James Lee Bartlett

James Lee Bartlett, 90, of Colby, passed away Saturday, May 24, 2025. He was born June 21, 1934, in Ft. Morgan, CO, to Lee and Marguerite (Dornon) Bartlett. Jim grew up on a farm southwest of Monument, KS with his granddad Frank Dornon. He was a 1952 graduate of Monument High School, where he enjoyed playing baseball and basketball. Jim also enjoyed hunting and fishing his whole life.

A year after graduating, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Vogler, on June 7, 1953. They lived southwest of Monument until 1958, when they bought and moved to a farm southeast of Colby. Jim’s passion in life was farming and he loved the life of being a farmer. One of the things Jim enjoyed every spring was the first pass of a tractor in the field. He would always stop, walk back to the fresh overturned earth and smell the dirt.

He said that it was one of the best smells in the world. Jim and Betty enjoyed every day on the farm with their children. Jim was always a good role model, kind and caring, and set a good example for his family. They took a family vacation every year after the harvest was completed. They also enjoyed trips to Texas with their friends to fish and have fun. Jim and Betty were happily married for 71 years and were the love of each other’s life.

Jim’s faith was important to him and going to church was a large part of their lives, attending the Berean Church for many years. He had previously served as a Deacon and Elder of the First Christian Church. Jim also served on the Mingo CO-OP Board, the North Randall Township Board, and the ASCS Board.

He was preceded in death by his father Lee Bartlett, mother Marguerite Chandler, step-father Roderick Chandler, and grandfather Frank Dornon.

He is survived by his wife Betty; children, Brad Bartlett, of Lawrence, KS, Connie (Jim) McDaniel, of Quinter, KS and Greg (Carrie) Bartlett, of Colby; grandchildren, Courtney (Matt) Howard, Amanda (Lee) Miles, Caitlyn (T.J.) Hawkins, Danielle (Tom) Wasson, Kara Bartlett, Matthew (Brandie) Bartlett and Mark (Jacquie) Bartlett; great grandchildren, Cooper and Hadley Howard, Brody and Oaklynn Hawkins, Eryn and Ana Freeman, Gavin Wasson, Madison Bartlett, Claire and Cali Bartlett, Andrew (Reagan) and Autumn Snow, Aliza, Joslyn and Pierce Bartlett and Kealis Miles and great-great-grandchildren, Scarlett, Waylen, Lynden and Tylden.

The memorial service is 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Berean Church, Colby, with burial in the Monument Cemetery, Monument, KS. Memorials may be made to Genesis Food Bank or the Berean Church and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com