Gilbert LeFevre

Gilbert Donald (Don) LeFevre died January 26, 2015 in the Meeker Pioneers Hospital. Don was born in Mount Harris, near Hayden, on November 24, 1923 to Gilbert Pete (Bert) and Flora May (Sharp) LeFevre. He attended schools in Axial Basin and later finished High School in Meeker, graduating in 1942. Don married Melba (Steinmetz) Lumpkin on June 17, 1950. They honeymooned in Yellowstone Park and loved to visit the Park throughout their later years. He and Melba would make many trips to Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, and numerous Sunday afternoon trips to Piceance Creek, the North Fork, and Yellowjacket to view the wildlife. He was an avid hunter throughout his active years. He entered military service in July 1943 and served in the Army Air Force until his discharge in March 1946. He returned to Meeker and began working primarily as a truck driver and equipment operator for various jobs around Meeker. In 1951, he began the work that was pride of his life, driving truck for Harp Transportation, Bee Freight Lines, and finally Northwest Transportation. He was proud to be selected as "the driver" for Port Franklin's show bulls that took him to the Denver Stock Show and also the San Francisco Cow Palace. He served over 50 years in the Rio Blanco Masonic Lodge #80 and earned his 32nd Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in the Grand Junction Consistory on April 27, 1974. He served as Worthy Patron to Meeker's Order of Eastern Star continuously for 27 years. He traveled with Melba as her escort when she served on the Grand Chapter of Colorado Eastern Star as Grand Martha, and was Grand Representative to Tennessee for Colorado. They were able to enjoy travels together to many Eastern states, Hawaii, and a cruise in the Caribbean. They were also members of the Eastern Star marching drill team, the Colorado West Star Steppers, which traveled throughout Colorado. He adopted Daryl, Melba's son as his own, and later Darlene Kay was born on July 29, 1952. He was able to enjoy his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren camping and snowmobiling in Wyoming and around the Meeker area. Don is survived by his wife, Melba, of more than 64 years; son Daryl (Carolyn) of Cody, Wyoming; daughter Darlene Massey of Grand Junction; grandchildren: April Massey of Craig; Sonja (Steve) Cook of Grand Junction; Tony (Sara) LeFevre of Firestone, Colorado; great-children: Anjel, Selena, Dominic, Isaac, Amanda Cook and Ashly (Brandon) Fasold, Alexia and Kelsey; sisters Shirley Minnick and Sue Dunbar, brother Tom (Joyce) LeFevre and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Funeral services will be at the Rio Blanco Masonic Center at 7th and Park in Meeker at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 31, 2015. Interment will be in the Highland Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to the care of the Blackburn Meeker Mortuary. www.blackburnvernalmortuary.com