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Western Slope Obituaries 11-1-10

W.A. “Bill” Hamilton, 93, of Cedaredge, Colo., passed away October 23, 2010 after an active morning of entertaining guests. He and Leone, his wife of 73 years, were walking hand in hand down the hall.

He was born August 18, 1917 in Cedaredge, Colo., to Fred Hamilton and Mary Goodwin Hamilton (later Marah). Bill grew up in Cedaredge, Colo., where he attended school, played football, and in 1935 graduated. During his high school years and right after, he worked part time on ranches in the Surface Creek Valley. He often worked with his life long friend and future brother-in-law John Doyle, feeding cattle on the Bar-I, which was leased by Jim Doyle. Bill and John were known all over the valley for their practical jokes and great antics.

In 1937, Bill and John moved the Doyle family from Cedaredge, Colo., to Dove Creek, Colo., using only horses and wagons.



Bill and Leone (Doyle) were married in Norwood on April 4, 1937. They made their home in the Eckert, Colo., area working on ranches. Bill helped build reservoirs on Grand Mesa when the summer work was done in the valley. In 1941, they moved to the Meeker-Rangely area where they both worked on ranches. Bill also worked in the oil fields. In 1945, they returned to Cedaredge, Colo., and bought a small trucking firm the day after their son, Leslie Ray, was born. John Doyle joined their trucking business. In the early 1950s the business expanded when Bill and Leone set up a concrete batch plant in Cedaredge, Colo. In 1959 they entered into a partnership with John Beeson and purchased Delta Sand and Gravel. Throughout this time period, Bill and Leone continued to love ranching, always maintaining a cattle herd and raising horses. Their family grew with the birth of their daughter, Suzanne Kay in 1949.

Community involvement included joining with other families to establish the first Little Britches Rodeo in 1959, which they continued to work in and support for many years and active membership in the Methodist Church. During this time they loved spending summers at their cabin on Grand Mesa, hunting with the Petersons, and supporting Les and Suzanne in their many 4-H events, rodeos, sports, and other activities.



With their children grown and wanting to return to the simple and meaningful life of ranching, they sold Delta Sand and Gravel in 1972 and bought a ranch in Gateway, Colo. They spent seven years there, making many new life long friends. Being close to family was always important, so they moved back to Cedaredge, Colo., in 1979. Bill and Les formed the Uncompahgre Cattle Company in Delta, Colo., in 1984. Les and Melissa bought out that partnership, sold it, and formed another ranch in the Kannah Creek-Lands End area. Bill continued to work, always helping with the cattle drives and brandings together with his son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bill was honored with “Cattleman of the Year” in 1992. To be honored by his peers made him very proud. In 1996 he built a cabin with Suzanne and her family on upper Surface Creek where they could continue to enjoy family time on the hill. Bill loved to irrigate and care for their “Lil Bit o Heaven” well known 65-acre place South of Cedaredge, Colo., and never stopped. Bill and Leone were honored by their community as Grand Marshals of the Little Britches parade two times.

He was a member of the New Hope Evangelical Free Church.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Leone Hamilton of Cedaredge, Colo.; one son, Les Hamilton and his wife Melissa of Delta, Colo.; one daughter, Suzanne Hamilton and her husband Bob Page of Cedaredge, Colo.; three brothers and their spouses; Ed (Beryle) Marah, Pat (Gwen) Marah and Mike (Bertie) Marah, all of Cedaredge, Colo.; and two sisters, Helen Kungel of Cedaredge, Colo., and Rosella Martin of Keene, Tex.; five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bill and Leone’s great-granddaughter Lella’s liver transplant fund, the Lyndall Ella Young Account at Bank of Colorado, 145 West 4th St., Delta, Colo., 81416 or the building fund of the New Hope Evangelical Free Church, P.O. Box 542, Cedaredge, Colo., 81413.

W.A. “Bill” Hamilton, 93, of Cedaredge, Colo., passed away October 23, 2010 after an active morning of entertaining guests. He and Leone, his wife of 73 years, were walking hand in hand down the hall.

He was born August 18, 1917 in Cedaredge, Colo., to Fred Hamilton and Mary Goodwin Hamilton (later Marah). Bill grew up in Cedaredge, Colo., where he attended school, played football, and in 1935 graduated. During his high school years and right after, he worked part time on ranches in the Surface Creek Valley. He often worked with his life long friend and future brother-in-law John Doyle, feeding cattle on the Bar-I, which was leased by Jim Doyle. Bill and John were known all over the valley for their practical jokes and great antics.

In 1937, Bill and John moved the Doyle family from Cedaredge, Colo., to Dove Creek, Colo., using only horses and wagons.

Bill and Leone (Doyle) were married in Norwood on April 4, 1937. They made their home in the Eckert, Colo., area working on ranches. Bill helped build reservoirs on Grand Mesa when the summer work was done in the valley. In 1941, they moved to the Meeker-Rangely area where they both worked on ranches. Bill also worked in the oil fields. In 1945, they returned to Cedaredge, Colo., and bought a small trucking firm the day after their son, Leslie Ray, was born. John Doyle joined their trucking business. In the early 1950s the business expanded when Bill and Leone set up a concrete batch plant in Cedaredge, Colo. In 1959 they entered into a partnership with John Beeson and purchased Delta Sand and Gravel. Throughout this time period, Bill and Leone continued to love ranching, always maintaining a cattle herd and raising horses. Their family grew with the birth of their daughter, Suzanne Kay in 1949.

Community involvement included joining with other families to establish the first Little Britches Rodeo in 1959, which they continued to work in and support for many years and active membership in the Methodist Church. During this time they loved spending summers at their cabin on Grand Mesa, hunting with the Petersons, and supporting Les and Suzanne in their many 4-H events, rodeos, sports, and other activities.

