James Dean Wilson, better known as Jim, J.D., or Wilson, made the
transition to heaven on July 8, 2018, from the Amarillo VA Community Living
Center at the age of 92.

J.D. was born on October 28, 1925, in Las Vegas, New Mexico. In March of
1931, J.D. and his sister, Catherine, moved with their parents to Coolidge, Kansas
just before the big blizzard and the Towner bus tragedy. When J.D. started first
grade, there were five little boys named James, a teacher's nightmare. His name
then became J.D. In 1935 his baby sister, Betty, was born completing their family.

He graduated from high school in Coolidge, Kansas, in 1943. He worked for
the railroad as a telegraph operator until he felt the call to serve his country by
joining the United States Naval Air Corp in February 1944. He served his country
and had an honorable discharge in December 1946.

On June 8, 1947, J.D. married Elsie Ray Lacy. To this union, four children
were born: Curtis Dean, Marsha Ray, Pamela Ray, and Deanna Ray. In August
1949, his family moved to Lamar, Colorado. He worked at Anderson Seed and
traveled mostly in western Kansas and eastern Colorado, buying and selling seed
until March 1957.

J.D. managed De teach's Culligan Water business until May 1962. He then
worked various jobs until January 1965, when he became an agent with Farm
Bureau Insurance.

In December 1976, J.D. was united in marriage to LeEtta Brooks
Freighberger. He added two more children to his family when he adopted Lance
Wayne and Gaylene Rae. J.D. and LeEtta continued working in the insurance
industry until retirement in January 2001. They then moved to Baca County,
Colorado where they continued living.

J.D. and LeEtta made a good team together in the insurance business and
were able to take many trips, which they enjoyed immensely.

J.D. was a member of the First Baptist Church in Lamar for 50 years. He
served on the Trustee Board, Deacon Board, and Building Committee. He also
served as Sunday School teacher and sang in the church choir. After moving to
Baca County, he joined the Walsh Wesleyan Church as a member where he
served on the church board.

J.D. was a member of Gideon's International for 32 years. One of his life
loves was speaking in churches, sharing the Word of God and the work of the
Gideons. He felt honored to hand out Bibles to students of all ages. For several
years, J.D. enjoyed spending Labor Day weekend at Gobbler's Knob south of
Lamar. He and other Gideon members would set up a camper and serve
refreshments to travelers; most importantly, they shared the Gospel and handed
out many Bibles.

What you have heard thus far was mostly his own story by J.D. himself.

Others who admired and loved him helped to complete the rest of this story.

J.D. never saw a stranger. He was ready to share many stories related to
the Bible, a joke, or a bit of teasing. If someone asked J.D., "How are you?", many
times he responded, "Great, I was created by a great Creator, why wouldn't I be
great?"

When his children were in school, he always asked, "How's your car?"  "iS
your car running okay?" He wanted his children to be safe.

A story that his mom always enjoyed telling goes like this: J.D. milked 12-15
cows by hand before school and again in the evening. One particular evening the
cows weren't cooperating with him. When he came to the house thoroughly
exasperated he remarked, "I sure hope there aren't any cows in heaven!"

J.D. had a lot of fun asking people, "Are you behaving yourself?" Often
people did not know how to respond, but if he received a "Yes",  his next question
was, "When did you start that?" He received many chuckles from that line over
the years.

His daughter Gaylene recalled him saying, "There's no rest for the wicked,
and the righteous don't need it."

J.D. had a great interest in the crops growing on the farm and often asked
about the crops and harvest, even up to the day before he died.

J.D. had a caregiver's heart. One could hear him ask many times, "Do you
need some help?" He enjoyed helping people and giving a hand. He read his Bible
on a regular basis, and it was apparent that he knew Christ's mission was people.
J.D. emulated that mission throughout his own life.

J.D. was preceded in death by his son, Curtis Dean; son-in-law, Kent
Gumina; brothers in-law, Joe Perkins and Kenneth Terrell; parents, Glenn and
Amy Wilson, and in-laws, Ray and Fay Brooks.

J.D. leaves to celebrate his life: LeEtta of the family home in Springfield, CO;
Marsha (Don) Vincelette of Yucca Valley, CA; Deanna (Larry) Salazar of Indio, CA;
Pamela Gumina of La Pine, TX; Lance (Sharon) Wilson of Wiley, CO; and Gaylene
Netherton of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Grandchildren: Rebekah Negron and Sarah
(Lance) Fedderly of Indian Wells, CA; Diane Gumina of Denver, CO; Anne Gumina
of Breckenridge, CO; Taylor (Sarah) Wilson of Escanaba, Michigan; and Blake
Wilson of Wiley; four great grandchildren; sisters Betty Perkins of Lamar, CO, and
Catherine Terrell of Hayesville, KS; sister-in law Idella (Roger) Maschino and
brother-in-law Bill (Patty) Brooks; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of
friends.

If J.D. were speaking today, he might ask, "Do you know the Lord?" He then
would remind us, "See you here, there, or in the air!"