Troy Mitchell Pugh

Durango resident Troy Mitchell Pugh died Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Durango. He was 50. The cause of death is under investigation.

Mr. Pugh was born April 20, 1962, in Denver, and was adopted by Bill and Barbara Pugh when he was 3 months old.

He grew up in Durango, graduating from Durango High School in 1982. He attended Fort Lewis College for a short time and then joined the Navy. He was in the Navy from 1982 until 1986, where he was a psychology technician in a naval hospital.

When he returned to Durango, Mr. Pugh attended school to become an emergency medical technician and worked at Mercy Hospital in the emergency room. He later attended paramedic training at Swedish Hospital in Denver.

In August 1991, he married Susan Dustin in Durango.

Mr. Pugh was the manager of Kroegers Garden Center in Durango and later managed Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery in Dolores. In 2000, he began his own landscaping business, Cornerscape Designs.

He enjoyed landscaping, music and drawing. Mr. Pugh played first-chair trumpet in high school and enjoyed drawing cartoons in the Disney tradition. Recently, he had begun teaching himself Italian.

"His greatest pride and love was for his wife and son," his family said.

Mr. Pugh is survived by his wife of more than 20 years, Susan Pugh, of Durango; son, Kalin Pugh of Durango; mother, Barbara Pugh of Durango; sister, Jana Pugh of Durango; brother, Grant Pugh of Durango; one aunt; several nieces and nephews; and numerous extended family members.

A memorial service will be held at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, June 7, 2012, at Santa Rita Park next to the visitor center.