Donald (Don) Eugene Caylor, 85

PUEBLO—Del Norte resident Donald (Don) Eugene Caylor, 85, died Aug. 17, 2018 at Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo.

Don was born Sept. 19, 1932 in his grandmother’s home in Fort Lupton, Colo., he grew up on the Caylor Ranch near Lake George, Colorado. He married Thelma Graves Hazard on Sept. 12, 1981 in Center, and they enjoyed 36 years together. As a blended family they along with their children and grandchildren shared many special times together. Don served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the American Legion, Garcia Post 110 in Saguache, Colorado.

His working career began at the Park County Road and moved to the Denver Water Department. He moved to the Valley in 1960 where he spent 24 years working for Ashton Trucking in Monte Vista, driving all over the western United States, hauling livestock, fuel, propane and moving heavy equipment or whatever else that was required. Including race horse oats to Tucson, Arizona and decided at the time to retire to Arizona to enjoy the warm winters. He took many applicants on their first trip to approve or deny their ability to do the job correctly. He was truly a “knight” of the road. He drove two million miles without an accident and was awarded several safe driving awards. Following the time at Ashton’s he worked 11 years at Jones Oil in Center for Ivan and Jane Jones. Don always had a trucking story to tell and entertained his family for hours.

Don was an artist and painted rocks which were carried all over the United States and Canada as he gave these to his many friends and family. He also enjoyed the outdoors and in his earlier years liked hunting, snowmobiling and many other outdoor activities. He and Thelma wintered in Casa Grande, Ariz. for 20 years. He liked working in his yard and haying in Saguache also. He was very active and always had a project to do.  At times he would fix things that were thought to be beyond repair. Most recently he enjoyed collecting scale model semi-trucks as trucking was what he liked best.

He is survived by his wife Thelma of Del Norte; his children: Rebecca “Becky” (Sid) Hall of Del Norte, Robert (Bob) W. (Lucie) Hazard of Olathe, Colo., Perry L. (Renee) Hazard of Saguache, Cindy (Don) Scott of Surprise, Ariz., Dorothy (Kevin) Widhalm of Houlton, ME and Dan H. (Jennie) Hazard of Del Norte; his sister-in-law Connie Caylor of Colorado Springs as well as 14 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a host of extended family and friends.

Don is preceded in death by his parents Roy D. and Ruth Welsh Caylor, his son Roy A. Caylor and his brother Robert (Bob) Caylor. 

Cremation was chosen and a Celebration of Life will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Rogers Family Mortuary, 404 Morris St, in Monte Vista. Contributions are suggested in his memory to the Rio Grande Hospital, 0310 County Road 14, Del Norte, CO 81132.

Rogers Family Mortuary of Monte Vista is in care of the arrangements. To leave online condolences, tributes and remarks for Don’s family, please visit www.RogersFunerals.com