Jimmy Dardanes

Jimmy Dardanes was born in Raton, New Mexico, on October 28th, 1941, and grew up as an only child with his parents, Edwina Maria Archuleta and George Dardanes Jr., and grandparents Ruth Chavez Dardanes and George Dardanes Sr., living in the same house near Fishers Peak, in Colorado. He graduated from Most Holy Trinity Catholic School in Trinidad in 1959. He grew up on a family ranch near Trinchera, Colorado riding his horse, Silver. He worked helping manage 1000 head of goats whose cheese (feta and romano) was shipped by train to Chicago, Illinois, and raising cattle as well.

He went to Trinidad Jr. College and studied gunsmithing. He then honorably served in the U.S. Army for 3 years; he went to Airborne Ranger School where he received the Soldier of the Month award several times. During his training, his first time in an airplane was also his first paratrooper jump. He met 5 lifelong friends that he kept in touch with until he was the last surviving one. After discharge from the Army, he worked a variety of jobs on the railroad counting cars, in construction building I-25, and managed cattle feedlots. He eventually became a brand inspector and moved to Brush, Colorado, where he met and married his devoted and loving wife Marjorie Williams. He worked in Brush managing a Commodity Trading Brokerage Office, with his wife as a team. Later, he managed a livestock sale barn, and he also worked for a cattle brokerage company out of Chicago, Illinois.

In Arizona, on the Navajo Nation, looking for the high desert flowers in bloom, at the age of 50 he suffered a car accident in which he received severe injuries and suffered a spinal cord injury leading to becoming an incomplete quadriplegic. After his recovery, he traded stocks and managed the books for several rental homes. He helped care for his seven grandchildren, who have fond memories of how he took care of them and taught them things about life that only he could. After many years, surviving multiple health setbacks, his age became harder on him over the years.

His last birthday he reached the age of 85, on October 28, 2026. Surrounded by his family, he passed peacefully at East Morgan County Hospital who gave him exceptional care there, thank you to the nurses, all the Drs, Dr. Dillon specifically, and other staff who provided him with great comfort in his time of need. Throughout his life, his religious beliefs and morals always guided him to be a kind and caring person to all who needed him. He was always willing to help his family and friends with whatever they needed. His friendly smile, warm conversation, and witty humor made him a friend to all. He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Margie and their entire family and every life he touched along the way.

He is survived by his 3 children, daughter Stacie (Scott) Marie Dardanes Gilmore and his grandchildren, Sterling Kazuo, Samantha MarySue, and Serenity GeorgeAnne; son Gregory (Gina) William Dardanes, grandchildren Erica Lauren, Darrian Raquel, and Nicholas James; and son Aaron Patrick Dardanes and grandchild, Maxamus Charles.

A Visitation will be held Saturday, November 7th at 4-6 PM following with Recitation of the Holy Rosary at Heer Mortuary, 222 Cameron St. in Brush, Colorado.

A funeral service will be held on November 9th at 10:30 AM at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, 340 Stanford St. in Brush, Colorado. The casket will be taken to the Brush Cemetery by horse and carriage for his final journey home. There will be a Twenty-one Gun Salute to honor his military service.

Jimmy Dardanes was preceded in death by both his parents. They are generational ancestors to southwestern Colorado and northern New Mexico. His Mother, Maria Edwina “Eduvigen” Archuleta Dardanes, and his Maternal Grandparents, Francisco Antonio Archuleta, born 1890, Canon Largo, New Mexico and Adelaida Valdez Archuleta born 1891, Canyon Largo, New Mexico. and her parents, Jose Cleofas Valdez, born 1865 in Rio Arriba, New Mexico Territory, and Anastasita Chavez Valdez, born 1872 in San Juan County, Colorado.

Great grandfather, Ricardo de Jesus Archuleta, born 1856, in El Rito, Abiquiu Parish territory of New Mexico and Great grandmother, Maria Perfeta Valdez, born 1855 Abiquiu, New Mexico, and her parents, Juan Nepomuceno (Pomuceno) Valdez, born 1815, Abiquiu Parish, New Mexico and Juana Maria Gertrudis Archuleta, born 1831 in New Mexico.

His Father, George Dardanes, Jr. born 1919 in Folsom, New Mexico and his Paternal Grandfather George Dardanes, Sr., born 1890, Greece, immigrated from Greece in the early 1900’s and Grandmother Rufina “Ruth” Chavez, born 1902, Folsom, New Mexico, and whose father, Claudio Chavez born 1863, Huerfano County, Colorado and whose mother Cirilia Trujillo Martinez Chavez, born 1874, Huerfano County, Colorado.