This site is the grave of Wilber S. Luark. Wilber S. Luark died Dec. 16, 1989 while snowmobiling in the Flat Tops. Private graveside services were held at the Luark Ranch at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19, 1989.

From his obituary we glean the following information: Wilber Sidney Luark was born in Windsor, Colorado, July 3, 1908 to William and Rosette Luark. The family homesteaded near Burns in the mid 1920's. At one point Mr. Luark's older brother and his widowed mother were required to "prove up" in order to keep the homestead. Wilber married Jessie Schlegel on July 3, 1948 at the Sunnyside Homestead at Burns. Mr. Luark competed in rodeos for 26 years. In addition to the ranch operations he also ran an outfitter service from his ranch. From this adventure he was nicknamed "The Mountain Man". Mr. Luark was named in 1983 by the Eagle County Soil conservation District as the Outstanding Conservationist of the Year. He was also selected by the Colorado River Valley Watershed Association and the Colorado Association of Soil Conservation Districts as outstanding conservationist. Mr. Luark was the first president of the Burns Roping Club. This club built a rodeo arena to replace the old and outgrown corral on Poverty Flats, just east of Burns. The rodeo ran for eight consecutive years. Weathered remnants of the once popular rodeo arena still stand on the site. Mr. Luark was survived by his wife, Jessie Luark and three sons, Mike, Pat and Orbit and one daughter, Susan Banegas. A brief service was held at the Luark Ranch. Family members then attended graveside services at the "Wilber Luark Homestead Cemetery" overlooking Burns Hole. This site was selected by Mr. Luark prior to his death. Farnum-Richardson Mortuary of Glenwood Springs was in charge of the arrangements. (Obituary Dec. 21, 1989, The Eagle Valley Enterprise)

From land records we find that this site was assigned to Wilber S. Luark on October 1940. He received a patent from the US Government on Sept. 9, 1941. This included the NW 1/4 and the NE 1/4 of section 31, also the N 1/5 of the SW 1/4 and the N 1/5 of the SE 1/4 of section 31, T1S R84W. In December 1961 the land was transferred to Luark, Inc. In 1972 it was again transferred to the Luark Land Company. In 1985 it was transferred to Pat E. and Niki R. Luark, the current owners.

This site is located on private property and permission for access is required.

ROUTT COUNTY CEMETERY: #RT044
COLORADO HISTORICAL SITE: #5RT1162
LOCATION:
BURIALS: 1 burial with 1 inscribed stone
CONDITION:
USGS QUAD MAP: BLUE HILL, CO 7.5 1972 UTM 13;
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: T1S R84W SEC 31

© 2004-2008 Roger & Joyce Cusick
National Association for Cemetery Preservation, Inc.nacpinc@hotmail.com

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