James Irvin Snook

Jim was born in Fruita, Colorado on November 14, 1939, the youngest child of John Park Snook and Elizabeth (Wood) Snook

Jim spent his first four years on a little 40 acre farm, rode a work horse named Prince, and was tethered to a clothesline so he wouldn’t run into the road that went by the farmhouse he was born in. Later the family moved to the town of Fruita where he started school and got his own first horse named Dixie.

At age 12 Jim began herding sheep in the mountains northwest of Fruita for his brother-in-law Dale Weldon. There he found his paradise. He liked being alone with his horse, his dog and the sheep.

Jim rode horses with his friends and classmates over the mesa and fields. Stories of those times are dear to his memory. Later he entered rodeos to ride broncs and bulls.

Jim graduated from Fruita High School, Class of 1957. He ran track and was on the 880 and one-mile relay team that went to the State Meet. This Class still has a reunion each year, enjoying deep bonded friendship.

Jim worked in the oilfield and herded sheep to put himself through college. He attended Mesa Junior College and later transferred to Colorado State University to graduate in 1962 with a degree in Vocational Agriculture. He taught high school students Animal Breeding, Chemistry, Physics and Social Science and Shop in addition to being the Principal in Fairplay, Colorado. Two years later Jim moved to De Beque, Colorado and was the Principal and Shop Teacher there. He taught welding and auto mechanics.

Jim became a Colorado State Rehabilitation Counselor for 7 years and furthered his education with a Master’s Degree in Counseling from University of Northern Colorado. He moved to Alamosa, Colorado in 1965.

Throughout Jim’s lifetime he always had horses as his first love! He trained race horses, broke colts, shoed horses, bought, sold and traded horses, hauled horses. He participated in the 4-H Horse program for many years in Alamosa and has been a Horse Show Judge on many levels, and served as the Assistant Colorado State Fair Horse Show Director.

Jim began a State Farm Insurance business in Alamosa in 1972. He retired after 27 years with that agency.

Patriotism was deeply rooted in Jim’s soul during World War II, some very formative years for him. He loved this great country of America, felt privileged to live here. He served one term in the Colorado House of Representatives 63rd General Assembly. Thereafter was a lobbyist for a few years.

Jim worked at the National Western Stock Show as the Private Treaty Bull Sales Manager for 13 years. He loved meeting the stock breeders who came from all over the nation.

Jim enjoyed a quiet life at the retirement community in Colorado Springs that brought many new friendships and Bible study group.

Jim is predeceased by his father and mother, sister Jayne Weldon, brother Jack Snook, daughter Juli Rae Guinn, and granddaughter Madison Paige Scalzo.

Jim is survived by his wife of 33 years, Carolyn Snook of Colorado Springs, JJ (Liz) Snook of Aurora, CO, Joel (Kelsey) Snook of Wiggins, CO, Eric (Becky) Kaiser, David (Kim) King of Colorado Springs, Deanna Scalzo of Gillette, WY. Grandchildren, Sean, Dustin, Talon, Julian and Ivan, Wyatt, Cordell, Joel Vance, Colton, Blake, Tegan, Damian, Tyler (Val), Alyssa, Emily, Avery, Ryan, Garrett, Morgan, Payton, Jasen (Shalynn), Gibson, great-grandchildren Landyn, Kynley, Micah. Nephew, Bart (Ruth) Weldon of Grand Junction, CO and families.

A Celebration of Life service will be on February 4, 2023 at 10:00am at Callahan-Edfast of Grand Junction, Colorado, with burial in Elmwood Cemetery in Fruita, CO.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.callahan-edfast.com for the Snook family.