John Morris Mundell, was born on the 31st of January, in 1933, near the country store in Blaine, Colorado. He and his brother, Grover William Mundell were the sons of Grover Cleveland Mundell and Alma Jane Herbert Mundell.
When John was 6, in the summer of 1939, the family moved to Springfield so that his mother could be near her job.
He lost his father at the age of 10, so he and his brother Bill were raised by their amazing mother.
John attended school in Springfield, graduating in 1951. From 1951-1956 he attended college in LaJunta, and Ft. Collins.
After graduating in 1956, he worked for the SCS and other odd jobs, until his brother Bill came home from the Air Force and college. At this time, they both lived on the home place, along with Bill's wife Joyce, and their two sons, Joe and Don, until November 1960.
On the 13th of November in 1960, John married Marilyn Mills, daughter of Herman C. Mills and Dorothy Bolinger Mills. Marilyn brought with her, two little girls, by the names of Shelley and Melanie, who were later adopted.
Two sons were added to this union, Sam Morris on the 26th of December 1961 and Grover Mills on the 1st of July 1964, who preceded his father's death on the 7th of March 2013.
I started to put down the marriages of myself and my siblings and births of our children, but suffice it to say, and to save time, that our parents ended up with 12 grandchildren, and at this time, they have 16 great grandchildren.
Now for a few memories about Dad.
Dad was a good athlete in most all sports, and held broad jumping records in the state, for several years. He loved sports and if the TV was on, most of the time, he would be watching football! He would also listen to games on the radio, and keep track of the scores by writing them down.
What he loved best, other than sports, was feeding his cattle. In the winter he would get up in the morning and start singing, the cows would hear him, and start bawling.
Dad had the most incredible memory, he knew every road in Baca County and other places, like the back of his hand. I believe he could quote every play, of every ball game, he ever attended!
He was so full of stories, that anyone who listened to him, never had a dull moment! I regret that we did not record those stories!
He knew most of the people around for many miles, and he could tell you who married who, what their children's names were and who they married and on and on!
Dad was an amazing historian, and I always thought he should have been a history teacher. It was important to him to stay close to his classmates and friends that he grew up with.
He spent many hours in his later years, trying to find his classmates, and he would call and encourage them to come to the reunions in Springfield. He made many friends, while growing up, and remained close to them until his death. Several of those friends came almost every day, to the hospital to visit him, which meant so much to him, and brightened his days.
Dad we love you. Dad was so much more to so many people than what I have condensed on these few pages. He was a loving husband, father, uncle, cousin, grandfather and great-grandfather and his family adored him! We will miss you and your amazing intellect!
God be with you and the rest of our family, who have gone on before, until we meet again!