With their children grown and wanting to return to the simple and meaningful life of ranching, they sold Delta Sand and Gravel in 1972 and bought a ranch in Gateway, Colo. They spent seven years there, making many new life long friends. Being close to family was always important, so they moved back to Cedaredge, Colo., in 1979. Bill and Les formed the Uncompahgre Cattle Company in Delta, Colo., in 1984. Les and Melissa bought out that partnership, sold it, and formed another ranch in the Kannah Creek-Lands End area. Bill continued to work, always helping with the cattle drives and brandings together with his son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bill was honored with “Cattleman of the Year” in 1992. To be honored by his peers made him very proud. In 1996 he built a cabin with Suzanne and her family on upper Surface Creek where they could continue to enjoy family time on the hill. Bill loved to irrigate and care for their “Lil Bit o Heaven” well known 65-acre place South of Cedaredge, Colo., and never stopped. Bill and Leone were honored by their community as Grand Marshals of the Little Britches parade two times.

He was a member of the New Hope Evangelical Free Church.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Leone Hamilton of Cedaredge, Colo.; one son, Les Hamilton and his wife Melissa of Delta, Colo.; one daughter, Suzanne Hamilton and her husband Bob Page of Cedaredge, Colo.; three brothers and their spouses; Ed (Beryle) Marah, Pat (Gwen) Marah and Mike (Bertie) Marah, all of Cedaredge, Colo.; and two sisters, Helen Kungel of Cedaredge, Colo., and Rosella Martin of Keene, Tex.; five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bill and Leone’s great-granddaughter Lella’s liver transplant fund, the Lyndall Ella Young Account at Bank of Colorado, 145 West 4th St., Delta, Colo., 81416 or the building fund of the New Hope Evangelical Free Church, P.O. Box 542, Cedaredge, Colo., 81413.

W.A. “Bill” Hamilton, 93, of Cedaredge, Colo., passed away October 23, 2010 after an active morning of entertaining guests. He and Leone, his wife of 73 years, were walking hand in hand down the hall.

He was born August 18, 1917 in Cedaredge, Colo., to Fred Hamilton and Mary Goodwin Hamilton (later Marah). Bill grew up in Cedaredge, Colo., where he attended school, played football, and in 1935 graduated. During his high school years and right after, he worked part time on ranches in the Surface Creek Valley. He often worked with his life long friend and future brother-in-law John Doyle, feeding cattle on the Bar-I, which was leased by Jim Doyle. Bill and John were known all over the valley for their practical jokes and great antics.

In 1937, Bill and John moved the Doyle family from Cedaredge, Colo., to Dove Creek, Colo., using only horses and wagons.

Bill and Leone (Doyle) were married in Norwood on April 4, 1937. They made their home in the Eckert, Colo., area working on ranches. Bill helped build reservoirs on Grand Mesa when the summer work was done in the valley. In 1941, they moved to the Meeker-Rangely area where they both worked on ranches. Bill also worked in the oil fields. In 1945, they returned to Cedaredge, Colo., and bought a small trucking firm the day after their son, Leslie Ray, was born. John Doyle joined their trucking business. In the early 1950s the business expanded when Bill and Leone set up a concrete batch plant in Cedaredge, Colo. In 1959 they entered into a partnership with John Beeson and purchased Delta Sand and Gravel. Throughout this time period, Bill and Leone continued to love ranching, always maintaining a cattle herd and raising horses. Their family grew with the birth of their daughter, Suzanne Kay in 1949.

Community involvement included joining with other families to establish the first Little Britches Rodeo in 1959, which they continued to work in and support for many years and active membership in the Methodist Church. During this time they loved spending summers at their cabin on Grand Mesa, hunting with the Petersons, and supporting Les and Suzanne in their many 4-H events, rodeos, sports, and other activities.

With their children grown and wanting to return to the simple and meaningful life of ranching, they sold Delta Sand and Gravel in 1972 and bought a ranch in Gateway, Colo. They spent seven years there, making many new life long friends. Being close to family was always important, so they moved back to Cedaredge, Colo., in 1979. Bill and Les formed the Uncompahgre Cattle Company in Delta, Colo., in 1984. Les and Melissa bought out that partnership, sold it, and formed another ranch in the Kannah Creek-Lands End area. Bill continued to work, always helping with the cattle drives and brandings together with his son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bill was honored with “Cattleman of the Year” in 1992. To be honored by his peers made him very proud. In 1996 he built a cabin with Suzanne and her family on upper Surface Creek where they could continue to enjoy family time on the hill. Bill loved to irrigate and care for their “Lil Bit o Heaven” well known 65-acre place South of Cedaredge, Colo., and never stopped. Bill and Leone were honored by their community as Grand Marshals of the Little Britches parade two times.

He was a member of the New Hope Evangelical Free Church.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Leone Hamilton of Cedaredge, Colo.; one son, Les Hamilton and his wife Melissa of Delta, Colo.; one daughter, Suzanne Hamilton and her husband Bob Page of Cedaredge, Colo.; three brothers and their spouses; Ed (Beryle) Marah, Pat (Gwen) Marah and Mike (Bertie) Marah, all of Cedaredge, Colo.; and two sisters, Helen Kungel of Cedaredge, Colo., and Rosella Martin of Keene, Tex.; five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bill and Leone’s great-granddaughter Lella’s liver transplant fund, the Lyndall Ella Young Account at Bank of Colorado, 145 West 4th St., Delta, Colo., 81416 or the building fund of the New Hope Evangelical Free Church, P.O. Box 542, Cedaredge, Colo., 81413.


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