While the old expression “Jack of all trades, master of none” applies to many of us, it doesn’t apply to Roy Morse. Growing up in the auto body business, which he pursued for some 30 years, he mastered several other trades along the way and has brought those skills to Meeker with a new handyman and appliance repair business.
Both Roy and his wife Lilly are Colorado natives—fourth generation, in fact, for Lilly, whose family homesteaded in 1852—and both are involved in this new venture.
“I grew up in Littleton, so I remember when downtown Littleton kind of looked like our little town here, just when they first paved Main Street,” Roy said.
Growing up in the oldest house in Littleton—Baker Mansion, built in 1886—Roy fell in love with old houses. This is reflected not only in houses he has remodeled but also in the house he bought at 490 11th Street. “This house was pretty much abandoned. There were no appliances, the plumbing didn’t work; it was bad, and Lilly cried for two weeks,” he said.
After three decades in the auto body business, losing his father, mother, brother and key employees to death, the difficulties in finding good help, and the hardship on his own body, Roy needed to turn to something else.
“I decided to go into appliances with a partner, then I worked for Sears, I worked for Appliance Factory, and then I started my own used appliances business,” he said.
While Roy has worked as a handyman to make ends meet here in Meeker (and this will not disappear immediately), they started gathering appliances from different parts of the state and began to “repair and care.” Many of these are “parted out” so the parts can be used to repair other appliances, and what remains is recycled or scrapped.
“We will also be selling used appliances,” Roy added. “We’ll (sell) the real sweet ones that I can fix, and even put pairs together, for folks who can’t afford new ones.”
“He’s the craftsman, I run the business end,” Lilly interjected. “I do all the estimating, scheduling, and (money matters).”
“We also try to help people out who don’t have much,” Roy said. “We have given a lot of things away, especially to the elderly.” Out of courtesy, he has also diagnosed problems for people over the phone.
There is not yet an official name for the business—there are a few legal and other matters to work out first, such as advertising—but in the meantime you can call 970-942-3285. From “flipping to fixing,” Roy and Lilly might be able to help.
By DOC WATSON
Special to the Herald Times
