Verdie H. Allies age 87, first generation American and longtime Sargent Community resident, passed away on January 9, 2015 at the Homelake Veterans Center in Monte Vista, Colorado
Verdie was born on February 22, 1927 as the third son, to parents John B. Allies and Helga M. Muhr-Allies in Grand Junction, Colorado. He moved his family to the Sargent Community in July, 1963.
Verdie was raised in the Coal Creek District of Montrose Country, Colorado where he attended a three room school house through eighth grade and Montrose High School. He worked on his father’s sheep ranch as a camp cook from the age of 10. In the 1940’s he worked on a large dairy farm in Kansas. He joined the United States Navy during World War II at the age of 17 and served with the SEABEE’S working alongside the Marines in the Philippines from 1944-1947; his unit was attached to the USS Mt. McKinley which was General MacArthur’s flag ship. He was called back to military service for the duration of the Korean War from July 1951 – January 1953 where he served aboard the USS Satyr, a repair/machine shop vessel.
After the war, he returned to Montrose to help run the family ranch. He and his brother, Darwin, started a custom combining and hay-baling business, until the accidental death of his brother in spring 1953.
He married Ella Jane Spor, June 1, 1951; they raised seven children and were married for 54 years until her death on January 9, 2006.
He worked for the U.S. Forest Service in the Rio Grande Forest District for 28 years; as the supervisor over-seeing the building of campgrounds; trails and roads; fighting forest fire throughout the west, and finally running the maintenance shop before retiring in 1984. He traveled to both of his parents’ homelands to meet relatives; his father’s, in Biarritz and Bayonne France in the Basque Pyrenees in the District of Labourd and his mothers in and around Stockholm, Sweden; he traveled to Europe several times while his sons were serving in the military in Germany.
Verdie was a very talented wood-worker and an artist, which occupied his spare time until his early 80”s. He was an active member of both the Center American Legion Post 131 and the James G. Hamilton American Legion Post 53 in Monte Vista and was District Commander for Post 53 from 1973 – 1974. Through the years he world come up with all kinds of project to keep his seven children busy like an angle worm farm, raising Christmas trees, etc.
He was preceded in death by: wife (Ella Spor-Allies), parents (John Allies, Helga Muhr-Allies-Nesbit), step-father (Kenneth Nesbit), step-mother (Lottie Allies), brothers Everett, Darwin, Lloyde, sister-in-law (Rose Spor-Allies) and Milton, and daughter-in-laws Sharon Sykes–Allies and Deborah Richardson-Allies, all of his aunts, uncles and many cousins.
Survivors include: his two special friends Viola (Vi) Beckett and Margaret Williams; his children; Glenda Allies-Fox (Rex) of Farmington, NM; Royd Allies (Sharon deceased) of Middleburg, FL; Wayne Allies (Deborah deceased) of Grand Junction, CO; Deborah Allies (Donald Saylor) of Webster/Inverness, FL; Brett (Jamie) Allies of Mountain Home, ID; Terrill (Janine) Allies of Arnold, MO; Kevin (Mi Sun) Allies of Columbia, SC. Four granddaughters: Andrea Allies of CO; Alyssa Fox of NM; Jessica Allies and Michelle Allies of SC. Three grandsons; Jeremiah Allies and Jacob (Sarah) Allies of ID; Jarrod (Trystian) Fox of NM; step-grandson Ian (Megan) Rezabek of MO. Two great-grandsons: Nyhte Edwin Michael Fox, and Liam Michael Rezabek and great-grandchild Allies due in August. Sister-in-laws Vivian Allies of Billings MT and Shirley Allies of Montrose, CO. Brother and sister-in-law George and Sherry Spor of Nulca, CO, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Cremation was selected and private family services will be held at a later date; when he is laid to rest near his brother Darwin and his father John at the Grandview Cemetery, Montrose, CO.
Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the Colorado State Veterans Center 3749 Sherman Avenue, Monte Vista, CO 81144.
Rogers Family Mortuary of Monte Vista are in care of the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at rogersfunerals.com.
This poem describes our beloved father:
The Man in the Glass When you get what you want in your struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day Just go to a mirror and look at yourself, And see what that man has to say.
For it isn’t your father, or mother, or wife Who’s judgment upon you must pass; The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life Is the one staring back from the glass.
Some people may think you a straight-shooting chum And call you a wonderful guy. But the man in the glass says you’re a bum If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest For he’s with you, clear up to the end. And you’ve passed your most difficult, dangerous test If the man in the glass is your friend.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway for years And get pats on the back as you pass. But your final reward will be heartache and tears If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

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