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James Leland Horton died at his home in Romeo, Colorado Tuesday morning October 27, 2015.

Jim was born March 24, 1939 to Phyllis Carr and William Clary in Lebanon, Tennessee. His parents soon divorced and Jim and his mother moved to Utah during the war where his mother worked in a shell factory.

Jim and his mother returned to the San Luis Valley when he was 5 and they lived in Romeo until his mother married George Horton. Jim was adopted by George and the family moved to the Horton ranch in the Morgan community. Jim was later sealed to his parents in the LDS Denver Temple.

Jim is survived by his wife and sweetheart of 59 years, Bette Lauraine Richardson. They married October 23, 1956. Jim is also survived by his brother Harvey (Zina) Horton of Alamosa, sister Nancy (Richard) Adamson of Glendale, Arizona, his children Karen Lee Martinez of Alamosa, Janet (Dick) Davidson of La Jara, son James Leland Horton Jr. of Alamosa, and Glenda (Ray) Smith of Shelbyville, Indiana. Granddaughter Jammee Horton of Texas, grandson Ryan (Annelee) Crawford of St. George, Utah and one great-grandson Ruger Crawford. Jim and Bette traveled with their children to Mesa, Arizona in August, 1965 and were sealed as a family for time and all eternity.

Jim served in the US Army from March 1957 to 1959 where he learned to weld. Returning home he went to work welding for FE Shindler Perlite Co. Welding was his lifelong profession and he could fix, mend, or make anything out of metal.

In the mid 60’s Jim and Bette purchased Lee’s Texaco Station in Antonito where he made many lifelong friends. Jim was always ready to help anyone in need. He accomplished whatever he set his mind to. Becoming an auctioneer he always enjoyed doing benefit auctions. He called the quilt auction for the Conejos County Hospital for over 40 years. He was a school teacher, licensed airplane pilot, certified diver and in 1985 he became a water commissioner for the State of Colorado. He enjoyed being on the river and some of his most treasured memories were the summers he spent with his grandson Ryan, measuring water on the Conejos River.

Jim served as a Boy Scout Master in Romeo for 8 years. He loved his scouts and was always proud of the good men they grew up to be.

Funeral services will be held in Fox Creek, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. Viewing and visitation will be held on Friday, October 30, 2015 at Rogers Family Mortuary in Manassa from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. and before funeral services at the Fox Creek LDS Chapel. Interment will follow at the Fox Creek Cemetery.

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