James Leon Holton, Jr.
Marriages
Rosalee DeMoss
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 5C - February 6, 2022
Jim Holton, age 90,
passed away peacefully at
HopeWest, with his wife of
67 year by his side.
Jim was born July 28,
1931, in Arco, Georgia, the
eldest son of James Leon
Holton Sr. and Sharon Satterfield Holton. When he was
nine months old the family moved to Reed, then Lazear,
Colorado, where he grew up. Jim graduated from
Hotchkiss High School in 1949, and went to Western
State College for a year. Then with the Korean War
going on, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
After four years and with the war over, Jim received
an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy. He returned
to Hotchkiss and married Rosalee DeMoss. Returning
to Western State with his wife, he got his degree in
education. After graduation he took a teaching job
in Crawford, Colorado. With a new son, James Leon
Holton, III, he took a job with KREX and moved his
family to Monte Vista, Colorado.
A teacher at heart, he soon decided to go back into
teaching and took a job in Sterling, Colorado. After
several years and another son, Geoffry Edward Holton,
he moved his family back to the Western Slope to be near
family. Taking a position with District 51, he settled his
family in Grand Junction, Colorado. With the arrival
of their third son, John Lee Holton, Jim decided they’d
had enough moving. He finished his teaching career
in Grand Junction and retired from School District 51.
During the summers, he did many different jobs. Later
he got his realtor’s license, and bought and sold houses.
A few of the things Jim liked were hunting, fishing,
cars, music, dancing, bridge, pinochle, hiking, and
traveling. He was a member of the Crossroads United
Methodist Church and attended regularly.
Jim is survived by brothers, Edward Miller Holton,
of Montrose and Denver, and his daughter, Debra
McQueen; Tilmon Piper Holton, of California and
Montana, and his daughters, Carrie Morris (Chris), of
California and Tracy Stevens (Dave), of Montana, and
special cousin, John Satterfield (Sue), of Denver. He’s
also survived by his wife, Rosalee; their son, John Lee
Holton (Ayumi), and their three children, son, Kai Luke,
and daughters, Kia and Tiyala; eldest grandchild, James
L. Holton IV (Kelley), and their children Novalee,
James, and Jubilee; second eldest grandchild, Richard
Tayne Holton; sister-in-law, Terrill Ann Rutter; niece,
Andrea Hunt (Todd), and many loving nieces and
nephews, and grand nieces, nephews and cousins.
Two sons preceded him in death, James Leon Holton
III, and Geoffry Edward Holton.
Graveside services will be at Hotchkiss Riverside
Cemetery in Hotchkiss Saturday, February 12, at 1:30
p.m. A Celebration of Life service is Sunday, February
13, at Crossroads Methodist Church, 599 30 Road, at
2:00 p.m.
Arrangements are under the care of Taylor Mortuary
in Delta.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests any donations
be made to a charity of your choice.
The family wishes to thank the Veterans
Administration, LaVilla Grande, and HopeWest for their
loving care and healing. We have been truly blessed.
