March 27, 1938 ~ May 2, 2021
Cecil E. Lollar, 83, of Rangely, Colorado, passed away on May 2, 2021, after a brief stay at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Cecil was born in Pensacola, Oklahoma, to Claude and Cecil (nicknamed “Monie” by her grandkids) Lollar on March 27, 1938. He grew up for most of his childhood on a farm outside Sperry, Oklahoma, and graduated from Will Rodgers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1956. After high school, Cecil completed his freshman year of college at the University of Missouri. He then accepted an offer from his parents to manage their ranch located in the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado where his parents had relocated. Upon moving to the San Luis Valley, Cecil decided to continue his education at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado.
While at Adams State, Cecil met Marlene Shelby, and the two married in 1960. Cecil completed his education at Adams State with two bachelor’s degrees (English and social studies), as well as two master’s degrees (history and psychology). Also, during his senior year at Adams State, Cecil started a construction company and built eight houses. As a member of the Alamosa chapter of the Jaycees, Cecil donated land and obtained donations (including a train engine, caboose and a fighter jet) to build a new children’s park. As a result of the project, Cecil received an award as the outstanding Jaycee in the state of Colorado and was selected as one of 10 outstanding Jaycees in the United States, receiving an invitation to meet President John F. Kennedy.
While living in Alamosa, Cecil and Marlene had two sons: Jim, born in 1961, and John, born in 1963. In 1964, Cecil moved his family back to Oklahoma where he attended law school at the University of Tulsa. In 1965, a daughter, Julie, was born. After receiving his law degree in 1968, Cecil and Marlene were contacted by Walt Stahlecker, who they had known in the San Luis Valley. Walt had become the superintendent of Rangely schools and offered Cecil and Marlene teaching positions at Rangely High School which they accepted. Cecil greatly enjoyed his time at Rangely High School where he taught history, civics and social studies in the 1968-1969 school year, as well as being an assistant coach for the Rangely High School football team.
Despite his love of teaching, Cecil decided to begin his legal practice in Rangely in late 1969. Also at this time, Cecil was asked to put together a group of investors to purchase the Bank of Rangely where Cecil served as a board member for several years. In 1971, Cecil was appointed by Governor John Love to serve as Rio Blanco County Judge. The following year Cecil was elected to his first term as Mayor of Rangely (1972-1974).
In 1973, Cecil hired Pat White as his legal secretary. Pat was instrumental in helping Cecil complete various legal projects including the task of separating Rangely Junior College from Mesa College.
In addition to his private practice as an attorney, Cecil provided legal representation to the Town of Rangely, Rangely Hospital, Rangely Community College, Rangely School District, the Sanitation District, and two years as the Rio Blanco County Attorney. Due to a concern for the potential of conflicts of interest, Cecil resigned from most of these positions after being elected again as Mayor of Rangely for a second term (1978-1980).
In his capacity as an attorney, Cecil was often involved in multiple aspects of real estate, an area for which he had a lifelong passion. As a result, Cecil decided to become a real estate broker and encouraged Pat to get her real estate license soon thereafter. Their relationship, which began as a friendship, grew into something more and they were married in July 1979. Together, over the next 20-plus years, Cecil and Pat developed and completed numerous subdivisions, building projects, and represented hundreds of satisfied buyers and sellers of real estate in Rangely and the surrounding area.
Out of his many accolades and accomplishments, Cecil was most proud of his decision in 1986 to enter treatment for alcohol addiction. He began work to get that part of his life under control … and succeeded.
Although always proud of his “Okie” heritage, Cecil was Rangely through and through. He loved serving the people and the Town of Rangely in many ways, including taking 10 ornery fifth graders to the big city to see a Bronco game, teaching specialty courses at Colorado Northwestern Community College and many years of announcing parades and Rangely High School football games (in which he enjoyed needling the referees by announcing penalties before the refs could make the call:).
Cecil is survived by his wife of 42 years, Pat; three children: son, Jim (Denise), son, John (Jackie), daughter, Julie (Ron), and one stepson: Brad (Patty); eight grandchildren: Chad (Candace), Chris (Charlotte), Haven (Clayton), Ceely, Olivia, Georgia, Jett, and Summer; and three great-grandchildren: Kennedy, Brooklyn and Jimmy; and his sister Claudine Pope.
Services will be at the First Baptist Church in Rangely, Colorado, on Saturday, June 5, 2021, at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, should you desire, please consider donating to:
Rangely Food Bank – (970) 675-2407 and Rangely Resource Pantry – (970) 675-5290
Rose Hill Hospitality Center: https://www.sclhealth.org/locations/st-marys-medical-center-foundation/donate/
