James Dee Coonfield was born August 19, 1941, to Mary Aileen Nichols and Lester Lee Coonfield in Rocky Ford, Colorado. He passed away on October 2, 2024, surrounded by family at Pikes Peak Hospice at Penrose Hospital. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Lester Lee Coonfield, Jr. Jim is survived by his wife, Shirley; his daughters, Sheryl (Cody Jack) of Grand Junction and Debra (Jay Adriansen) of Colorado Springs; his son, J. Gregory of Reston, Virginia; his four grandchildren: Cody Jack II (Amanda), Rachel Jack, Ashley (Ryan Hamill), and Brooke Toller; and his eight great-grandchildren.
Jim attended schools in Rocky Ford, Colorado, graduating with the Class of 1960. He attended Otero Junior College in La Junta, where he met his wife, Shirley Brown. They were married for 62 years. After working for nine years at NIBCO of Colorado in La Junta, Jim and the family moved to Alamosa, where Jim received his Master’s in Art Education at Adams State College. Jim taught art at Carson Middle School in District 8 for 25 years. He was a coach for girls’ basketball and volleyball and created the Eagle Pride Award to honor students.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on November 30, 2024, at the Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80910. Following the service, a reception will be held at the Olympian Plaza Reception and Event Center, 975 S. Union Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80910.