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John Spell was born August 22, 1939, and departed this life April 28, 2024, at the age of 84.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marjorie Spell, his wife of 53 years, Linetta, and great-grandson, Tyson Spell.

John is survived by his daughter, Shellie (David) Engelhardt of Eads; son, Greg Spell of Springfield; five ornery grandsons; four beautiful granddaughters-in-law; and 11 great grandchildren. Many extended family members and friends are left to mourn his passing.

The family asks everyone to find your own memories, after all each one of you knew him in your own special way.

Just a couple of highlights would be him working beside his best friend, the late Sheriff Willard Goff, and his many years of mechanizing on vehicles.

John said it best “Born in Baca County, Raised in Baca County, and Died in Baca County.”

Baca County Sheriff's Office Facebook

Honoring one that wore the badge:

It is with a heavy heart that we take the time to inform Baca County residents and our Facebook followers of the passing of a previous Law Enforcement Officer that served this community in the 1980’s.

John Spell (born August 22, 1939) passed away at Southeast Colorado Hospital on Sunday April 28th, 2024. John, also known as “Big John”, served Baca County in the early 1980’s as a Deputy and Special Police Officer for Sheriff Willard Goff and Rick Black. Back in those days an officer could work for an agency for a year before needing to get certified as a Peace Officer with the State of Colorado. John worked for Rick Black for a period of time as a “Special Police Officer” and then worked for Sheriff Goff as a Deputy for close to a year before moving on to a different career. During his time in Law Enforcement, John was known as an honest, no-nonsense, unfiltered, and most of all fearless Deputy. He would always take the toughest assignments dealing with the biggest and baddest criminals out there. If you didn’t want to hear the truth, you probably did not want to ask John, because that was all anyone ever got out of John; pure honesty. Like the old saying goes, “He said what he meant, and he meant what he said”.

For those of you that did not get the pleasure of meeting or knowing John, he was a large man that commanded respect wherever he went but was also known around the office as a gentle giant. John almost never had to show his “serious side”, because of his size. Most people did not ever get to see John mad and most of us wouldn’t want to be around if he was. John worked at a time in Law Enforcement that is nothing at all like what Law Enforcement deals with today. It was a much simpler time, not near as many rules, and in my opinion, it was a better time for everyone, except criminals. John was well liked and trusted in Baca County, and he prided himself on taking the time to talk to people as he patrolled the county. Sheriff Goff would tell me some great stories about John and how he would always send John if he knew there might be trouble. No one messed with Big John.

Rest easy, Big John, and thank you for your service.

Please take time to show your respects to John and his family, and also thank your local First Responders and their families for their service.

Aaron Shiplett

Baca County Sheriff

Graveside services were held May 1, 2024 at the Springfield Cemetery.

Arrangements were under the direction of Dykes Memorial Chapel.