Richard ‘Rick’ Bartholomew

Posted

Richard “Rick” Bartholomew passed away suddenly on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Mercy Hospital in Durango. He was 62 years old. Rick was born Nov. 4, 1955, to Richard and Dolores (Mayo) Bartholomew in La Junta, Colo. He grew up in La Junta and Pueblo, Colo. He graduated from Pueblo East High School. He moved to Pagosa Springs with his family in the early 1970s. It was there he met and married Karen (Hill) on Aug. 1, 1981. He and Karen began their family in Pagosa Springs, where Rick worked as a carpenter. Rick loved working, fishing, hunting and was a skilled long-bow archer. He had broken the Colorado state record in a traditional archery competition. His true passion was his family, especially his granddaughters, Tenley and Hadley — they were the light of his life. Rick was very excited for the birth of his grandson, Beckett. He always talked about teaching him everything he knew and loved about the outdoors. He was such a loving man with a kind heart, beaming smile and contagious laugh. He will be so dearly missed by everyone who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Karen; children: Kyle (Beth) Bartholomew, and Kelly (Brian) Keegan; siblings: Cindy, Sandy, Bill and Kathy; grandchildren: Hadley, Tenley and Beckett; and many close friends and extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents. We would like to send a special thank you to the Pagosa Springs EMTs, ER doctors, Kerry, Boo Boo, Durango Cath lab doctors and Durango ICU team for all their efforts in trying to save my dad. Also, a huge thank you to everyone who has sent their kind words, brought us meals, lent us a shoulder to cry on and helped in many other ways. We wouldn’t have made it through this hard time without such an amazing community of love. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Parish Hall on Jan. 27, at 3 p.m. We are going to have a big fish fry in his honor. Please bring a side dish, beer and funny stories to share.