Jay Bouton Obituary

Jay H. Bouton, 91, died at home in Colorado Springs on Saturday, July 27, surrounded by his family. He was a retired school teacher, loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was born in Fort Collins on June 16, 1922, and married his long-time childhood friend, Doris M. Swedborg, in Aurora, CO, on June 14, 1949. He taught at Steele Elementary School, Mark Twain Elementary and East Junior High School before retiring in 1979. In the 1960's, he also owned Bouton Cycle Shop, selling and repairing bicycles at locations on East Platte Avenue and North Weber Street. He served six years in the United States Navy at the end of World War II, on ships in the Pacific Theater. His late father, Jay II, and his late brother, Garrett Bouton, also served in the Navy at the same time. He graduated Colorado State Teachers College (now University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley in 1950, and began his teaching career in Delta, CO. A short move back to Greeley was followed by the family's move to Colorado Springs with his wife and sons Clark and Jay IV. Daughter Annie was born in Colorado Springs, and Jay and Doris lived in their home on North Institute Street from 1959 until they moved to a senior living complex in 2007. He was known by many of his students as the teacher with 'amazing accuracy' with small pieces of chalk; many a talkative lad was quickly quieted during lessons by a well-aimed chalky missile from Jay's position at the head of the class. He loved handiwork, and was a proficient carpenter, painter and woodworker. In later years, he excelled in needlepoint. He was active in the Colorado Springs Jaycees for many years, and was a nightly participant at the summertime Jaycees Chuckwagon Show at the Garden of the Gods in the 1950's and 60's. He and his family were long-time members of the First Presbyterian Church downtown. Jay was a church deacon while wife Doris taught Sunday School there for 34 years. He and his family were also very active in the local downtown YMCA, spending countless hours with his children in basketball and swimming activities at the old YMCA building on Bijou Street in downtown Colorado Springs. He was always known as a kind and generous man, and had many, many friends and neighbors that he held close to his heart for decades. Jay always loved animals; his father and his brother were both career veterinarians. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Doris, his sons Clark (Pam) Bouton of Grand Junction, and Jay H (Peggy Koskie) Bouton IV of Fort Collins; daughter Annie (Rob) Foster of Colorado Springs; sisters Aureli (Rene) Bouton Blanc of Bonita, CA, and Rena Bouton Stoner of Austin, TX; sister-in-law Frances Bouton of Boulder; granddaughter Lauren Bouton (Zach Mixon) of Colorado Springs; grandson Jay H (Brittnay) Bouton V of Denver, CO; great-granddaughter Scarlet Mixon of Colorado Springs; special extended family Jessie (Larry) Kurrle of Colorado Springs; and numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jay H. Bouton II and Rena Bouton; parents-in-law Arvid Theodore (Ted) and Marjorie Swedborg; brother Garrett Bouton; sister Janice Bouton Peyton and brother-in-law Robert Peyton. A memorial service will be held at 11 am Friday, August 2, at the First Presbyterian Church at 219 E. Bijou Street in Colorado Springs. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Deacons' Fund at the First Presbyterian Church, or the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.