Erle (Duke) Hamilton Reid, III

Erle burst into this world on July 6, 1940, in Torrington, Wyoming. A bouncing baby boy weighing 9 lbs, he was born to Erle Hamilton Reid II and Charlotte Alta (Stearns) Reid. He left this world, like the whirlwind he was, on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, embraced by the arms of the Divine.

Erle was preceded in death by his lovely first wife of twenty-four years, Carolyn (Kepler) Reid. He is survived by his best friend of thirty-six years and “the love of his life” Jacquie Chappell-Reid, and Dugan, his beloved West Highland Terrier and faithful walking companion.

Erle is also survived by his children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and siblings, all of whom he loved and adored. They include his son Daniel Patrick Reid and wife Amy, daughter Cynthia Anne Lamm and her husband Scott, all of Denver, Colorado. Long-time family friend Marcia Stathos. Stepdaughters Toni Chappell of Edgecomb, Maine, Terri Chappell-Paxson and her husband Michael, and stepson Ronnie Allen Chappell and his wife Jennifer, all of Grand Junction, Colorado. Beloved and adored grandchildren Kennon Lamm and Devin Reid of Denver, MacGregor Paxson, Beckett Paxson, Kaitlyn Sacco and her husband Nick of Grand Junction, Jared Chappell of Fort Collins, India Chappell-Wanebo and Alexandria Chappell-Wanebo of Brooklyn, New York.

Erle leaves three siblings: Anne Almquist of Farmington, New Mexico; Bruce Reid and his wife, Cheryl, of Media, Pennsylvania; and Dale Reid of Denver.

Erle spent his childhood in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and enjoyed an extraordinary friendship spanning nearly eight decades with his two best friends from school, Arthur Lazar and Jim Ransom.

Erle graduated from Highlands High School in 1958, received his B.A. from the University of New Mexico and his M.A. in Speech Pathology from Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

Together with CEO Denny Stahl and a small staff, Erle played a major roll in creating what is now Hilltop Health Services, beginning as a speech therapist and concluding his twenty-five year career as Vice President and Chief Development Officer of the organization which by that time had grown to well over four hundred employees serving a wide array of community needs.

Erle loved Western Colorado and played a pivotal role in the recruitment of board members for the first hospice organization in the Grand Valley (now HopeWest) as well as for the Western Colorado Community Foundation. He was a long-time member of the Grand Junction Rotary Club and an enthusiastic supporter of, among other local non-profits, STRIVE.

Elegant, erudite, and an extraordinary example of pure energy, Erle was also a contemplative seeker of truth and understanding. He began a daily practice of meditation at the age of 19, devoutly followed the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, and established a Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) chapel in May of 1974.

A “renaissance man,” Erle leaves a legacy of community service and love to all he knew.

The family wishes to thank friend and physician Dr. Michael Pramenko for his caring and kindness. Another heartfelt thank you to the EMT’s and sheriff’s deputies, who did everything humanly possible to save a life on a very late night while showing tremendous compassion and consideration to the family and making a very difficult situation bearable. Our deep gratitude also to the Mesa County Coroner’s Investigator for her sensitivity and concern for everyone involved. We don’t know how you do your jobs with such love and grace and we are eternally grateful to all of you.

Memorial contributions in Erle’s honor may be made to HopeWest, an organization which remained very dear to his heart.