Jay Norman Robertson

JAY NORMAN ROBERTSON Jay Norman Robertson passed away Friday, March 30, 2012 at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colo. Jay was born April 4, 1930 to Ralph Richard and Edna Marie (Holopirek) Robertson in LaCross, Kans. He spent his formative years in Wichita and graduated from East High School in 1948. He enlisted in the Army in 1953 during the end of the Korean War, but was stationed in Germany protecting the Fulda Gap from Stalin. After his tour he attended Wichita State University studying petroleum geology and education. Jay graduated in 1960 and began his career as a science teacher at Newton Junior High in Littleton, Colo. He later received a National Science Foundation Scholarship to attend Oregon State University in Corvalis, graduating in 1968 with a Master of Science degree in chemistry. Jay returned to Littleton to teach chemistry and natural sciences at Arapahoe High School. He retired from Littleton School District after 27 years. Jay married Lynn Warner in Denver, Colo. on November 25, 1966. They lived in Louviers, Colo., raising their two daughters. Jay was a volunteer fireman and served on the town water board. During his time in Louviers, he was an avid bee keeper and tended a large organic garden, sharing the produce with friends. Jay loved all outdoor activities and was a founding member of the "Rock Creek Yacht Club". He "collected" Colorado mountain passes by either hiking or driving them in his beloved 1966 Ford Bronco. As a roadside geologist, he loved taking family and friends on road trips to learn about and enjoy the scenery. Jay often took his family camping and reveled in the solitary pursuit of fly fishing Colorado's mountain streams. Jay was a huge sports fan and a South Stands Bronco season ticket holder since 1963. He never missed a home game in all the years he lived on the Front Range. Winning a cash prize in the Denver Post Fantasy Baseball contest in 1999 was one of his proudest achievements. In 1992, Jay moved to Dolores, Colo. to enjoy this wonderful area and always said he wished he had moved here sooner. He was a member and served as president of the Anasazi Historical Society and served on the Senior Citizens Center board. Reading was a passion, always having several books going at one time. Recently, he awarded himself a Liberal Arts Degree for completing a two-decade long self assigned reading list. Jay loved to play games, especially cards. His favorite was Duplicate Bridge and he played every Wednesday at the Cortez Senior Center. Sharing time with friends and family for beer, wine, food and good stories was a regular occurrence and for this he will be missed. In his final years Jay was known to proclaim "I was born in the first year of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression and it was a constant improvement from there." His was a life well led and enjoyed. Surviving Jay are his wife Lynn of 45 years; his two daughters, Sandra Ann Herman and her husband, Brian of Edmonds, Wash. and Amy Jo Puls and her husband, Chris of Tulsa, Okla.; five grandchildren; his sister, Jo Ann Hornby of Wichita, Kans.; his nephews and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Billie Jean Monroe. At the request of the deceased, no immediate services are planned; a celebration of his life will be announced at a later date. Jay lived by the motto "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without!" In the spirit of giving and re-using, in death he was a bone and tissue donor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Montezuma County Land Conservancy fund of the Cortez and Dolores Libraries.