Raymond Lee Crossland

Raymond Lee Crossland was born April 18, 1937 to Arlie and Marie (Tombaugh) Crossland in Yuma county Colorado.  He passed away June 30, 2011 in Greeley, Colorado at the age of 74.  He started his education in a one room school house called the Ford and Later he attended Buffalo Grass School and High school in Eckley, Colorado.  On February 14, 1960 he married the love of his life, Marita Stulp.  To this union were one daughter LaRay and three sons, Harold (Hal), Matthew, and Justin.  After school he farmed and ranched with his father and brothers.

In 1960 he worked briefly for the railroad and then spent some time working for various farmers and ranchers.  In later life he worked at Schramm feed lot followed by twenty-four years at Monfort/JBS Five Rivers Feedlot.  He was a dedicated Cowboy/pen rider.

His love of animals started at a very young age from being born and raised on the family farm, to being an active member and leader in the Pleasant Valley Hustlers’ 4-H Club.  He was actively involved in the Yuma County Fair from him and his children showing, and eventually three of his granddaughters following in his footsteps.  He was most comfortable riding horseback, as we would imagine he was probably riding before he learned to walk.  He shared that passion of horses with his kids and his grandchildren.  While spending most time traveling with his granddaughters saddling horses for their rodeos.  Although his first love in life was the animals, his second love later in life was supporting all of his grandchildren in their various activities during school and college, always sporting his cowboy hat.

Even though he may not have attended church every Sunday, his faith was very strong and he always said “The wide open spaces and the prairies were his church.”  On May 22, 2011 he received his 50 year membership certificate to the United Methodist Church.   With this he wrote what his faith meant to him.  “My earliest memory of church is Bible School at the Pleasant Valley EUB church.  I didn’t attend church until I met Marita and she changed my way of thinking.  I was baptized and joined the Yuma United Methodist Church at the same time our daughter LaRay was baptized on April 16, 1961 with Rev. Jon Neives officiating.  Pastor Al Woolman touched me spiritually when he helped us through a very difficult time.  We were losing the farm and he helped me understand that God had not forgotten us.  My membership has given me a sense of belonging to the family of God and that he cares who I am.”

He is preceded in death by his parents, Arlie and Marie Crossland, his two brothers Wesly and Paul, In-laws Harold and Phyllis Stulp, brothers-in-law Chris Kessler, Bruce Serl, Pat Kain, Mick Hutchins, and numerous Aunts, Uncles, and friends.

Raymond was loved and will be deeply missed by many family and friends including his wife of 51 years Marita, his children LaRay and Marvin Gates, Hal and Phyllis Crossland, Matthew and Dani Crossland and Justin and Mindy Crossland; his grandchildren Hannah Gates, Raymond, Robert, Roger, Renee Crossland, Rebecka and husband Chris Garcia, Ryan and wife Lindsay and son Cody Juranek, Rachel Juranek, Alex, Aron, and Nathan Crossland, Jessica and Katlyn Crossland; his brother David, sisters Lois Serl, Marjorie Kain, and Mary Pearson and sister-in-law Arnita Kessler; his horses Skeeter and Sunny, and his “Corky” CC, along with many friends and co-workers at JBS/Five Rivers of Yuma

Memorial contributions may be made in Raymond’s name to the Yuma County Fair and Old Threshers.

A funeral service was held on July 5th at 10 A.M at the Yuma United Methodist church in Yuma with Pastor Pat Johnson and Pastor Ed Bollack officiating.  Interment at the Yuma Cemetery.  Arrangements were made by the Baucke Funeral home in Yuma, Colorado.