Rest In Peace our beautiful and loving Gigi. Winifred K.Raber passed on Thursday, November 8, 2018. At 100 years of age. Her mother and father were Walter C.Black and Katherine M.( A l l e n ) B l a c k .
S h e w a s raised in Kannah Creek, Colorado. Her early childhood was not easy, however her strong
and determined personality and mindset earned her valedictorian at the Purdy Mesa school and a scholarship to Mesa College! She chose to help her beloved father with the ranch and help raise her two younger sisters. She married Wilbur (Bill) Raber on July 7,1936. They ran a cattle ranch, Elk Glen, on
Purdy Mesa and summer camp on Grand Mesa. She loved riding her horse, working cattle, (calving, branding, cattle drives), haying, and cooking for the ranch hands. Not to mention she made the BEST homemade raised doughnuts and cinnamon rolls! Winifred loved the community spirit, the country
dances, picnics and ALL social gatherings! They had two children, Jo Ann Wagner and Walt Raber (deceased). Both successful in business as well as commercial fishing in Alaska, her ultimate pride and joy! Winifred was very active in the 4H program with them. They moved to Orchard Mesa after retiring
from ranching. She loved to ride her horse in the desert but that wasn't enough. She obtained her real estate license in her 50's and sold many ranches until they told her she had to write her contracts on a computer! She achieved the 1+ million $ award and also a gold jacket from Century 21 in 1999. She rode
a mule to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with her two sisters and niece in 2000 making her 82 at the time! She was very proud of being awarded "Woman Of The West" by the Mesa County Executive Fair Board and Museum of Western Colorado in 2003. She had been a member of the Colorado Cattle
Women's Association, the Cowbelles, and Lady Elks club. She had many stories, many dear friends, and accomplishments but her greatest pride and joy, she would say, was how lucky she was to have such a great family. We feel very lucky we are to have such an amazing great- great grandmother! She was preceded in death by her son, Walter Raber; and her husband, Bill Raber. She is survived by her daughter, Jo Ann Wagner; daughter-in-law, Leslie Raber; sisters, Anita Clark and Wanda Sanders; grandchildren, Anne Fisher (Larry), Gus Wagner (Colette),Ryan Raber (Michelle), and Suzannah Raber,
11 great- grandchildren, 8 great- great- grandchildren and 1 great- great- great-granddaughter; as well as many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank her dear friends, family, and neighbors for their
incredible care, kindness, and compassion over the years.
A visitation will be held at Martin Mortuary on Friday, November 16th from 10 - 11 am with services starting at 11. Interment will take place at Grand Junction Memorial Gardens following the service.
Friends and family may leave their condolences on this website.
