Melvin R. Headrick

Melvin Richard Headrick was born on July 13, 1927, to Dessie and John Henry Headrick, on the family farm east of Cheraw. He grew up there with his eight siblings. He graduated from Cheraw High School in 1945 and attended Hesston College, Hesston, KS, for one year. He was a lifelong member of East Holbrook Mennonite Church.

Melvin spent two formative years, 1947-1949, rebuilding after WWII in Germany and Switzerland with Mennonite Central Committee. Upon his return to Colorado he met Clara Esch, a nursing student in LaJunta. They were married on April 12, 1952. Melvin and Clara raised their family of six daughters on their farm east of Cheraw.

Melvin was active in both the Cheraw and La Junta communities, serving on several boards. He and Clara were instrumental in getting the retirement community, Casa del Sol, off the ground. They moved to Casa del Sol in 1998, where Melvin lived until the last year of his life.

Melvin died in La Junta on November 15, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents, two daughters, Donna Kaye and Mary Beth, his wife, Clara, a grandson, Jacob Boehs, his sister, Dorothy Harden, and his brother, Harold. He is survived by three brothers, Clifford of Cheraw, CO, Lloyd of Hesston, KS, and Don (Phyllis) of Wayland, IA, and three sisters, Marge Schmucker of Hesston, KS, Rosie (Lonnie) Kauffman, of Guymon, OK, and Joyce (Harold) Shetler, of Twin Falls, ID, and four daughters, Betsy (Bruce) Headrick McCrae of Lakewood, CO, Susan (Lee) Wheeler of Hesston, KS, Christina Headrick of Littleton, CO, and Rachel Boehs of Fort Collins, CO. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and two great-grandsons. He was well loved and will be sorely missed.

A memorial service will be Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at the East Holbrook Mennonite Church with Rev. Jeremy Yoder and Rev. Larry Evers officiating. Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel.

Those wishing to do so may make memorial donations to the East Holbrook Mennonite Church, 32723 County Road 33, La Junta, CO, 81050 or to the Arkansas Valley Hospice Assoc., P.O. Box 408, La Junta direct or through the funeral home.

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


A memorial service will be Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at the East Holbrook Mennonite Church.
Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel.