William "Sweed" HarperDecember 23, 1936 - March 23, 2017Sweed Harper passed away March 23, 2017 at the HopeWest Hospice Care Center, he was 80.Sweed was born on December 23, 1936 in Loma, Colorado from the union of George Cecil and Anna Nora Harper. He attended Loma Elementary and graduated from the Fruita Union High School. He joined the United States Army on February 1957, serving in Germany and was honorably discharged in January 1959.He met Barbara Firestine while she was vacationing in Colorado, their love blossomed, they married on December 6, 1959 at the Loma Community Church and from this union two children were born.Sweed farmed for 38 years. He served on the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project Board and later became foreman. He was a City Market Day Foreman for nine years until his retirement.Sweed enjoyed fishing, gun collecting, gardening, but was most recognized for his garlic and onions that he would always share. He was well known for making wishing wells and other wood projects. Friends and family will always remember him saying that the best crop he ever grew was his two children.Sweed leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Barbara Harper of Grand Junction; a son, Gary (Tammy) Harper of Palisade, Colorado; a daughter, Mary Jane (Park) Douma of Grand Junction, Colorado; a brother, Gordon Harper, Loma, Colorado; a sister, Shirley Vogel; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Marissa Harper.A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2017 at Martin Mortuary. A Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at Martin Mortuary with burial and military honors at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado at 1 p.m.Friends and family may leave their condolences at www.martinmortuary.com