Richard Lee Burr

Richard Lee Burr, born January 3, 1934 to Alvoree (Wee) Burr and Nellie Grover Burr near Sublette, Kansas. When Richard was nine the family moved to Rocky Ford, Colorado where Richard went to school and graduated from Rocky Ford HS. His High School years were spent in a variety of ways, but Richard excelled in football. After graduation he married his first wife Virginia Rough and to that union two children were born, Jay Richard Burr and Sonja G Burr. In 1970 Richard married Janet Deeds a pretty young widow with three children Debbie, David, and Jeanette Deeds.

Making two families into one family, made for some interesting years. The boys, Jay and David helped at the feedlot on A Avenue in La Junta. Richard and Janet operated several different feedyards throughout the years. They also added a farm where they grew produce. Several different people sure enjoyed eating a fresh picked melon out in the middle of the melon field.

Richard and Janet lived at the present farm location for 27 years. He loved having a pasture full of his red or black angus cows and calves.

Through the years Richard was able to employee and teach several young men about the cattle business, and taking care of feedlots. By the time he was able to retire from the daily responsibilities of the feedlots he had a grandson that became his shadow. This little boy named Tripp was a constant companion starting at the age of one, Tripp spent many days on the tractor with his Grandpa. They had many adventures together, consequently Tripp has been driving his Grandpa's "toys" since.

During his lifetime he worked a number of different jobs; Rocky Ford Sugar Factory, Montgomery Wards where he was in the plumbing department, Truck Diver, Delivery driver for Coke Cola, and more notably he operated a number of feedlots. He was an accomplished Cattleman, his favorite breed was Red Angus, but was known to like Black Angus sometimes. He wasn't much of a horse lover on account of being bucked off and crippled for life but that didn't stop Richard from working from sunup to sundown, whether he was checking cattle or taking the fifth wheel and miscellaneous motorized vehicles to the mountains during the summer. A few winters saw Richard and Janet snow birding in Daytona Beach, Florida, usually taking several days pulling the 5th wheel. In Daytona Beach they spent their time visiting Sam and Sonja and the grandkids, Zachary, Megan, Abigail and Emily.

Miscellaneous motorized vehicles may have been a passion of Richard's, from motorcycles, dune buggies, using a 1956 Plymouth station wagon, chasing coyotes, rabbits and whatever else seemed like a good idea. Later on, four wheelers showed up and boy did those get used!!! Marshall Pass saw a lot of action for 35 summers! So many memories were made with friends and family camping and going on trail rides that lasted all day. Being in the mountains was something that Richard really looked forward to every summer.

Richard and Janet enjoyed 48 years together. They were partners in life, business and adventures. They traveled nearly all the highways in Colorado, usually with the fifth wheel and four wheeler in tow. Together they traveled the US from California to the East Coast, taking different routes so they could see more of the country!

Richard is survived by wife Janet Deeds Burr; daughters, Sonja Burr Smith (Sam), Debbie Deeds Autry (Jake), and Jeanette Deeds Hanes (Michael); grandchildren, Zachary Smith, Megan Smith, Abigail Smith, Renee Autry Cook (Tommie), Laini Autry Madewell (Brandon), Kara Autry Mosher (Ryan); great-grandchildren, Alexa Cook, Tripp and Tessa Madewell, and Jacy and Cash Mosher. Richard was preceded in death by his sons, Jay Burr and David Deeds and his granddaughter Emily Smith.

Survived by brother, Billy Burr (Melba), sisters, Velva Powers (Marvin), and Bonita Kitts (Rod). Also many nieces, theirs husbands and families.


Funeral services will be Saturday, July 7, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel with Pastor Gale Allen of the Arkansas Valley Cowboy Church officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Arkansas Valley Hospice Assoc., P.O. Box 408, La Junta, CO, 81050 direct or through the funeral home.

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