David Otis Roberts

David Otis Roberts, 71, a three-year Carson City resident, died Feb. 10, 2007, at his home.

He was born Sept. 29, 1935, in St. Joseph, Mo., to Denton and Virginia Davis Roberts.

He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and a master's of arts and a master's of fine arts degrees in English and creative writing from the Writers Workshop at the University of Iowa. He did post-graduate work in psychology at Pepperdine.

Before moving to Carson City, Mr. Roberts lived in Colorado and New Mexico

He was a professor at Monmouth College and Michigan State University, and also taught as an adjunct professor at Western Nevada Community College.

He also ran a pack outfit in the western Sierra, raised horses in Spokane, Wash., and counseled in the STEPS program in Washington state. He also wrote three novels, six books of poetry and numerous magazine and newspaper articles. He studied the journals of Lewis and Clark, and traced their journey from Missouri to the Pacific Ocean.

He was active in the Back Country Horsemen in Canon City, Colo., and helped found the Taos Poetry Circus in New Mexico. He was a member of the Ash Canyon Poets and the First United Methodist Church.

He enjoyed traveling, horses and learning.

Among his survivors are his longtime companion Ursula Carlson and her son, Severin; daughters and sons-in-law Leslie and Marlow Hotchkiss of Ojai, Calif., Rachel and Shorty Robinson of Alpine, Texas, Caddy Roberts-Williams and Adrian Williams of Canon City, Colo.; son Christopher Funn Roberts of Los Angeles; brothers and sisters-in-law Denton and Ardis Roberts of Los Angeles and Christian Fredrick Urban III and Gerri Urban; six grandchildren and numerous extended family members.

A celebration of life will be held in May in Tuscarora for family and friends.