Merle L. Baublits

Merle L. Baublits, 77,
passed away on February 5, 2016 at his La Junta home after a long battle with
Cancer. He was born in Rifle, Colorado on March 22, 1938, a son of the late
Jack & Lucille (Husted) Baublits. He married Doris Jeffreys on July 26, 1980
in La Junta, Colorado.
Merle grew up in Las
Animas, CO, attending 12 years of school there, graduating from Las Animas High
School with the class of 1956.
Merle worked for the Swink
Sugar Factory after graduation and did painting and wallpapering. He worked for
the U.S. Postal Service, starting in Las Animas in 1958 and retiring from the
La Junta Post office, after 37 years. He raised bees, built
furniture, and restored antique furniture, vintage cars and gas memorabilia
including vintage gas pumps. Many of these pumps ended up in the Denver area,
as well as other States and Canada. Merle was in all phases of the antique
business for several years, and took great pride in his accomplishments.
His other interests were
to help with the finish work inside the Otero County Museum in La Junta when it
was being built. He donated many historical items to the museum. He was a
member of the Antique Classic Car Club in earlier years when he had his 3
vintage vehicles which he restored. Merle enjoyed all NFL games, especially the
Broncos. He loved the Colorado Rocky Mountains in all seasons.
He is survived by his wife,
Doris of the La Junta home; their children, Michelle (Baublits) & John
Tomky of Olney Springs, CO; Lisa (Baublits) & Billy Penrod of Centennial, CO;
Vann Jeffreys of Modesto, CA; Debbie (Jeffreys) & Dan Haberman of Pueblo
West, CO; grandchildren, David Tomky of
Olney Springs, CO; Luke (Erin) Tomky of Rocky Ford, CO; Mark (Tara) Tomky of Fowler,
CO; Amber (Quinn) Peacher of Aurora, CO; Drake (Kelly) Penrod of Aurora, CO;  Renea (Scott) Bond of Pueblo West, CO; Mark
Haberman of Pueblo West, CO;  and 8
great-grandchildren; one brother Bill & Diane (Thaxton) Baublits of
Las Animas, Colorado and one sister Lynn Gallegos of Santee, CA . He was preceded in death by his parents,
Jack & Lucille Baublits; grandparents, Milton & Ruby (Bishop) Baublits
and Charles W. Husted, Blanche (Hutton) and Lew Husted, also several aunts, uncles
and cousins.
 
In lieu of flowers,
memorial contributions may be made to the Otero Museum Association, P.O.
Box 223, La Junta, CO  81050, direct or through the funeral home.

Peacock Larsen funeral home and Arkansas
Valley crematory is in charge of arrangements.

 

Funeral services
will be Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist
Church of La Junta with Reverend DeEtta Goettel officiating.