Wallace "Wally" Rozell Stealey

Wallace “Wally” Rozell Stealey born May 3,1934 in Ouray Colorado left his earthly duties Oct. 6, 2017, to join his parents, Bertha and Neil Stealey and his children, Pat and Michelle who preceded him in death. He is survived by Sharon, his wife of 59 years and pal Mishka. A multitude of friends also survive including, fellow marines, Ernie Gallegos and Chuck Ford. Sister-in-law Faye Painter and her sons, Bruce, Chad and Stephen. Lauri and Louie Fesmire and Dan Brumley. Wally had many vocations. He first worked on the family ranch at the base of Courthouse Rock in Ridgway, Co. His family later moved to Salt Lake City where he graduated high school. Every summer he returned to work at the ranch. In 1953 he joined the Marines and spent 3 years in Twenty-Nine Palms, California where he used his horseshoeing talents. After discharge he attended Fort Lewis Jr. College. While there he was program Director for Radio Station KDGO where he had an hour show each week playing the piano. At Ft Lewis he wooed wife Sharon playing the piano for her. From Ft. Lewis he moved to CU but left after a semester to finish his BA at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. He obtained his Masters from Western State College in Gunnison. In 1983 he obtained his Doctoral degree from CU. He taught one year at Arkansas Tech in Russellville, Arkansas. Along with 5 other like-minded professors, he helped integrate the chow hall and they were not invited to teach the next year. He returned to CU in the summer to resume his Phd studies and then obtained a teaching position at what was then Southern Colorado State College in Pueblo. There he taught Political Science and Constitutional Law and organized Young Democrats. In 1975 he was called upon by Governor Dick Lamm to be his lobbyist to the Legislature. He Served as campaign Manager for J.D. MacFarlane for Attorney General and his student, Ray Kogovsek for Congress. Wally went to Washington with Ray as his Chief of Staff for 6 months, then returned to Colorado where he and wife Sharon moved back to Durango to establish the Powder Keg Restaurant. While there he was called on by the Independent Bankers to run an initiative campaign against Branch Banking for the big banks. He worked for IBC for two years after that and then was hired to run the campaign against Liquor in grocery stores. For those two campaigns he hired the infamous Roger Ailes to do the video ads for the two campaigns. Roger later invited him to co-teach a political science class at Columbia but he had already started his lobbying firm, Stealey and Associates with his children Pat and Michelle, and declined the offer. In later years he was able to purchase the Little Stirrup ranch in Fremont County which was renamed the Wild Rose where he returned to ranching and farming. In 2006 Wally and Sharon visited Nicaragua and fell in love with Granada where they purchased a house and later a farm. Three years ago his former student Tom Hocking and Wally formed an import business to manufacture cigars to honor Tom’s late wife Charlotte. La Sonrisa Cigars are manufactured in the house in Granada, Nicaragua. Wally was an avid reader and read books on every President from Washington to Obama and numerous Civil War books. Special thanks to Dr. Lawrence Anaya, Frontier Hospice and especially his nurse Eloise Grigg. Louie and Laurie Fesmire, Nancy Gerlock and Lisa Gerlock Ginty, Chuck Ford and Ruth and Ernie Gallegos for their dedicated and loving help throughout his illness. At his request there will be no services. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Pat and Michelle Stealey Memorial Park, The Charlotte’s Way Foundation for reading for at risk Children, the Democratic Party, or Paws for Life through the funeral home.

Wallace "Wally" Rozell Stealey

May 3, 1934 - October 6, 2017