Obituary of Helen Carrigan

Helen Marie Horton was born May 21, 1920 in Arapahoe, Colorado, the oldest daughter in a family of ten children born to Harvey and Esther Horton. She passed from this life on June 11, 2008, at the St. Francis Health Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado after living her entire life in Cheyenne County. Helen graduated from Arapahoe High School in 1938 in the middle of the depression. Being one of ten children in a family that had been devastated by the depression and family tragedies, opportunities were limited. Helen moved to Wild Horse, Colorado to work for Nora Dodd, owner of the Wild Horse Café as a waitress. Nora was a very important person in Helen’s life, becoming a surrogate mother and life long friend. In listening to Helen describe this time in her life, it is difficult to picture all of the people who lived in the community and all of the community activities that were taking place. Many honest, caring people took an interest in a young, single woman and assisted her in many ways. Helen was introduced to the local marriage prospects; she fell in love with Joe Carrigan, a local cowboy and rancher. Joe and Helen were married in the St. Augustine Catholic Church on February 18, 1941. They started a family and over the first eighteen years of marriage, ten children were born. If there were two people who had the temperament and love to raise a large family, it was Joe and Helen. We learned early in life that life was hard, work was important, bad behavior was not tolerated; your reputation, your family and your religion were your priorities. You played the hand that you were dealt and you did not drop out or complain. Most of these messages were not verbalized; they were taught by example. In addition to working on the ranch and raising her family, Helen always stayed involved in community affairs. While raising small children, she served on the Aroya School Board. She was a member of the Wild Horse Election Board for many years and was involved with the St. Augustine Catholic Church in various ways. In 1980 Joe and Helen moved to Kit Carson after nearly 40 years of work on the ranch. This was a special time for them and their life long friends. Again, it is somewhat difficult to visualize Kit Carson in 1980. This generation retired and moved to Kit Carson. There was scarcely a house or lot for sale in town. These life long friends and neighbors, who had spent a life time working hard now had the time to enjoy each other. There were many shared dinners, card parties and dancing. Dancing in particular was a favorite life time activity of Joe and Helen and their friends. Some of Helen’s favorite activities in her own words were, “I enjoyed baking and cooking when I was of good health. I enjoyed doing the yard work especially mowing and all of my walks, spoiling my kids and grandkids in many ways.â€? She had a beautiful yard when she first moved to town. This was a life long dream that she was finally able to achieve. She received a certificate from Colorado Governor Romer for walking 500 miles in one year, which included many three mile walks in the dead of winter. Her mowing was legendary when she was in good health. Many people, I am sure, wondered why her family did not mow for her. It was her love and something that none of us could do to her standards. Some words that have been used to describe Helen are: feisty, loyal, hard working, efficient, organized, dominant and loving. Helen was a special mother and grandmother. The family loved her so much and appreciated the way she struggled to continue being herself as her health deteriorated. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Joe, one daughter RaLynn, four brothers and two sisters. She is survived by children and spouses Betty Jo Rother, Kit Carson, CO; Bernie and Lillian Carrigan, Carlsbad, CA; Mary Jean Carrigan, Aurora, CO; Joyce Carrigan, Pueblo, CO; Theresa Krizek, Oberlin, KS; Alice and Alan Roth, Cheyenne Wells, CO; Ed Carrigan, Kit Carson, CO; Connie and Tom Pitts, Burlington, KY; and Ken and Cheryl Carrigan, Tucson, AZ. Helen is survived by brothers Jim Horton, Cottage Grove, OR; Bill Horton, Englewood, CO; sister Hazel Morton, Englewood, CO; and special niece Barb Engelbrecht, Cheyenne Wells, CO. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Carrigan were held on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at the St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Kit Carson with Father Kuzma officiating. Burial followed in the Kit Carson Cemetery. Visitation was held on Monday, June 16, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the church in Kit Carson with a rosary that was recited at 7:00 PM. Memorials may be made in Helen’s name to the St. Augustine’s Catholic Church or to the Kit Carson Fire and Ambulance Service and may be left at the Kit Carson State Bank in Kit Carson.