John A. McRoy
Marriages
Catherine Grayling
Lisa Prueher
Christine Northrop
Obituaries
Steamboat Pilot and Today - May 7, 2018
John A. McRoy
August 12, 1929 — May 3, 2018
John McRoy passed away on May 3, 2018. He was born on August 12, 1929 to Calvin and Sylvia McRoy in Posie, Illinois. At 16, he traveled to Granby, Colorado to work on a ranch. After service interpreting Morse Code for the US Airforce in Germany, he returned to the west. While in the logging business, he and his wife Catherine Grayling moved their young family throughout Colorado and Wyoming. Using his vast knowledge of the mountains and skills as a lifelong hunter and fisherman, he became an outfitter. With his wife Lisa Prueher, they established Sporting Country Guides based in Granby, CO. He offered year-round experiences hunting, snowmobiling, and horseback riding. He became very active as a snowmobile guide for disabled groups, especially the blind, now known as XMO Mobility. Horses always held a special place in John’s heart and he was a well-respected horseman. At one time, he had over 100 head and was famous for his dependable horses and reliable pack strings. In 1997, John and his current wife Christine Northrop McRoy, moved to Steamboat Springs, CO to ran Saddle Mountain Ranch, a boarding and breeding ranch. In Steamboat, they were active community members and focused on breeding horses and competing in Team Penning and Ranch Sorting. John has an impressive collection of buckles from his competitions. In 2008 John and Christi, moved to Montrose, Colorado to JC Heart Ranch. They continued to breed horses and were involved in Ranch Sorting, Ranch Horse Versatility, and run riding camps for kids.
John is survived by his brother-in-law, Morris Gere, 100 yrs, Centralia, Ill. His children: Susan Ferguson, (Fred) Centralia, Ill., Shelly Smith, Centralia, Ill, John C. McRoy (Shelly), Bartelso, Ill., Calvin McRoy,(Christine) Granby, CO and Cassandra McRoy, Penn Yan, NY, and his former wife, Lisa Prueher, Montrose, CO and his wife Christine Northrop McRoy, Montrose, NY, and six grandchildren: Christy, John, Brittany, Mackenzee, Taylor, Dalton and three grandchildren. John’s family is grateful to the wonderful friend and family that helped him depart this world peacefully and with grace.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in John’s name to Extreme Mobility Camps, http://www.xmocamps.org
A celebration of life will be held on May 19th, 12 pm at the Strawberry Creek Ranch 9N in Granby, CO.
