Bill Hamilton
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 8A - October 27, 2010
W.A. "Bill" Hamilton went to
meet his Lord after an active
morning of entertaining guests.
He and Leone, his wife of 73
years, were walking hand in hand
down the hall.
He was born August 18, 1917 in
Cedaredge, Colorado to Fred
Hamilton and Mary Goodwin
Hamilton (later Marah). Bill grew up in Cedaredge where he attended
school, played football, and in 1935 graduated. During his
high school years and right after, he worked part time on ranches in
the Surface Creek Valley. He often worked with his life long friend
and future brother-in-law John Doyle, feeding cattle on the Bar-I,
which was leased by Jim Doyle. Bill and John were known all over
the valley for their practical jokes and great antics.
In 1937 Bill and John moved the Doyle family from Cedaredge to
Dove Creek, Colorado using only horses and wagons. Bill and Leone
(Doyle) were married in Norwood on April 4, 1937. They made
their home in the Eckert area working on ranches. Bill helped build
reservoirs on Grand Mesa when the summer work was done in the
valley. In 1941 they moved to the Meeker-Rangely area where they
both worked on ranches. Bill also worked in the oil fields. In 1945
they returned to Cedaredge and bought a small trucking firm the day
after their son, Leslie Ray, was born. John Doyle joined their trucking
business. In the early 1950s the business expanded when Bill
and Leone set up a concrete batch plant in Cedaredge. In 1959 they
entered into a partnership with John Beeson and purchased Delta
Sand and Gravel. Throughout this time period, Bill and Leone continued
to love ranching, always maintaining a cattle herd and raising
horses. Their family grew with the birth of their daughter, Suzanne
Kay in 1949. Community involvement included joining with
other families to establish the first Little Britches Rodeo in 1959,
which they continued to work in and support for many years and active
membership in the Methodist Church. During this time they
loved spending summers at their cabin on Grand Mesa, hunting with
the Petersons, and supporting Les and Suzanne in their many 4-H
events, rodeos, sports, and other activities.
With their children grown and wanting to return to the simple and
meaningful life of ranching, they sold Delta Sand and Gravel in
1972 and bought a ranch in Gateway, Colorado. They spent seven
years there, making many new life long friends. Being close to
family was always important, so they moved back to Cedaredge in
1979. Bill and Les formed the Uncompahgre Cattle Company in
Delta in 1984. Les and Melissa bought out that partnership, sold it,
and formed another ranch in the Kannah Creek-Lands End area. Bill
continued to work, always helping with the cattle drives and
brandings together with his son, grandchildren and great
grandchildren. Bill was honored with "Cattleman of the Year" in
1992. To be honored by his peers made him very proud. In 1996 he
built a cabin with Suzanne and her family on upper Surface Creek
where they could continue to enjoy family time on the hill. Bill
loved to irrigate and care for their "Lil Bit o Heaven" well known
65-acre place South of Cedaredge and never stopped. Bill and Leone
were honored by their community as Grand Marshals of the Little
Britches parade two times. He was a member of the New Hope
Evangelical Free Church.
Bill is survived by his wife of 73 years, Leone Hamilton of
Cedaredge; one son, Les Hamilton and his wife Melissa of Delta;
one daughter, Suzanne Hamilton and her husband Bob Page of
Cedaredge; three brothers and their spouses, Ed (Beryle) Marah, Pat
(Gwen) Marah and Mike (Bertie) Marah, all of Cedaredge; and two
sisters, Helen Kungel of Cedaredge and Rosella Martin of Keene,
Texas. Bill is further survived by five grandchildren, 13 great
grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Memorial services are being held on Thursday, October 28th, 2:00
p.m. at the Assembly of God in Cedaredge.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given either to
Bill and Leone's great granddaughter Lella's liver transplant fund,
the Lyndall Ella Young Account at Bank of Colorado, 145 West 4th
St., Delta, CO 81416 or the building fund of the New Hope
Evangelical Free Church, P.O. Box 542, Cedaredge, CO 81413.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Taylor Funeral
Service and Crematory.
View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at
taylorfuneralservice.com.
