Longtime Rocky Ford resident James Harold Autry, 88, passed away June 14 at home surrounded by his family.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 AM Tuesday June 19 at Valley Community Church with Pastor Kurt England officiating. Public visitation will be Monday, June 18 at Ford Ustick Funeral Home from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM.

He was born January 7, 1930 in Oklahoma to W.T. and Edith Caddell Autry. James grew up in Enochs and Dimmitt TX, graduating from Dimmitt High School in 1947.

In December of 1949 he drove over 700 miles from Dimmitt in the Texas Panhandle to Weslaco in the Texas Valley to spend Christmas with Betty Joyce Carpenter and her family. On Christmas Eve the couple were driving around town when James spotted a jewelry store. He pulled over and said, "I'm going in and buy a ring. Let's get married Thursday." James and Joyce were married on December 29, 1949 and celebrated their 68 th anniversary in 2017.

They honeymooned on the way back to Dimmitt where James farmed and they began their family.

In 1963 James purchased the Owen Bacon Ranch in Crowley County. In 1965 he purchased the McGlothlin Farm west of Rocky Ford and moved his family to Colorado. In 1974 he sold the farm and moved to town.

James had a livelong love affair with horses, breaking his first horse at the age of 14. For many years he raised, trained and sold registered Quarter Horses for ranch use.

With varying degrees of success, he taught his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to ride and care for horses. One of his great joys in life was taking the grandchildren and great grandchildren out to the ranch to see his horses.

In 1990, at the age of 60, he discovered the cutting horse world and jumped in full force. He used his ranch horses during the first years of competition. In 1994 he purchased the horse Budhas Mike and he and Joyce traveled over the West and Southwest where he competed in cutting horse competitions.

Over the years he won more than 50 trophies and buckles at different competitions. In 1997 he set a record for money earned in the $20,000 non-pro division of the Western States Cutting Horse Association.

In 2001 he was the first person inducted into the Western States Cutting Horse Association Hall Of Fame.

When he started needing extra oxygen all the time, he tied his oxygen tank on the back of his saddle and continued cutting.

As with most people in agriculture, James had a deep love and respect for the land. He once said he was more a caretaker of the land than an owner. In 1983 he was named Cooperator of the Year of the West Otero Soil Conservation District.

James was a member of the Valley Community Church.

He is survived by his wife Joyce of the home, son Kelly Autry (Debbie) of Midland, TX, daughter Lynette Soden (Steve) of Omaha, NE, daughter Luanne Gallegos (Greg) of Arvada, CO and horse Budhas Mike of the family ranch.

Grandchildren Trent Autry of Odessa, TX; Kimbra Autry of Odessa, TX; Whitney Autry Carruth (Steve) of Seattle, WA; Brandon Soden (Amy) of Omaha, NE; Stefanie Soden Rowe (David) of Omaha, NE: Alan Gallegos of Minot, ND; Kristy Gallegos Garcia (Adam) of Broomfield, CO; Dana Gallegos of Houston, TX.

Great grandchildren Zoe and Morgan Autry; Brooks and Crewe Soden; Dekker and Tucker James Rowe; Tayla Gonzales and Anthony James Garcia.

He is also survived by nieces, nephews and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and two nieces.

Donations to Arkansas Valley Hospice, PO Box 408, La Junta, CO 81050 or the charity of your choice.

Ford-Ustick Funeral Home of Rocky Ford is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.fordustick.com.