Obituary of Connie L. Stone

Connie Lee Stone passed away on April 23, 2023 at the age of 71, in his hometown of Flagler, Colo. He was as smart as a whip and was capable of fixing almost anything, earning him the nickname Mcgyver for many years. In recent years he took on cancer and although it took a lot of skin from him he still managed to pursue his passions of helping out his friends, loving on his kids and grandkids, collecting and playing guitars, and working on his cars. Connie was welcomed into this world on May 30, 1951 by his parents Lyle and Laura Stone and big brother Marvin. The family was living in Denver at the time, but moved to the home he spent his childhood in when he was just three months old. He was baptized on June 15, 1952 at the First Congregational Church in Flagler. He attended Flagler Public Schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. His love for music began early and he played the saxophone and piano growing up. He spent a lot of time with his Grandpa Conrad “Connie” Stone during his childhood, who was always busy working on projects and getting dirty. He was part of a close knit class, and maintained many relationships throughout his life with the Class of ‘69. He got his first car at sixteen, a ‘53 Plymouth that he eventually painted orange. Right out of high school he headed to college at Rangley to take Airplane and PowerPlant training, but transferred to Otero Junior College after one year to be closer to home. College was not really for him, and his studies were interrupted by a motorcycle crash and a recovery period became his focus, including a time spent in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at Brooks Air Force base. Once he recovered he did not return to school, but instead went to work for his parents at Lyle’s TV and Radio. In 1976, Connie married Debra Jean Hobbie and they proceeded to raise their three children: Robyn, Collin and Apryl in Flagler. While raising his family, Connie continued to work at Lyle’s TV and Radio as a repairman and technician, repairing televisions, radios and installing satellite systems. He spent his free time teaching his kids how to golf and volunteering on the Flagler Volunteer Fire Department and serving as an EMT with the ambulance department. After his divorce and seeing all his kids graduate from high school, Connie moved to Pueblo, Colo. where oddly enough, two of his children were enrolled in college and took a job with a small telecommunications company before signing on with Dish Network. He spent time working for Dish throughout Southern Colorado and eventually transferred to Fort Worth, Texas near where his daughter Apryl and her husband Chris were living at the time. This was a memorable time in his career as he was able to be a part of the response team that went in to help restore services after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulfport, Mississippi area. Eventually, Colorado called again and Connie moved back to Pueblo where Robyn was living at the time. With Chris and Apryl still in Texas and having welcomed his first grandchild Connie spent many hours on the road driving his teal blue Corvette to visit. While living in Pueblo, Connie found his second calling in life and joined the praise band at the Eccumenical Church in Pueblo West, where he began a love affair with spreading the good news of Jesus through contemporary Christian music. After spending so many years dealing with satellite systems Connie was burnt out and took a break to help his sister Beth and her husband Rick on their farm near Cheyenne Wells before once again returning to the telecommunication industry and finishing his career out in Burlington, Colo. working for Eagle Communications. With an aging body that no longer agreed with climbing tall ladders Connie finally retired in 2016 and moved to Genoa, Colo. to live with his daughter and son-in-law on their farm. In 2017, Connie began his fight against Squamous cell cancer in his nose, which he was eventually able to overcome after two rounds of radiation, but all the procedures and treatment had taken their toll. Eventually he moved back to Flagler and into his Grandma Stone’s old house right next door to his mother. He spent his final years frustrated by lower energy, but he still made many great memories with his grandkids, playing guitar in the praise band at church, taking a mission trip to the Philippines, and fiddling with his prized Corvette. He is survived by his children Robyn (Krystyn) Stone of Mead, CO, Collin (Jennifer) Stone of Mead, CO, and Apryl (Christopher) Huelskamp of Genoa, CO; grandchildren Lyndi, Kayci and Lyle Huelskamp; Wyatt and Emma Stone; Ruby Stone; his mother Laura Stone; two brothers: Len (Nola) Stone and Kelly (Lucy) Stone; two sisters Peggy Stone-Saquid and Beth (Rick) Pelton; as well as several beloved aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. He is preceded in death by his father Lyle Stone and brother and sister-in-law Marvin and Bonnie Stone. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at the First Congregational Church in Flagler, Colo. at 10 o’clock in the morning. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Flagler Fire Protection District, P.O. Box 66, Flagler, CO 80815 or the Community Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 101, Flagler, CO 80815.