Pat Boyer, 74, of Fort Morgan, passed away November 15, 2018 at UC Health Hospital in Aurora, Colorado after battling a rare form of leukemia for 2 years.

He was born October 25, 1944 in Portland, Oregon to Melvin and Nelva (Kevin) Boyer.  Although his legal name was Kelvin Ray, his dad nicknamed him Pat and it stuck for life.  Pat spent his first 13 years in a mountain valley northwest of Portland where he learned to love all things about the outdoors.  His parents moved back to North Central Kansas where he graduated from Mankato High School in 1963.  He finished diesel school in Denver and completed military reserve training before attending Kansas State University majoring in animal science and reproductive physiology. He was on the K-State Rodeo Team riding bucking bulls and bareback broncs.  He also competed in Pro Rodeo during that time.

Pat graduated from K-State in 1970 and joined the Kansas Department of Agriculture as a Marketing Specialist and during his time with the department he also served as Kansas Assistant Secretary of Agriculture and Interim Ag Secretary.  He was the Executive Secretary for the Kansas Pork Producers in the mid-70s, and was an ag marketing rep. for private industry prior to moving to Fort Morgan in 1980 for a similar position.

In the mid-80s, he joined the City of Ft. Morgan staff in the Parks Department and eventually was the Parks Superintendent and later the Forestry Superintendent.  He was an Environmental Health Representative for Northeast Colorado Health Department from 1999 to 2003.  After retiring in 2003, Pat began Boyer's Bushes specializing in xeric landscaping, arboriculture, and wildlife habitat development serving a large clientele in northeast Colorado.  He also had a business specializing in hunting equipment and other outdoor supplies.

Pat and Luann Nelson were married in McPherson, KS January 24, 1970. They spent their free time fishing and hunting at their cabin in Red Feather Lakes, their Wyoming Prairie Ghost Ranch, in several western states and in Canada.  His happiest days were when he was outdoors working on projects to improve natural habitat.

Pat is survived by his wife Luann, nieces Pam Boyer, Salina, Ks; and Tina Reed, Brookville, KS.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Michael, and sister-in-law Betty Boyer.

A Celebration of Pat's Life will be held Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 12:00 noon at the Morgan County REA Community Room, 20169 Highway 34, Fort Morgan.

Pat requested memorials to one of the following: Rocky Mountain Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 720 S. Colorado Blvd, Suite 520N, Denver, CO 80246;  Wyoming Wildlife Federation (designate Access & Habitat Program), PO Box 1312, Lander, WY 82520; Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation  (designate Conservation Education), PO Box 8249, Missoula, MT 59807