Mildred “Midge” Posey

June 27, 1911 ~ November 8, 2008

Funeral services for Mildred “Midge” Posey, a longtime Cortez resident, were Saturday, November 15 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Empire Street Chapel. Interment followed at the Cortez Cemetery.

Mildred, better known as Midge, was born June 27, 1911 in Monticello, UT the youngest daughter of Parley Rogerson and Edith Alvilda (Bayles) Butt’s five children. She passed away at Valley Inn Nursing Home in Mancos on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the age of 97.

Midge’s father, Parley, was an early scout/colonizer. At seventeen years old, he was part of a group of Mormons that formed the Hole in the Rock Expedition to settle and establish Bluff in southern Utah.

Later, he was one the founders of Monticello. In 1918, Midge’s family moved to Dove Creek where they were associated with the mercantile business. The two-story store was named P.R. Butt and Sons. The building still stands today and can be seen on Highway 491 in the middle of Dove Creek.

Her mother spent long hours in the store so Midge’s sister, Alma, who was ten years older, was her care giver.

In May of 1928, just shy of her 17th birthday, Midge eloped with Harvey Posey and her brother, Clark and his girlfriend to Dolores, where a preacher agreed to marry them.

Midge and Harvey settled in Dove Creek where two children were born, Walter Leo and Myrlene. In 1933, the family moved to Cortez. It was during the Depression years but Harvey was one of the fortunate ones who had a job working for the State Highway Department. In 1956, they adopted a little girl, Patricia Jane.

Midge was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved people and was always interested in them. Her other interests were fishing, gardening, crocheting, traveling, and above all, family.

Surviving Midge are her children, Walter Leo Posey of Cottonwood, AZ, Myrlene Harris and husband, Lavell of Cortez, and Jane Hafen and husband, Jeff of Henderson, Nev.; 14 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren. Midge is preceded in death by her parents; and by all of her siblings.

Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.