John E. `Jack' MOTICA 1925

John E. `Jack' MOTICA 1925 - 2004 SHS 1943
OBITUARTIES - THE SHERIDAN PRESS - October 18 2004 Former Sheridan resident John E. "Jack" Motica, 79, of Grand Junction, Colo., died there Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004, of natural causes.

Funeral services and burial were Oct. 12 in Grand Junction.

Mr. Motica was born Sept. 23, 1925, in Monarch to Joseph and Katie (Lukesic) Motica. He was a 1943 graduate, with honors, of Sheridan High School and a 1948 graduate of the Colorado School of Mines with a degree in engineering.

He was mine engineer for Sheridan-Wyoming Coal Co. at Monarch from 1949-53. He was chief geologist for the Colorado Plateau Division of Union Carbide from 1954-67 in Grand Junction. He joined Ranchers Exploration and Development in Albuquerque, N.M., as vice president of geology. He was appointed president and chief operating officer in 1980.

He retired in 1985 and returned to Grand Junction.

Mr. Motica was a passionate golfer from the age of 7 and was Grand Junction's city golf champion for several years.

He was preceded in death by a brother and an infant son.

Survivors include a son, Jack of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; two daughters, Jane Raleigh of Valencia, Calif., and Kate Chimenti of Los Gatos, Calif.; a sister, Jean Buell of Sheridan; and four granddaughters.