Springfield Colorado

Loy Lee Rodgers of Springfield, CO, formerly of Campo, CO and Aransas Pass, TX was born on March 6, 1928 in Springfield, CO to James Milton and Vida Belle Barler Rodgers and passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at the age of 81 at the Long Term Care Center in Springfield, CO.

Loy grew up and went to school in the Lone Star Community southwest of Springfield. He married Delma Edith Harbert of Campo, CO on June 26, 1946 in Clayton, NM.

To this union, three children were born: Gailyn, Glenda and Gloria. Loy was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Vida Rodgers, brothers, Pete, Earl, Tony, Doyle and sister, Oda Rodgers Johnson, a number of nieces and nephews and his special longhorn steers, Hotshot and Meanie and his donkey, Donk.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Delma; son, Gailyn Rodgers of Amarillo, TX, daughters, Glenda Boone and Jerry, Waxahachie, TX and Gloria Antone and Torrey of Oklahoma City, OK; grandchildren, Angie Rodgers Lester and husband, Jacob, children, Abigail and Ava, Weatherford, TX; Jobe Rodgers and wife, Ashley, children, Anna and Grey, Lubbock, TX; Kristen Boone, Waxahachie, TX and Erin Boone Burton, husband, Brad, children Dane and Helena, Bowersville, GA; Tia Antone Nitzel, husband, Kris, children Taylor and Kaden, Oklahoma City, Timothy Antone and wife, Rachel, Oklahoma City; sister, Delma Jackson, Springfield; brothers, Virgil and wife, Doris, Springfield; Curtis and wife, Naomi, Norman, OK; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Rodgers, Springfield, Anne Rodgers, Oregon; and numerous nieces and nephews. Loy never met a stranger and was always willing and ready to help people in need.

He had various interests over the years, however, one of his most rewarding hobbies was raising and training longhorn steers.

Most of his life, Loy was a farmer and rancher in Campo area. He was always an industrious guy; before he married at age 18, he worked for his father and other farmers.

After marriage, he worked various jobs to support his young wife including driving a school bus, working for the County, the Campo Grocery Store and Co-op service station while farming and ranching.

He raised Saluki dogs for chasing coyotes, and after buying a farm 8 miles east of Campo in 1959, he raised quarter horses, pigs, chickens, turkeys, peafowl and cattle.

He bought a 40-foot cattle trailer and hauled cattle for Weisbart Ranch and several other ranchers to La Junta and other sale rings.

He had an irrigation well drilled and a pond dug and irrigated alfalfa and a vegetable garden.

In 1979, due to his health, he retired from farm work and moved to Aransas Pass, TX. He decided he could do good by hauling fill dirt where people were building.

He bought a loader and two dump trucks and earned a reputation of selling a good, big load of sand.

During that time, Loy and a partner bought a house boat and restored it and put it out in the gulf waters. After a few months, he decided he didn’t park it in the harbor too well and sold his share to his partner!!

Later, he bought a fishing boat and took many friends and relatives from Baca County fishing in the gulf waters. He really enjoyed fishing.

Also, he bought 5 longhorn steers and broke them to ride like a horse. He rode them in many parades in different towns and won many trophies.

Hotshot, the steer he rode the most, was born on Loy’s birthday in 1986 and passed in 2005.

In 2000, Loy and Delma moved back to Baca County and have enjoyed making new friends and continuing old friendships.

In April, 2001 during a visit from cousin Leroy Crane, Loy confessed Christ as his Savior. His struggles are over, and he is now with God.