Richard (Dick) Eagles

Dick Eagles, 83, died at his home in Center, CO on November 29, 2023. He was born at Monte Vista Hospital, the son of Virgil and Helen Eagles. He was raised on the family farm in the Center area, alongside his three siblings, and their tight-knit family. Dick was known for his orneriness and being game for almost anything, especially pranks, in his younger days. His love of fun was apparent. He was also known for being a hard worker and it showed in the way Dick and Marilyn built their farming legacy.

Dick graduated from Sargent High School in 1958, in the same year he enlisted in the US Army. He honorably served his country for just over three years. Upon returning from the Army, he carried out his lifelong passion to be a farmer in the San Luis Valley, where he would be a 3rd Generation Farmer. While recovering from a critical automobile accident, he met his future wife and best friend, Marilyn Burton, his ICU nurse at St. Lukes hospital in Denver, CO. Dick married the love of his life, his Marilyn Kay, on December 7, 1963, at Brentwood United Methodist Church in Denver. They built a beautiful life together, on their homestead in Center, CO. Dick and Marilyn were married nearly 60 wonderful years, and proudly raised their two children, Julie, and BJ. They were overjoyed to be grandparents and fully loved and supported Nolan, Skylar, Lindsey, and Elle in every way.

Dick was very proud to be a farmer and all the work that it entailed. He raised potatoes, Coors barley and alfalfa for over fifty years. From the back breaking beginnings of flood irrigation and hand sacking potatoes to central pivot irrigation and modern machinery, he embraced and loved it all. He also had sheep for close to thirty years and lambed 200 Suffolk ewes at the peak of his production years.

Dick was well respected in his community where he served his local Center Kiwanis Club and made many life-long friendships at Monday night meetings and fundraisers. He most looked forward to the pancake supper, seeing all the people, and became an excellent pancake flipper. Dick also loved high school basketball, was a big fan and followed the Center and Sargent teams everywhere.

Dick’s most memorable adventures and stories came from motorcycle rides, flyfishing, snowmobiling, skiing, and family picnics and rides in the Colorado mountains. He was an avid outdoorsman, though on the rare occasion when he was not outdoors, you could find him enjoying an eventful afternoon of cards with friends and family, where he often would earn the title of ‘card-shark.’ Some favorite games included: Pitch, Pinochle, Poker, Michigan Rummy, Cribbage, and Kings on the Corner. Dick and Marilyn enjoyed extensive travel around the state and country, visiting family and friends. Their biggest adventure was with Sherrill and Linda Mix, to Australia and New Zealand.

Dick was overjoyed to have four amazing grandchildren that he constantly supported, by never missing the opportunity to cheer them on at numerous school sporting events and rodeo. His grandchildren especially enjoyed playing cards with him, never turning down the opportunity to beat their grandpa at a hand of Kings on the Corner, and getting him to express some of his famous ‘one-liners’. In more recent years, there were fun memories made on trips to the mountains.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Helen Eagles, and brother Norman Eagles and many special friends. He is survived by his wife Marilyn, daughter Julie and husband Troy Baker, son BJ Eagles and partner Amanda Stagner; four grandchildren, Nolan and wife Shelby Baker, Skylar Eagles, Lindsey and husband Alex Trujillo, and Elle Eagles. Sisters, Betty Stoddard and Jean ( Richard ) Ramstetter and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 1:00 pm at the Center Methodist Church. A reception will follow to culminate Dick’s celebration of life.

Arrangements are made through Strohmayer’s Funeral Home, in Monte Vista, Colorado. Flowers can be received there until Friday, December 15th, at 4 PM.

 Memorial contributions can be made to: Center United Methodist Church or Kiwanis Club of Center, through Strohmayer’s Funeral Home.