Shirley May Walter

Shirley May Walter, 86, of La Junta, passed away on Friday, September 23rd, 2022, surrounded by family at the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in La Junta. Shirley was born in Higbee, Colorado on September 1st, 1936, to the late John M. and Edith F. (Bull) Blakney.

Shirley married Jack Walter on January 23rd, 1957, and they soon after started a beautiful family of three rowdy and ornery boys. In 1963 they purchased a trucking business from Shirley’s father, John Blakney, and began operating the Jack Walter Trucking Company. Jack and Shirley continued with the trucking business as they began to raise their sons. They devoted much of their time to supporting their sons’ athletic, musical and academic events. She and Jack attended countless games, concerts, and rodeos to be supportive of their boys. Shirley always found the time and energy to help with nightly practice sessions at the Walter arena.

Jack and Shirley sold the trucking business in 1977 and became a full-time cattle ranching family. You could find Shirley working right alongside her husband doing whatever needed done. Shirley was always so proud to recall a veterinarian once saying during calving season, “If Jack and Shirley can’t get a calf pulled, it will have to be a cesarean.” Shirley never shied away from the hard work required to lead a ranching lifestyle. That was the life for her, and even after the couple stopped raising their own cattle, there was nothing she loved more than driving out to Higbee to ride through her son, Jim’s, cattle herd or supervise brandings or other cattle work.

Shirley’s true pride and joy in life were her grandchildren. She was a supportive and loving grandmother, and you could find her and Poppy in the first row of every livestock show sporting event or band concert that they participated in. Jack and Shirley became avid fishermen and often took several of the kids on trips to Blue Mesa or Eleven mile. Her grandchildren fondly remember eating some of the best home cooked meals at their Grandma Shirley’s house - you could not beat her meatloaf or zucchini bread. She found such joy in sharing her love of cooking, baking, and canning with her grandchildren, and many of her recipes will be made with fond memories of her for years to come.

Shirley is survived by her children, Mike (Debbie) Walter of Olney Springs, Alan (Bill) Walter-Fields of Los Angeles, CA, and Jim (Barb) Walter of Higbee. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, her parents, and brother.

Funeral services will be on Friday, September 30th, at 10 a.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene in La Junta with Reverend Dr. M.J. Romano of the First Presbyterian Church of La Junta officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, September 29th from 5-7 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at the Fairview Cemetery.

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