James "Jim" Roscoe Roberts

James “Jim” Roscoe Roberts was born February 10, 1949 to Roscoe Conklin and Winifred Jennie (Patterson) Roberts in Wray, Colorado.  His brother Bill joined the family in 1951.

As toddlers, the Roberts boys were blessed to have Grandmother Donna Roberts living in Wray while Winnie worked at the Wray Clinic.  As a teacher, their grandmother enhanced their desire to read, learn and explore, thus establishing a lifetime quest for information.  Additional knowledge regarding farm life and the importance of family was solidified by their parents.

Like any farm family, there were chores to be done including animals to be tended and ground to be farmed.  With work completed, there were frequent opportunities for fun with cousins Peggy and Bob Loyd while their parents played Bridge.  Summer vacations often included Loyd, Orr, Fischer, Patterson, Robinson or Roberts families at Grand Lake, Estes Park and Lake McConaughy where one can only imagine the fun they had. Nearly every Sunday after services, the Roberts and Loyds’ met for coffee, cinnamon rolls and most importantly, family time.

Jim graduated from Wray High School in 1967.  With encouragement from his teacher, Gary Tiesen and Uncles, Louis “Pete” Roberts and Melvin Baker, he pursued an engineering degree at CU Boulder.  Jim graduated from the University of Colorado in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemical Engineering and returned home to work while interviewing with potential oil companies. However, increasing shortfalls of grain in the Soviet Union during 1971 and 1972 coupled with a burgeoning oil crisis prompted Jim to manage the family farm.

As a fourth-generation farmer, Jim sought to further improve soil quality and reduce wind and water erosion.  To achieve this transformation, Jim implemented a continuous crop rotation in the early 1980s and later maximized residue by also utilizing minimum-till and no-till practices.  His efforts were recognized by the National Resources Conservation Service earning him the title of 1999 Colorado Conservationist of the Year.  In addition to managing Roberts Farm Company, he contract-farmed for others.

A decade later, another transformation occurred when Jim married Donna Marie (Madison) White on August 10, 1991 and gained a teenage daughter, Julia. Adjusting from confirmed bachelor to husband and dad at forty-two was a challenge Jim openly accepted.  He enjoyed attending Julia’s sporting events, drama productions, as her passenger while she learned to drive, high school and college graduations and her wedding.  With the eventual birth of grandchildren, as they grew of course he was instrumental in arranging golf lessons for them and enjoyed taking them to the driving range to practice.  Including constructing a home range including tee, mowing the pasture and placing tires as yardage markers.  He named his home driving range the Bearcat Training Academy.  For enjoyment, he golfed with life-long friends and after high school joined the infamous Bearcat fast pitch softball team.  In his honor, the Bearcats held a summer barbeque last year with several dear friends in attendance.  Oh, the stories they shared!

Jim also became active in organizations serving as member and past President of the Colorado Conservation Tillage Association and Wray Community District Hospital Foundation Board.  He also served on the Wray Country Club Board and Yuma County Planning Commission.  With civic duties completed, Jim could be found on the Wray Golf Course and was ecstatic when Ballyneal broke ground.  He was hired as a member of the grounds crew during construction and became the first caddie in October after it opened.  He was joined by his friend and fellow golfer, Charlie Mulligan the following Spring.  In recognition of their service, Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club named the Par-3 course The Mulligan Course and hosts a yearly Jim Roberts Caddie Tournament.  Jim loved golfing at Ballyneal and caddying for hundreds of golfers through the years including a former Supreme Court Justice, pro-golfer and actor.

Jim was preceded in death by parents, Winnie and Roscoe Roberts, numerous aunts and uncles including Becky and Melvin Baker; Louis “Pete” Roberts; Mae and Emery Orr; Marge and George Orr; Nellie and Tom Loyd; Lily and Duane Robinson; Jim Patterson; Bill Patterson; Dorothy and Richard “Pete” Fischer; cousins Merlin Orr, Trudy (Baker) Reed and Sandy Patterson; in-laws Hilma and Walt Madison and several friends.  He is survived by his life’s companion of thirty-one years, Donna Roberts; daughter Julia Baux and Eric Hoffman; grandchildren Preston and Riley Baux and Elle Hoffman; brother William (Bill) Roberts and wife Cindy Orser; niece, Lauren Roberts; aunts, Sue Roberts, Becky Patterson and Alice Lee Patterson; and multiple cousins and friends.

Jim passed away peacefully at home on January 31, 2023 at the age of 73 after battling metastatic pancreatic cancer.  He was a true gem of a man who many were blessed to know.  Jim will be remembered for his love of golf, second only to his love of family; his great intellect; sense of humor, mentorship; stewardship of the land; resource management and unabashedly sharing his opinion.  To that end, he requested no funeral services, but acknowledged his friends and family deserved opportunities to gather in support of one another.

Therefore, a wake is being planned so as not to interfere with the playoffs of many of his friend’s grandchildren.  A family gathering will be held later this Spring prior to inurnment at the Grandview Cemetery in Wray.

Memorials may be made to the Wray Hospital Foundation, Manna Pantry, Wray Fire Department or to an organization of your choice.

Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.