Torrey Jay Nelson Brinkerhoff Sr.

Torrey Jay Nelson Brinkerhoff Sr., 67, of Lakewood, Colorado, passed away suddenly Sunday morning, March 8, 2020. Torrey was born in Safford, Arizona on March 28, 1952 to Barbara Lou Larson and was later adopted by Dean Allen Brinkerhoff. Torrey married the love of his life Lou Anne Loomis on September 19, 1974. They met while attending school at Brigham Young University. Their 46 years together were filled with love.

Together they had six children: TJ (Julie) Brinkerhoff, Alison (Josh) Burke, Lindsay (Colton) Smith, Matt (Erin) Brinkerhoff, Taylor (Sarah) Brinkerhoff, and Joshua Brinkerhoff. Torrey was looking forward to the marriage of his son Joshua Brinkerhoff to Natalie Egolf in the summer of 2020. He was also a proud papa to seventeen amazing grandchildren, Jackson, Natalie, Brady and Reece Brinkerhoff, Peyton and Laura Thompson, Adam, Alyse and Ely Burke, Madison, Brooklyn and Savannah Smith, and Daniel, Nathan, Logan, Tori and Andrew Brinkerhoff.

There are many people in this world who love their families, but you would be hard pressed to find someone who adored, loved and cherished his children and grandchildren more than Torrey. He spent his entire life working for them and letting them know how much he loved them. He would often say ""every dime I ever had I invested in my kids."" If you were to ask any of his grandchildren who his favorite grandchild was, they would each resoundingly answer that it was them.

Torrey was a man who loved. He loved not only people, but was someone who loved many aspects of life. He loved food, especially his favorite restaurant, Monterrey House. He was always up for a BBQ, a lunch, a dinner, second dinner, midnight snacks, if there was good food involved, Torrey couldn't be too far behind.

Torrey loved any sport that could be played with a ball, except soccer of course. He was a loyal Denver Broncos fan for more than four decades. We have absolutely no evidence to support his claims, but if you were to ask Torrey, in his day he was one of, if not the best Little League pitcher in Mesa, Arizona.

He loved music. A beautiful vocalist and an excellent guitar player, Torrey always sought to enrich the lives of his family, his church and people everywhere with his music. In fact, he performed in musicals, choirs, weddings and was many times asked to perform either as a soloist or in a group.

Torrey was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as both a local clergyman in his church, and in his younger years as a missionary in the American Northwest Mission. One of his proudest accomplishments in life was that he has four sons who served missions and has two grandsons currently serving missions.

There was no man who knew his way around an engine quite like Torrey. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge and a wizard with a wrench. I don't think any of his children or their spouses ever purchased a vehicle without first consulting Torrey. While they may have never quite taken to it, he always made sure he gave his children ample opportunities to learn the trade.

No man that has ever walked this earth could reach and teach a group of boys the game of football in a more effective and loving way than Torrey, who spent most of his adulthood coaching his children. He loved coaching, and through coaching he adopted many sons and daughters who he loved and was incredibly proud of.

He is preceded in death by his parents Barbara and Dean Brinkerhoff, and his grandson Nathan Brinkerhoff.

Torrey is loved by many and will be missed.

A viewing will be held Friday evening, March 13, 2020, from 6:00-8:00pm, at the Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80227.

An additional viewing will be held on Saturday morning, March 14, 2020 from 11:00-12Noon, followed by the Funeral service at 12:30pm, both at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 13206 W. Green Mtn. Drive, Lakewood, CO 80228.

A graveside service will be held at 11am, on Monday, March 16, 2020 at The Highland City Cemetery, 6200 West 11000 North, Highland, Utah 84003.

Visitation: March 13, 2020 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - SW Denver/Lakewood
3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Lakewood, CO 80227

Visitation: March 14, 2020 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Green Mtn Building
13206 W. Green Mtn. Drive
Lakewood, Colorado 80228

Funeral Service: March 14, 2020 12:30 pm

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Green Mtn Building
13206 W. Green Mtn. Drive
Lakewood, Colorado 80228

Graveside Service: March 16, 2020 11:00 am

Highland City Cemetery
6200 W. 11000 N.
Highland, Utah 84003