Michael Terrill Arnold

Michael Terrill Arnold, 65, of La Salle, passed on April 1, 2016. He was born at Weld County Hospital on March 12, 1951 and raised by his parents Jerry and Dorothy Arnold on a small farm outside of Greeley. His great, great, great grandfather Dr. Archibald Lacy Camp moved his family from Covington, Georgia in 1870 joining the original Union Colony. His great, great grandfather Archibald L. Camp Jr. bought the Red Bird Stock Farm in 1894. Mike spent a lot of his childhood there with his grandparents. Mike and his brother Pat have maintained the farm since their father died in 2009.

Mike graduated from Greeley Central High School in 1970. After high school he joined the United States Navy and was a Seabee in the Navy from 1970 to 1977 during which he was stationed abroad for many of those years in places such as Spain and Puerto Rico along with others. Upon his return he worked alongside his dad, Jerry Arnold, at Brattons/Bachmans in Greeley doing office machine repair until his retirement at which time he resumed more work in his shop doing what he loved restoring and driving his old cars and hot rods and helping others with their cars. Over his many years of restoring cars two of his favorites were the 1936 Ford that was his Grandmothers and also his Fathers and became his car in High school, which he recently began restoring again. In 1986 he purchased his pride and joy, his 1929 Ford Roadster pick up which he has maintained in its integrity as a monumental piece of car history and driven regularly around town, as well as, too prestigious car shows all over the country. This car is well known in many circles and it attracted many of his friends from all over the United States.

Mike enjoyed going to car shows, rod runs, swap meets and Bonneville Salt Flats for speed week in August with his friends and his Roadster. More recently he has spent time at his cabin in Red Feather Lakes, fishing and relaxing. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family, especially his grandchildren and tinkering in his shop, always “fixing” something.

He is survived by his wife Vallerie Strother of LaSalle; daughters Dawn Arnold and Tina Rockwell, her husband Chuck Rockwell and his grandchildren Cody Van Doren, Olivia Rockwell and Jack Rockwell all of Greeley; his mother, Dorothy Arnold of Greeley; and his siblings Patrick Arnold and wife Yolanda, son Jason Arnold, Judy White and daughter Tarah White, of Greeley, Kelly Arnold of Lake Tahoe, CA, and nephew Shawn Arnold of Wellington, Colorado; and also his first wife Kathy Arnold of Greeley, CO.

He is preceded in death by his father Gerald Arnold, his brother Robin Arnold, and his granddaughter Kelsi Colton.

A visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Monday, April 11, 2016 at the Allnutt Macy Chapel with services to follow starting at 2:00 P.M., at the chapel. A reception will be held in the Allnutt Reception Center. Inurnment at Sunset Memorial Gardens to be held at a later date. Attendees are encouraged to drive their hotrods in honor of Mike.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Judes Children’s Hospital in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th Street, Greeley, CO 80631. Friends may view the online obituary and send condolences at www.allnutt.com.