Jerry Alan Dittemore

JERRY ALAN DITTEMORE
August 21, 1930 - November16, 2017

Jerry Alan Dittemore was born on August 21, 1930 to Otis Finley and Nora Evelyn (Jones) Dittemore at the family home in Eastonville, Colorado. He peacefully passed away on November 16, 2017 at his La Junta home surrounded by family.

Jerry was the youngest child of Otis and Nora Dittemore. As a boy Jerry loved finding adventure on the family ranch while also learning about crops, cattle, farm equipment, and spending time with his beloved grandpa Jones.

Jerry met a wonderful Swedish family in Elbert, Colorado and while dating one of the daughters of the family he showed up to take her to the premiere of “Gone With The Wind”. She was sick and suggested that he take her youngest sister, Norma Lee, to the movie instead. That date led to a whirlwind romance and an elopement to Ft. Sumner, New Mexico on August 29, 1951.

Jerry and Norma had seven children. They ran a small dairy during their first years and as Jerry became restless he started working in Colorado Springs at the GNC packing plant. He later took a job with the Colorado Packing Co. in La Junta where the family has lived since. After the packing plant closed Jerry was a self-employed painter and worked for Bart Ewers of Swink on some big projects in and around the Arkansas Valley. In 1983 Jerry took his last job with Dean Pickle and Specialty Products as a Maintenance Supervisor. He then retired in 2000.

Jerry and Norma were able to enjoy a bit of traveling around the country to visit the kids and see the sights. They put many miles on the Lincoln which he treated with “kid gloves”. Some great memories were made for them during this time. Jerry was a lover of pie, coffee, ice cream, and anything made by Norma’s loving hands.

Jerry was always a hard worker, he liked things done right and had an unmatched wit. He could build or fix anything and up until the past few years he and Norma had a big garden each year and always grew enough to share with family and friends. He also loved taking his Ford pickup, chainsaws and his grit to cut down trees for people in order to get wood for their stove. He cut trees into his early 80’s.

Jerry also loved to walk a couple miles or more daily around North La Junta. Although he was getting crippled, he was determined to keep moving. He picked up aluminum cans on his walks as a hobby and to many people was affectionately known as “The Can Man”. Jerry’s last walk was on November 7, 2017. The next day he went in for a surgical procedure and was sent home under hospice care. The last journey was short and just the way Jerry would have wanted it. His family finds great solace in this.

Jerry is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years Norma of the La Junta home; children Wilamina (David) Schindler of La Grange, North Carolina; Laura Pleasants of Cheraw, Colorado; Otis (Desiree) Dittemore of Spottswood, Virginia; Estella (Larry) Boevers of Yukon, Oklahoma; David (Georgia) Dittemore of Cheraw, Colorado; Scarlet (Mark) Cline of Las Vegas, Nevada; siblings Lorraine Maczko of Ordway, Colorado; 19 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister Avanelle McKeand, daughter Teresa Lee Dittemore; grandson Layton Cline, great-granddaughter Abigail Smith; and son in-law Glenn Pleasants.

There will be no formal services at this time but the family will plan a reunion and celebration of life on Father’s Day weekend 2018.

In lieu of flowers those wishing to do so may make memorial contributions to Arkansas Valley Hospice, PO Box 408; La Junta, CO 81050 or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Online condolences may be made at PeacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home and Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.