George A. Elder

George A. Elder, 84, of La Junta went home to be with the Lord on December 25, 2013 at the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center. He was born on August 18, 1929 to Alfred W. & Maxine (Boley) Elder in La Junta, Colorado. He married Constance Lemerand in Memphis, TN in 1952.


George graduated from C.U. Boulder in 1959 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a Minor in History. He served in the Korean Conflict with the Air Force. He was a very giving and gentle man never expected anything in return. He enjoyed gardening, traveling to Taos, N.M., music and loved animals and children. George will be missed greatly by all that knew him.


In 2011 he was the volunteer citizens of the year with his wife Connie. He was a member of the friends of the Woodruff Memorial Library, broad of director of the Crossroads Market.
He is survived by his wife, Constance “Connie” of 51 years; sister, Patricia (Norm) Koeppen of Canyon City, CO; sons, Ken (Barbara) Topliss of Canyon City, CO and Bill (Debbie) Braz of Wray, CO; grandchildren, Tia (Michael) Rose of Canyon City, CO; Mindi Weeks of Salida, CO; Malissa (Scott) Denney of Ft. Knox, KY; Charity (Chad) Reves of Brighton, CO; Cody (Hailey) Braz of St. Francis, KS; Warren (Kailey) Braz of Alaska and RD Braz of Denver; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.


Those wishing to make memorial contributions may make them to the Woodruff Memorial Library, 522 Colorado Avenue, La Junta, CO, 81050 or to Charity of Choice direct or through the funeral home.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be Friday, January 3, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. and Funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 a.m., both services at Our Lady of Guadalupe/St. Patrick Parish with Father Matthew Wertin officiating. Interment will follow at Ft. Lyon National Cemetery at noon with military honors.