Jim Brafford

Jim Brafford

Jim Brafford, 67, of Greeley, Colo., died April 25, 2012, at Hospice of Northern Colorado. James H. Brafford was born Aug. 4, 1944, to James W. and Stella (DeMartin) Brafford in Denver, Colo.

Jim was raised and educated in Rudyard, Mont. He served in the United States Army from 1963 to 1966. Jim was a rancher for Howard and Aimee Finkle in Montana. He was married to JoAn Finkle, with whom he had four children, from 1962 to 1979. He worked at Amax Coal Company-Belaire in Gillette, Wyo. He worked in the oil fields for many years and operated heavy equipment, which he loved doing. Jim was a strong man and a fighter. He fought hard until the very end when God called him home.

Jim was an avid NASCAR and Dale Earnhart Jr. fan. He was a good Christian man who always looked out for others. Jim had a good, yet ornery, sense of humor. He was a protective, loving and wise husband, father and grandfather. To Jim, family was everything. Jim enjoyed yard work, RC cars and model trains and spending time with his four-legged buddies.

On March 20, 1999, Jim married Peggy Grossaint in Windsor, Colo.

Jim is survived by his wife, Peggy Brafford of Greeley; sons, Korey Brafford of Gillette, Wyo., and Kevin (Karolyn) Brafford of Sumner, Wash. ; daughter, Kaycee Storck of Gillette, Wyo. ; step-sons, Jeff Grossaint (Matt Altevogt) of Denver, Colo., and Chad Grossaint (Devon Martinez) of Roy, Wash. ; grandsons, Christopher, Mitchell, Devan, Stefan, Gregory, Michael and Jason; great-grandson, Jareth; a granddaughter on the way; sisters, Lois (Rick) Slater of Las Vegas, Nev., and Judy (Randy) Froehlich of Hurricane, Utah; father-in-law, Bill George of Greeley; and sister-in-law, Claudia Winter of Greeley. He is preceded in death by his parents and son, Kent Brafford.

Visitation will be 4 to 7 p. m. Thursday, at Stoddard Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11 a. m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 W. 28th St, Greeley, CO 80634.

Please visit http://www.stoddardsunset.com to sign online guestbook.