Obituary: Maryellen Brubaker

Maryellen Brubaker, 83, died at home in Grand Junction, Colo., on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013.
Born Jan. 28, 1930, in Kingman, Kan., to Floyd and Florence Sparks Closson, she attended Kingman High School and later earned a Library Science degree from the University of Utah. She married Robert (Bob) Brubaker on July 20, 1947.
In 1950, Maryellen and Bob moved to Meeker, Colo., to Cortez in January 1970; and they moved to their farm north of Lewis in 1977. They relocated to Grand Junction in September 2013. Maryellen was librarian at the Cortez Public Library from 1971 until she retired in 1999.
Maryellen was member of the Cortez United Methodist Church, the American Library Association (ALA), and the Cortez chapter of the PEO. She will be especially remembered for her years as head librarian, her love of reading and introducing many children to books through Children’s Story Hours at the library and surrounding schools even after retirement. She also enjoyed hosting many special community programs at the Cortez Public Library. Maryellen was a three-time recipient of the ALA’s John Cotton Dana Library award and also recognized as the Colorado Librarian of the Year.
Survivors include her husband, Bob, of Grand Junction; their five children: son Steve and Myra Brubaker of Des Moines, Iowa; son Mike and Sue Brubaker of Hayward, Wis.; son Chris and Sandy Brubaker of Grand Junction; son Corey and Tina Brubaker of Lincoln, Neb.; daughter Tricia and Brian MacInnes of Albany, Ore; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Maryellen was preceded in death by her brother, Clarence Closson of Kingman and her sister, Marjorie Swingle of Tulsa, Okla.
A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2014, at the Cortez United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a memorial fund for the Cortez Public Library, honoring Maryellen. The Maryellen Brubaker Donation Account has been established at Vectra Bank, 350 W. Montezuma Ave., Cortez, Colo., 81321 or Vectra Bank, 499 28 1/4 Rd., Grand Junction, Colo., 81501.