Obituary of Gloria Lee

Gloria was born to Risto and Rose (Schott) Campbell in Limon, Colorado on March 10, 1929, as the twin sister of Gordon. Gloria’s father had homesteaded northwest of Limon, Colorado near River Bend. It was there she grew up in the often harsh life of an Eastern Colorado farming family. She, like others her age, survived the dust bowl storms and the depression. As a youngster, Gloria attended Rock Ledge grade school, and spent several summers visiting uncles and aunts who lived on a large mountain ranch near Conifer, Colorado. After graduating from Limon High School in 1947, she married Eldon Lewis Lee on August 12, 1950. She worked for Mountain View Electric and Monks Construction, and continued to do bookkeeping up until the time she left for Florida in December of 2009. She was the First Baptist Church’s Sunday school secretary for many years and more recently enjoyed being a docent at the Limon Heritage Museum for which Gloria wrote a small piece recalling her experiences of local area history. Her childhood experiences allowed her to appreciate the simple and intricate beauties of nature. Gloria was in awe of a simple sunset over the pastureland behind her home and the springtime tulips which still bloomed at her parents’ homestead long after the buildings had been abandoned. Gloria’s home was often a stopping point on anyone’s way to Denver or the “Springs”. She welcomed distant family, cousins, and guests from around the country. For many years, Gloria’s meals always included canned or fresh items from her large garden. Grandchildren were particularly welcome in her house even though the price for their meal might mean weeding the garden. She had a quick wit, was a gentle soul and endeared to everyone who met her. Gloria was the consummate servant to God, her husband, her family and her community. She rarely missed acknowledging birthdays or special events of any sort. She enjoyed traveling, and particularly loved Oregon, the mountains of Colorado, and Alaska, but was up for almost any new adventure. Traveling with her was about the trip, not the destination, which was also her approach to daily life. Even as she aged, Gloria rarely missed a chance to visit or learn something new or different; She didn’t shy away from new ideas as evidenced by a discussion about the new “big bang theory” with her grandsons only weeks before her death. After Eldon’s death in 2004, she spent several winters in Florida to avoid the icy cold weather in Eastern Colorado. It was there on June 5th, 2010 that she passed into God’s hands after complications related to an elongated hospital stay which followed a very successful back surgery. She is survived by her brother Gordon Campbell, of Cheyenne, Wyoming and Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and Eldon’s sister, Vesta Lange of Mountain Home,Arkansas, along with Doris Akers of Limon, her cousin with whom she shared high school, children of similar ages, work at Mountain View, and many family holidays. Others who will especially miss her are her children Laura & husband Ed Vedrin, Glenda and husband Larry Akers, Garland and his wife Loraine (Miller) Lee. Grandchildren – Michelle Akers Jimenez(husband Deon) , Karen Akers Sprague (husband Brian), Patrick Akers (wife Jenna Rae), Jennifer Lee Hazard (husband Joe), Lisa Lee Mattson (husband Ryan), Michael Vedrin, Matthew Vedrin and great Grandchildren –Alex & Anthony Jimenez, Annika & Sloane Sprague, Austin & Mallorie Akers. She was also extremely close to and remembered by Gordon’s children Crystal, Ronnie, Cathy (who preceded her in death) and Ricky Campbell.