main, News...
Ridgway to grow capacity to fight wildland fires
Additional staff, engine can enhance skills, create more revenue
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 3, 2025
Ridgway’s wildland firefighters have mopped up hotspots in Nevada, fought wildfire on the front lines in California and protected structures at home in Colorado. Since the Ridgway Fire Protection Dist...
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Main, News...
County chops event center operations to aid budget
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 3, 2025
Ouray County is performing triage on its 2026 budget as 2025 revenues are coming in lower than expected, placing even more pressure on the county’s general fund savings. County leaders have been worki...
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New council’s first task: Fill vacancies
News
New council’s first task: Fill vacancies
December 3, 2025
After soliciting applications, councilors to interview, pick appointments Jan. 5 By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com Ouray city leaders swore in a new mayor and city councilor Monday night, then turned...
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News
Slow start to snow season
Wave of storms helps, but snowpack in San Juans well below normal
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
December 3, 2025
A series of post-Thanksgiving storms delivered desperately needed snow to the moisture-starved San Juans, but snowpack at the start of December remains well below average in Ouray County and the surro...
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News
SEASON OF SHARING
Ridgway Ouray Community Council
December 3, 2025
Editor's note: The Ouray County Plaindealer is continuing its tradition of featuring nonprofit organizations based in Ouray County, serving Ouray County in a series of profiles called Season of Sharin...
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News
Snowpack lagging in San Juans
December 3, 2025
A recent series of storms helped boost the paltry snowpack in the San Juans, but the amount of water in that snowpack in the Gunnison River Basin — known as snow-water equivalent — is still among the ...
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Editor Picks
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
‘Timeout’ for Padgett sends bad message
By Dear Editor: 
December 3, 2025
We don’t put women in timeout; we put children in timeout. When you put a woman in timeout, you are putting her voice in timeout; telling her to go be quiet and that she should be seen and not heard. ...
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Governor’s silence on Tina Peters is baffling
Columns, Opinion...
GUEST EDITORIAL
Governor’s silence on Tina Peters is baffling
December 3, 2025
I do not know why Gov. Jared Polis keeps playing footsy with Tina Peters and President Donald Trump. Apparently neither does any other serious individual engaged in Colorado’s election system. Since T...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Nauer’s ‘timeout’ idea is a non-starter
By Dear Editor: 
December 3, 2025
Had I not participated in scores of Ouray County Board of County Commissioners' and Planning Commission meetings, that Commissioner Lynn Padgett was elected or appointed to, I may have felt differentl...
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Looking Back
News
Looking Back
December 3, 2025
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago December 2, 1965 A proposal to trade lands adjacent to the Radium Springs swimming po...
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Spotlight on the Arts: The First Little Free Art Gallery in Ridgway
News
Spotlight on the Arts: The First Little Free Art Gallery in Ridgway
By By Ariel Hessler Special to the Plaindealer 
December 3, 2025
Inside Karen and Floyd Day’s home, the walls are covered in art. Both Karen and Floyd are longtime artists, and the walls of their home show the evidence. Large and colorful abstract depicting horses,...
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First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
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