Lonnie Metz

Lonnie Lee Metz passed away unexpectedly on May 11th, 2021 at Saint Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, at 47 years old.

Lonnie was born to Layton E. & Linda L. Metz Jr, on July 6th, 1973, in Fort Collins, Colorado.  He was fortunate enough to be raised with a large multi-generational family.  Lonnie always said that he didn't realize how lucky he was that all of his grandparents, aunts and uncles were friends and did many activities together.  This fostered a very strong sense of family to him.  He was also a self proclaimed collector of antiques, quite often holding onto anything that belonged to someone in the family.

After graduation, Lonnie married his high school sweetheart, Teri Davis and moved to Grand Junction to start their new lives together.  Working different jobs to make it, they were finally able to make their dream of owning a restaurant come true, opening up TLC Kitchen in Clifton.  In 2004, they divorced and in 2005, closed the restaurant.  He was comfortable in any kitchen, creating many memorable meals.

Lonnie was a loyal, hardworking, trustworthy man.  His sense of loyalty and family carried over into Angel Signs, where his employment wasn't just a job, but more time spent with family and friends.  Outside of work hours you'd find him spending time with his coworkers doing projects.

Lonnie loved spending time with his large extended family, camping and cooking for large groups, so he took all of these things and with his sisters help, held a large family camping reunion, cooking meals for up to 100 several times each day at the old family ranch above New Castle, Colorado.  He also took his love of cooking for groups and helping others to Gunnison, where he cooked for his nephews 4-H Clubs annual fundraiser that included a spaghetti dinner.  When asked why he did it, his response was “that is just what Uncles do.”

Lonnie always had a smile on his face, a friend to everyone, loved by many.  Lonnie was preceded in death by his dad, Layton E. Metz Jr; grandpas, Layton E. Metz Sr., and Henry Williams; grandma, Phyllis Metz; great grandparents, Archie and Neva Langston, Pheba Williams, and Lillian Smith Read; uncles, Loyd E Metz and Larry Denniston; cousin, Laurie Leflet.

He is survived by his mom, Linda Metz of Grand Junction, CO; grandmother Barbara Williams; brothers, Mark Metz of Carpenter, WY, Marty Watson of Pine Bluffs, WY; sister, Lenora (Garland) Mears of Gunnison, CO; nephews, Kyle Metz of Greeley, CO, Thor Metz of Pine Bluffs, WY, Hunter, Chance & Trey Mears of Gunnison, CO; niece, Nirvana Bell; uncle, Lex (Pat) Metz CO; aunts, Marilyn (Eric) Porter, OR, Kathy (Clayton) Kenyon, WA, Brenda (Todd) Sheppard, CO, Glenda Denniston, CO, Leslie (Cody) Peterson, CO.  His first childhood bestfriend and cousin, Heather Metz. Many cousins, Kelly, Lisa, Grant, Amy, Matt, Justin, Nick, Marc, Shawna, Krys, Savanna, Cory, James, Aiden, Dominic and Marcos.  His partner, Jamie Harris Johnson and her family, Derren, Denzel Harward, and Trevor at Angel Signs and their families.  Close lifetime family friends, Howard Hayworth and Marina Watson, as well as many great aunts and uncles and other extended family members.

In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to:

The Young Guns 4-H Club, 275 S. Spruce St. #B, Gunnison, Colorado 81230, to honor the club that he helped so much.