Donald O. Stwalley…November 23, 1928 – September 17, 2014

Funeral services for Donald Stwalley will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday September 22, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church in Las Animas, Colorado.  Pastor Mark Cloer will officiate.  Interment will follow in the Bent/Las Animas Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept 21, 2014 at Horber Funeral Chapel.

Donald Otis Stwalley was born November 23, 1928 on the Stwalley Homestead southwest of Las Animas to Ray L. and Blanche (Winslow) Stwalley.  He passed away on September 17, 2014 after a brief stay in the rehabilitation unit at the Bent County Memorial Nursing Home at the age of 85.

Don was united in marriage to Helen Marie Hollingsworth on September 1, 1951 in Pomona, California.  Prior to their marriage, Don severed two tours with the U.S. Marine Corps, stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. Don was past owner/manager of Las Animas Oil Company and was in local business for over 60 years. Don had served on numerous community boards including Arkansas River Power Authority, Las Animas Municipal Power Board, Bent County Economic Development Foundation, LA/BC Chamber of Commerce, Las Animas City Council as well as serving several years as fire chief of the LA/BC Volunteer Fire Department. Don was an active member of the Methodist Church in Las Animas.

Don is survived by sons, Robert E. Stwalley and wife, Debra, Richard “Rick” Stwalley; daughters, Patricia Lynn Lewis all of Las Animas, Sherry R. Stwalley of Golden, Colorado; brother, Herb Stwalley, Lakewood, CO; sister, Ruth Evans, Huntsville, AL; 12 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; good friend Marilyn Jean Pankey, Pueblo, CO many other relatives and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Helen on September 16, 2004; brother, Richard; sister, Estella and son-in-law, James R. Lewis.

Memorial contributions may be made to United Methodist Church of Las Animas 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.