Obituary of Donna Vance

View Video Tribute Lifelong Burlington, Colorado resident Donna Colleen Vance, 77, died Thursday, July 26, 2007 at the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital in Burlington, Colorado Donna was born on September 26, 1929 at her Grandmother Davis’s house in Burlington to E.G. (Hap) Ormsbee and Violet May Davis Ormsbee. She attended school in Burlington and in Trinidad, Colorado. After graduating from Burlington High School in 1947 she attended both Colorado State University and Colorado State Teacher’s College now known as the University of Northern Colorado. On October 12, 1950 she was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Weldon E. Vance, in Raton, New Mexico. To this union two children, Robbie and Mike, were born. Their family life was an active one. Whether square-dancing, watching Weldon play softball, or attending sporting events, plays, and concerts in which her children and grandchildren participated, Donna was always there enjoying life. She baked birthday cakes, played catch, helped with homework and instilled a love of reading, history and poetry in her children. In addition to being a homemaker Donna worked outside the home in various vocations. She worked side by side with Weldon at Vance's’ Decorating for many years, was a case worker with social services, taught reading at Burlington Middle School, and worked at the Carousel. Donna was also instrumental in the development of Old Town. She took great pride in her prairie heritage and her work at Old Town reflected this. Working first as a volunteer and then as a paid employee, Donna meticulously researched and documented artifacts and exhibits. Donna believed in giving to her community. She belonged to Burlington Women’s Club, ESA Sorority, and Burlington Garden Club. When her children were young she was both a Girl Scout leader and a Cub Scout Den Mother. She was a member of the United Methodist church and taught Sunday School. Donna would build floats, volunteer for service projects, be an election judge, donate books: anything that was needed. Donna’s interests were many and varied. She was a gifted artist and loved painting and drawing. Donna also loved to read and there was always a book nearby. She was an avid sports fan attending BHS events and watching football, baseball and basketball on television. She also enjoyed gardening, bird-watching, and sitting on the deck with Weldon enjoying the sights and sounds of their yard. Proceeding Donna in death were her parents, great-granddaughter Sarah Morgan Vance, and nephew Troy Lynn Vance. Left to cherish her memory are her husband Weldon of their home in Burlington; daughter Robbie Fearon and husband Dave and her son Mike Vance and wife Sharon all of Burlington; three grandchildren Kacy Little Owl, her husband Solomon and their children Uriah Jakob and Mya Lynne of Greeley, CO, Annie Humrich, her husband Chris and their son Rowdy Cru of Burlington, and Griff Vance of Rock Springs, WY. Also surviving Donna are her sister Bonnie Laudenschlager and husband Lloyd of Grand Junction, CO and a cousin, Colton Carmine, who was raised more as a brother than a cousin , and wife Carol of Casa Grande, AZ, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.