Jd Rufus Loucks

JD Rufus Loucks
March 1, 1924 ~ January 3, 2023

JD Rufus Loucks, 98, died Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at The Hamilton Assisted Living in Hamilton Montana from complications of Parkinson’s. He was born March 1, 1924 in Cedaredge Colorado to Rufus and Viva (Pyle) Loucks. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church.
JD was raised learning to work hard on the family’s ranch in Cactus Park. He hunted in his youth and continued into his 90’s. In 1944 he was called to serve in the US Army where he was stationed in New Orleans and learned malaria control. At the end of the war he returned home to continue farming. On December 6, 1945 he married Elizabeth Millicent Owensby. They had a peach and apricot orchard, hauling fruit as far away as Kansas. A back injury forced JD to leave fruit farming. He sold insurance and eventually real estate. The family moved to the front range in 1961, first to Longmont and then to Fort Collins. In Fort Collins, JD and Betty got their broker’s licenses and owned their own office. Some twenty years later he retired from full time real estate and JD and Betty began traveling. Their last traveling occupation was insurance adjusting after hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. JD was the “field inspector” and Betty was the “data imputer”. What a team!
Throughout his life, JD loved to travel and see the world. He and Betty did a European trip and a South American trip. They toured the Canadian Rockies and got to visit almost every state in the lower 48. JD made it to Alaska! Of course it was a fishing trip, a favorite activity. Fishing was a main motivation for moving to the Bitterroot Valley in Montana where their son and his wife helped them build their dream house in 1984. JD also took golf lessons and ended up with a lifetime membership at the local course. In 2017 he even got a hole in one!!!!
He is survived by his three children and spouses: Keith (Jeannie) Loucks, Cedaredge CO; Kenneth (Patrice) Loucks, Hamilton MT; Kathleen (John Sandefur) Loucks, Stevensville MT; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His wife Elizabeth Millicent (Owensby); infant son Jay Loucks; parents Rufus George and Viva Lahoma (Pyle) Loucks; and siblings: Dode Peterson, Ruel Loucks, Nina Den Beste and Jack Loucks preceded him in death.
To reach the age of almost 99 requires some special ingredient. We think that JD’s was his calm demeanor. JD was a friend to everyone. He never got too upset and always found ways to resolve conflict amenably.
The funeral will be Saturday, January 14 at 11:00 am at Grand Mesa Southern Baptist Church, 110 SE Jay Ave., Cedaredge, CO 81418. The body will be interred in the Cedaredge cemetery alongside Elizabeth and their son Jay. The family thanks all of JD’s caregivers especially our friend Lezlee Raudsep and the staff at The Hamilton Assisted Living and Memory Care. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice in JD’s honor.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory.