Fred Arthur Piatt

June 8, 1929 - June 20, 2016

Fred A. Piatt, Jr, 87, of LaJunta, CO, formerly of Rocky Ford departed this life to be with the Lord on Monday, June 20, 2016. Fred was born on June 8th, 1929 in Syracuse, KS, to Fred A. and Edith Cauthon Piatt. Fred was raised on farms in the Lamar, CO, area and educated in Lamar area schools, graduating High School in Lamar, CO. After graduation he worked for a short time for his Uncle Phil Piatt, and the Santa Fe Railroad before joining the United States Air Force in 1948 and serving as a refueling specialist in Japan during the Korean War. He was Honorably Discharged from the Air Force in 1953. Fred's first wife Wanda gave him four daughters before her passing. Fred then married Lena Roth of Harrisonville, Missouri in Rocky Ford in 1963 and they raised six daughters. They were married for 53 years as of June 2016. They resided all their married life in Rocky Ford. After leaving the service he worked as a salesman and mechanic for Kenyon Tractor Sales and John Deere in Rocky Ford before embarking on a lifelong career in farming; which included 6 years with the Colorado Dept. of Corrections as a guard/farmer in charge of the prison farm. He retired from the Dept. of Corrections in 1998, and continued for a while in custom farming before finally retiring in 2007. Fred was active in the Otero County Republican Party and Colorado and Otero County Farm Bureau. Fred served 8 years on the Cheraw School Board. He also enjoyed being a member of the local Toastmasters Club and the Good Sams RV Club, but his passion was airplanes and flying. He was a longtime pilot and member of the Flying Farmers Association of America and owned his own airplane, which he flew from a dirt airstrip located next door to the farm. Fred was predeceased by his parents, his first wife Wanda, a Grandson Tyrell Weber, and numerous Aunts and Uncles. Fred is survived by his wife Lena, and six daughters; JoAnn (Larry) Smith of Amarillo, TX; Susan (John) Cox of Salina, KS; Shelley (Kevin) Anderson of Pueblo, CO; Janice (Ryan) Weber of Rapid City, SD; Connie (Heath) Atkinson of Casper, WY; and Carrie (Peter) Sirois of Avon, CT; sister Evelyn Haling of Pueblo; brother Vernon Piatt of Rescue, CA; sister Lois wife of Glen Enderud of Pueblo, CO; brother William husband of Marjorie Piatt of Rocky Ford; sister Martha Evett of La Junta, CO. He is also survived by 8 Grandchildren and 5 Great grandchildren. Services will be held Friday, June 24th at 10:00 a.m. at Rocky Ford Mennonite Church in Rocky Ford, CO. with interment to follow at Valley View Cemetery also in Rocky Ford, CO. Public Viewing will be on Friday, June 24 from 9:00 AM until the service at the church. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Arkansas Valley Hospice; 531 Lewis, La Junta, CO 81050 or Rocky Ford Mennonite Church; 20480 Rd. EE.25, Rocky Ford, CO 81050. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ford-Ustick Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to www.fordustick.com.

SERVICES

Visitation

Friday, June 24, 2016 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Rocky Ford Mennonite Church

20480 Cnty. Rd. EE.25

Rocky Ford, CO 81067

Funeral Service

Friday, June 24, 2016 10:00 AM

Rocky Ford Mennonite Church

20480 Cnty. Rd. EE.25

Rocky Ford, CO 81067