Edgar Fetzer Obituary

Edgar Vaughn Fetzer DURANGO, CO - Edgar Vaughn Fetzer, "Vaughn," 57, of Durango, Colorado, died Saturday, September 18, 2021 while climbing in the mountains of Colorado. An experienced mountaineer, Vaughn was on a solo trip in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range when he fell during his descent from Blanca Peak. Vaughn's childhood home was Summerville, South Carolina. He attended college in Upstate New York and furthered his education in Alaska and Montana. He was a longtime resident of Fairbanks, Alaska and lived and taught in Napaskiak, Alaska. In 2015, he moved to Durango, Colorado, where he resided since. Vaughn chose to work in service to others, first as a teacher and later as a nurse. Both of these professions gave him freedom to pursue adventure, which he did at every opportunity. His playground was vast, including the mountains of Alaska, the Wind River Range in Wyoming, the Desert Southwest, South America, Mount Everest, and many special places in between. He will be deeply missed and leaves a substantial void for those fortunate to have had him in their lives. There were many sides to Vaughn. Whether engaging in introspective conversation about personal growth, sharing a joke, or chasing outdoor experiences, he gave each of us a friendship that felt singular. While in Napaskiak, Vaughn adopted his beloved dog, Gaylu. She was an especially important presence in his life, sharing many adventures, including numerous visits to the Wind River Range. Vaughn was preceded in death by his parents, Lulu and William Fetzer. He is survived by his sister, Estelle Ruddy, of North Charleston, South Carolina and her two children, as well as a great many friends. A 'Gathering in Love for Vaughn Fetzer' will be held at the Durango Dharma Center both in-person and online on Sunday, October 10th from approximately 5-6 pm MT (3-4 pm AKST). In-person attendance is limited. To attend in person, please register at: https://www.durangodharmacenter.org/events/#!event/register/2021/10/10/in-persononline-gathering-in-love-for-vaughn-fetzer. To attend online, go to: https://www.durangodharmacenter.org/events/#!event/2021/10/10/in-person-onlinegathering-in-love-for-vaughn-fetzer. A Memorial Kudoboard was started to remember Vaughn. Please feel welcome to contribute remembrances and messages there. https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/gmFC2mwi A celebration of life may be planned in Fairbanks at a later date. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in a Fairbanks gathering to celebrate Vaughn's life. Special thanks go out to all of the members of the search and rescue teams who took part in the effort to find Vaughn. In lieu of flowers, please give to your favorite charity or support the Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue team, http://www.avsar.us/. Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston