JR Stansell…April 12, 1936 – July 29, 2019

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Las Animas, CO resident, JR Stansell will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 10, 2019 at United Methodist Church in Las Animas, CO. Per family’s request, cremation has taken place and there will be no public visitation.

JR was born on April 12, 1936 to James and Ida Stansell in Noelette, Texas, where the family had a dairy farm. In 1954, JR married Esther Rodgers. They had three sons, Fred, Joe and Jay, the marriage later ended in divorce. JR worked for El Paso Gas Company as an Oiler in Skellytown, Texas, then worked in various states including New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. He eventually worked in Ignacio, Colorado, where he retired from the Williams Gas Plant as a Forman in 1988. He also worked for Hi Country Cattle Co. at the sale barn at Breen, Colorado for a short time – work he really enjoyed.

In 1989 he married Lois Mackey. They built a life together following their passion for raising, training and showing futurity and cutting horses. Cutting horse events led them to move to Boise City, Oklahoma, in 1996. They lived there for 10 years. The couple moved to Las Animas, Colorado, in 2007. JR competed in Cutting Horse events continuously until 2018. He was a member of the National Cutting Horse Association and was a director for the Southern Colorado Cutting Horse Association. JR Stansell, 83, of Las Animas, CO, passed away peacefully at his home on July 29, 2019.

JR is survived by his wife Lois of 29 years, sister Sylvia Visser of Mckee, Kentucky, sons Fred Stansell (Joanne)of La Barge, Wyoming, Jay Stansell (Charis) of Evanston, Wyoming and Joe Stansell (Polly) of Seattle, Washington; step children James Mackey (Stacy) of Sedan, New Mexico, Becky Barnes (Larry) of Ignacio, Colorado, Jerry Mackey (Lorena) of Ignacio, Colorado and Melody Semler (Wayne) of Bayfield, Colorado; as well as 21 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Ida Mae Stansell, his sisters Maxi Price and Barbara Langham, and grandsons James Robert Stansell and Nelson Clay Mackey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made Arkansas Valley Hospice in care of Horber Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 431, Las Animas, CO. 81054.

For more information or to leave online condolences, please visit www.horberfuneralchapel.com.