Jerry Don Atkinson

September 13, 1963 - November 17, 2017

Jerry Don Atkinson (JD), 54 years old, from Fort Collins, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Pathways Hospice care center on November 17, 2017, ending his courageous year-and-a-half long battle with kidney cancer. Born in 1963 in New Mexico to Joe and Mary Helen Atkinson, JD was a cowboy all his life: in New Mexico, Texas, Montana and Colorado. He loved taking care of the animals. He loved being in the mountains camping, fishing or just going for a drive on a dirt road and seeing where you came out, always on the lookout for any wildlife along the way. He had the cowboy attitude of never give up and never quit with everything he did. He was always quick with a joke, but even quicker to give the shirt off his back to someone in need. He was a family man. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for anyone in the family. He loved his family and his grandkids were the light of his life. And then there are our furry babies. He spoiled all of our dogs, all 6, even the grand-puppies he spoiled. He loved life! He is survived by Dad: Joe Atkinson – New Mexico Sister: Jerri Johnson – New Mexico Wife: Kristen Atkinson – Fort Collins Daughter: Heather Gonzalez (Robert) – Texas Daughter: Kimber Arnold (Stetson) – Ault Daughter: Andrea Conley – Fort Collins Daughter: Samantha Gray (Greg) – Fort Collins Grandchildren: Johnathan – Texas; Ema, Ashton, Kason – Ault Mother & Father-in-Law: Carol & Ted Arnold – Texas Mother-in-Law: Brenda Conley – Fort Collins He was preceded in death by Mother: Mary Helen – New Mexico Grandparents – New Mexico Wife: Camy Atkinson – Fort Collins Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm, Dec. 1st, at Canyon Ridge Baptist Church 4608 West County Rd 52E Bellvue, Colorado Officiant: Pastor Travis Heady Special thank you to all the people at Pathways Hospice who made the end of his life as comfortable and pain-free as possible.