Willis Max Dutton

Willis “Max” Dutton passed on January 8, 2015, from complications of a stroke. He was born on November 25, 1927, to Early and Grace Dutton in Panhandle, Texas. The family moved to Canyon, Texas in 1933, where they had a wheat and dairy farm. As this was before milking machines, he and his older brother Joe, mom and dad, were the crew that milked the cows by hand before the school bus arrived.


Max attended Canyon public schools through Junior High and High School at West Texas State Teachers Training School in Canyon. He graduated in 1944 and attended West Texas State University.


He married Geraldine “Jerry” Nunley on May 12, 1948 in Canyon, Texas. He continued to work on the family farm and dairy as the family searched for a larger operation. The family moved to La Junta, Colorado in November, 1949, where they purchased two farms and a ranch south of La Junta. After his fathers’ death Max and Jerry purchased the operation from Joe and Barbara and, his other siblings. He later went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad where he enjoyed a 32 year career as a locomotive engineer.


Max loved the country life, hunting and fishing and, especially, his grandkids and great grandkids with which he shared his knowledge in any area they showed interest in.


Max and Jerry had been married for sixty-six years and continued to live on their ranch, where their sons were born and raised, until recently.


He is survived by his wife, Jerry, sons David (Jan) of La Junta and Don (Crystal) of Raymore, Missouri, five grandchildren, Corey Dutton, Kelly (Kevin) Wagner, D.J. (Jamie) Dutton, Lauren (Mike) Engebrecht and Tanner (Heather) Dutton and six great grandchildren, Kylee and Kamryn Wagner, Harley Stokes, Braxton Dutton and Garrett and Kolbi Engebrecht. Max was preceded in death by his parents, Early and Grace Dutton, sisters Opal Gerald and Ruby Mulkey, brothers Edwin and Joe Dutton.


In lieu of flowers the family asks that a contribution be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, online at alzdn.org, 1-866-232-8484 or by mail: 322 8th Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.

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


A celebration of life and luncheon will be held at Otero Junior College Student Center on January 24, 2015, from 11:00 – 1:00, where all who wish may share a favorite story about Max.