Harold Lloyd

Harold Richard Lloyd passed out of this life on August 28, 2014 and what a life it was. Many didn't know that he was eighty years old; his keenness belied his age. His silver swooped hair had been a recognizable trait since his early thirties. Water laced with arsenic was the backstory to his pearly head. He was a young cowboy trapped in a time touched body even as he laid in the hospital bed where he took his last breath. He was a mining, fishing, wisdom-seeking, coffee-drinking, good ole boy who brought hearty smiles and bellyborn laughs to those around him. His young and adventurous soul may have been due to his birth story back in December 27, of 1933. It went something like this. "The snow was deep and Bertha Lloyd was heavy with child. She was riding a pregnant buckskin mare back to Mesa when they were set upon by bandits because there were still bandits in those days. When they had escaped the unchivalrous malefactors and were nearly home, both she and the mare went into labor under a cedar tree. As soon as they had delivered and the colt had nursed, she sat her baby Harold on Little Bucky and they all "lit a shuck" back to the ranch. Or so "Grandpa" embellished the story to small listening ears some bearing his trademark blue eyes. Harold attended school in Mesa (often traveling by horseback) and graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1951. His ranching days as a youngster lead him to the rodeo team at Colorado A&M. Having a "way with words" Harold graduated Auctioneer School in Kansas City in 1962. He was known for both his auctioneer skill as well as his "lively" rodeo announcements. Harold was an adventurous (maybe more truthfully dangerous) aviator, flying fixed wing and helicopters. He served in the United States Marine Corp during the Korean Conflict. Years later, his son Alex while stationed in Korea, was honored by an elderly Korean man who bowed low and said "I thank your father on behalf of my generation, for his help in the Korean war". His service was recognized. Harold is the last of the original Lloyd generation that homesteaded up on the Mesa. But a heritage more important than land has been left: his two surviving sons (Erik and Alex),nine grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren bearing his "good ole boy" nature are his true legacy. To date; ten men bare the Lloyd name, ensuring there are going to be plenty of stubborn but God fearing generations to come. Appreciating beautiful "country", masterfully crafted by the Creator originated with Dick Lloyd's love of the land and this has gone on down to his son Harold, his grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Relationships built around the table over a cup of thick, dark coffee will continue to be a tradition. Harold could spin a tale, pull your leg and make people laugh. He made "coffee" a verb because he would drop everything to "coffee" with a friend. Harold lived an active life until the week he left this world. A generation has been removed, but there are a plethora of Lloyds to come, thanks to Harold Richard Lloyd. The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. Graveside Services were held on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 10:00 AM at the Mesa Cemetery in Mesa, Colorado. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, September 14, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the Aguila Community Bible Church in Aguila, Arizona.