Rex Eugene Townsley

Services will take place at 2 p.m. Friday at Victory Life Church.

He was a minister at Stillwater Cowboy Church.

Survivors include his wife, Deborah; two sons, Travis of Grand Junction, and Troy of Colorado Springs; two daughters, Trisha Winslow of Colorado Springs, and Trina Wittler of Vilas; one brother, Gary Townsley of Montrose; three sisters, Nadine Whisnant of Montrose, Corrine Orr of Missouri, and Deloris Brown of Delta; and 13 grandchildren.

Memorial contributions to Stillwater Cowboy Church, c/o Victory Life Church, 2066 U.S. Highway 6&50, Fruita 81521.

Rex Townsley of Grand Junction, CO, went home to be with the Lord on January 8, 2017.

Rex Eugene Townsley was born January 1, 1960, in Montrose, Colorado, to Carl and Lila Belle Townsley. He met his high school sweetheart, Deborah Matney, at the roller skating rink in Montrose where he was a skate guard and she worked the snack shack. The two were married in 1978. That same year they also welcomed their first daughter, Trisha Kristine. He and Debie made their home among various towns on the western slope of Colorado during the early years of their marriage. They soon welcomed Travis Eugene, their first son in 1981, and their second daughter, Trina Arlene, in 1982. Rex and Debie began to feel the call into the ministry a few years later. In 1987 they moved to Meeker, Colorado, where Rex became the pastor at Meeker Assembly of God. During that time he also worked a full time job with the county as the Rio Blanco County Weed Management Supervisor. Also, while in Meeker in 1992, Rex and Debie welcomed 4-year-old Brandon Troy into their family through adoption.

God gave Rex great success and blessing as he followed the leading of the Lord. Rex always had a heart for small, rural churches and a longing to make a difference in this world. He did that very thing as he impacted so many lives. His passion for the Lord spurred him on. Rex loved southern gospel music and loved playing guitar and singing with his family, and later with the Stillwater band. He loved his horse, IsMe, and enjoyed their trail rides. He always said, “Everything looks better when seen from between the ears of a horse.” He derived so much joy from his children and grandchildren, by whom he was called Papa. He was also a very loving and caring husband for 38 years, and he enjoyed his time spent with Debie, camping, visiting children and grandchildren, driving over the monument, doing music together, and being a team in the ministry.

Rex was preceded in death by his mother and father; one brother and sister-in-law, Harvey and Margie Townsley; one sister, Norma Jones; two nephews; and one great niece. He is survived by three sisters, Nadine (Bennett) Whisnant, Corrine (Dan) Orr, and Deloris (Dave) Brown; one brother, Gary (Eileen) Townsley; one brother-in-law, Bill Jones; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and in-laws. Rex is also survived by his ever loving wife, Debie; their four children, Trisha Winslow, Travis Townsley, Trina Wittler, and Troy Townsley; his children-in-love, Jason Winslow, Misty Townsley, John Wittler, and Ashley Townsley; and his thirteen precious grandchildren: Isaac, Anna, Jesse, and Nathan Winslow; Bethany, Olivia, and Mackenzie Townsley; Alea, Emma, and Brock Wittler; and Abby, Chloe, and Brandon Townsley.