Preston W. Flemister was born June 7, 1935, in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the fourth of six boys born to Fred and Lillie (Higgins) Flemister. Preston passed away on August 28, 2022, at the age of 87.
After moving to Colorado, Preston, along with his brothers, attended the Champion Valley Country School, south of Eckley, traveling to school by horse and buggy. Preston graduated from Eckley High School with the class of 1953.
Preston was inducted into the Army and was sent to Fort Hood, TX for basic training. After completion of basic training, Preston was shipped to Germany with the 3rd Armored Division.
After being honorably discharged from the Army, Preston worked at General Iron Works, a steel manufacturing company in Denver. While working full-time Preston attended night classes to earn an engineering degree and later taught night classes for computer drafting.
Preston married Jeanette Gillis in 1977 and to this union one son, Brian was born.
After working several years for General Iron Works Preston took a job with Lockheed Martin, where he worked on several of the NASA space flight missions.
After retiring from Lockheed Martin, to keep himself busy Preston took a job with the Denver Election Board setting up and maintaining their electronic voting booths.
Preston loved to play the guitar and sing. While in the Army at Fort Hood, Preston met and played the guitar with Elvis Presley who was also stationed there. Preston commented that Elvis was a very friendly, down-to-earth guy.
In the 1960s Preston formed his own band. They performed in the Denver area and several mountain towns on weekends. Preston and his band appeared weekly on the Rocky Mountain Jamboree, a Saturday night radio show that was performed before a live audience. While appearing on the Jamboree, Preston met and became friends with many of the country music stars that also performed on the show (Marty Robbins, Tom T. Hall, Hank Williams Jr., Emmylou Harris and several others). Preston’s love of singing and playing the guitar has been carried on by his son Brian.
Preston was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette, and her parents, his parents Fred and Lillie, brother Delford and wife Billie Flemister, and brother Bernard and wife Delorise Flemister. He is survived by his son; Brian and wife Colleen, granddaughters Tayah and Alani, brother Virgil (Joe) Flemister or Pahoa. HI, brother Clarence Flemister and wife Shirley of Nixa, MO, brother Carroll Flemister and wife Vickie of Yuma, CO, and many nieces and nephews and friends.
A Celebration of Life was held at 11:00 am, Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Newcomer West Metro Chapel, 901 South Sheridan Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80226.
2022-10-21