Sina May Tekoucich

Sina May “Pepper” Tekoucich died on June 27. She was 80.Pepper was born on Jan. 14, 1925, in Grand Junction, to William E. and Sina Eliza (Parsons) Pepper. She was raised in Los Angeles. While she was still a teenager, she moved to Aspen and graduated from Pitkin County High School. She married Aspen native George “Buttons” Tekoucich on June 10, 1946, in Aspen. The family moved to Glenwood Springs in 1958, and George and Pepper moved to Rifle after George retired. They lived there for 10 years, then moved back to Glenwood Springs. At the time of her death, Pepper was a resident at the Veterans Nursing Home in Rifle. She was well-known in the area for her cooking and catering talents. She tended bar in Aspen at the Hotel Jerome and also at the Golden Horn in its early years. She worked at the Hotel Colorado and the Hot Springs Lodge and Pool while living in Glenwood Springs. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Laurie Lee Green. Survivors include her husband of 59 years; daughters Linde Carole (Mike) Fromm, of Helena, Mont., Suzy Jo (Butch) Puff, of New Castle, and Jorgeann Guccini, of Rifle; and grandchildren Tim (Anita) Fromm, of Edwards, Calif., Callie (Matt) Milios, of Seattle, Johanna Puff, of Aurora, Sarah (Jabon) McMichael, of Arvada, Nichole Guccini, of Folsom, Calif., and Traviss Guccini, of Silt. At her request, there will be no services.