Christopher James Hinkson

Christopher J. Hinkson passed away on Saturday, August 22nd at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction following a very brief and unexpected illness. He died peacefully and without pain with his children by his side.

The first of two boys, Chris came into the world on March 7th, 1955 to parents Marilyn Sue Whitney and Charles E. Hinkson in Gunnison, Colorado. The family lived in Western Colorado for a brief time before moving to Juneau, Alaska for the kids' formative years. He reminisced often about growing up in Alaska and his experiences while living in Juneau. The family returned to living on the Western Slope in Colorado where Chris spent most of his adolescent years. Summer of 1973 saw Chris graduating from Grand Junction High School, followed by attending Mesa State University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree of Science. After college he joined the United States Coast Guard and was Honorably Discharged in 1978.

Eventually, he made his way to California and met Mary Lynn Franisco in 1984, whom he would marry and return to Colorado with in 1989. Together they had three children and would spend the rest of their lives together living all across Western Colorado before finally settling in Montrose in 1997. Following Mary’s unexpected passing in 2013, Chris spent over a decade in Norwood until returning to Montrose in 2024 where he lived until his death.

Throughout his life Chris had many vocations; he spent a summer prospecting above Tin Cup, had a Commercial Drivers License long enough to accumulate several million miles driven, was a Remax Real Estate Agent of the Year, sold cars, cleared high mountain passes and operated every piece of heavy equipment imaginable. He was a chimney sweep, ski patrol officer, ranch hand, volunteer fire fighter, pilot, scuba diver, hunter, potter, writer, artist, husband and father, and worked tirelessly his entire life to ensure his family was taken care of. He was a man who cared deeply for his family and friends and gave selflessly to help those that he could. He had a feverish love for the outdoors and shared his joy for exploration with his wife and children. Chris was called a lot of things in his life but he was never called ordinary.

Chris was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, and his parents, Chuck Hinkson and Sue Whitney. He is survived by his brother Buck Hinkson (Julie) of Glade Park, CO; his sons Wyatt Hinkson (Cortni) of Montrose, CO; Kyle Hinkson (Kaleigh) of Montrose, CO; his daughter Georgiana Hinkson of Grand Junction, CO; his nieces, Annie Hinkson of Anchorage, AK, and Katie Hinkson of Mesa, CO; and his two grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Chris on Saturday, October 24th, 2026 from 2PM-5PM in Montrose. Please bring photos, momentos, stories to share, and smiles. Please RSVP to Kyle Hinkson (9702756069) or Wyatt Hinkson (9709012426) for more details and directions.

Godspeed, Dad.