Philip Gene Spotts

Article Last Updated; Thursday, June 25, 2009 7:31AM

Durango resident Philip Gene Spotts was struck and killed by an automobile while walking along U.S. Highway 550 north of Durango on Monday, June 22, 2009. He was 58.

Mr. Spotts was born to Gene and Amilene Spotts in Imperial, Neb., on Nov. 11, 1950. The Spotts family moved to Durango in the 1950s, where Mr. Spotts' father owned an insurance agency.

Mr. Spotts attended Riverview Elementary and Smiley Junior High schools. He graduated from Durango High School in 1970. He went on to attend Fort Lewis College.

His family said Mr. Spotts was very patriotic and sold flags on Army bases and online.

"He spent hundreds of what little money he had to send letters and flags to the troops," said Shelly Korte, who works at Hermosa Country Market and got to know Mr. Spotts from his frequent visits. Mr. Spotts also collected books and mailed hundreds of them to military personnel serving the U.S. overseas.

He loved all pets, especially cats, and was an advocate against declawing felines. He had a black-and-white-tuxedo cat named Skunkie.

"He used to tell everybody that if he ever won the lottery - he bought a ticket every day - he'd make every shelter in the U.S. a no-kill shelter," Korte said. "He had a gift of gab; he loved to talk. But he was very smart, very intelligent, and I don't think he always came across that way to other people."

Mr. Spotts is survived by his mother, Amilene Spotts, of Durango; sister, Nancy Lucht, of Durango; two nephews; an aunt; and two cousins.

A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 26, 2009, at the family plot in Mount Hope Cemetery in Imperial, Neb.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Aztec Humane Society, where he got Skunkie, at 825 East Sabena, Aztec, NM 87410; or the La Plata County Humane Society, 1111 South Camino del Rio, Durango, CO 81303; or any animal shelter or refuge.