Carol J. Owens Peterson

CAROL J. OWENS PETERSON Carol was born on May 5, 1948 in Fort Collins, to James and Jean Owens. After living on North Roosevelt and Bungalow Ct, the family moved to a 3-acre farm on South Shields in the 1950's. Here she belonged to the local 4-H club, and owned a cow named Slo Gem. Her many hours of working with Slo Gem paid off, winning several first place ribbons at the Larimer County Fair. She also played the violin and the piano. One of the schools she attended was known as "Number 16." It was a two-room brick schoolhouse, one of the last of its kind in northern Colorado, which stood on the northwest corner of Shields and Drake. In 1966 she graduated from Fort Collins High School. She worked several jobs after graduating, including Arlan's Department Store. For a while she worked as a rural carrier at the Coloradoan, and then for many years as a rural route carrier for the post office. In 1968 she married her soul-mate, Barry Peterson. They had so many things in common, including a love for the mountains and an urge to travel. Some of their favorite places were St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They spent a lot of time in Myrtle Beach, and had entertained the idea of perhaps moving there someday. On cruises, they traveled through the Panama Canal, and have visited nearly every island in the Caribbean. She took her fifteenth and final cruise this September. Among the other places they visited during their time together: Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Spain, Ireland, and Scotland. Their first daughter, Tanya, was born in 1972. And their second daughter, Tammy was born in 1976. Carol's parents bought property in the Crystal Lakes area by Red Feather Lakes, and later built a cabin on it. The cabin became a second home for the entire family. After Carol's parents passed away, Carol and Barry continued to spend a great deal of their summers up there. They also bought land of their own. One of Carol's enjoyments was driving around the area, trying to spot a moose or two. She also adored hummingbirds and columbines. And thanks to their many vacations to the seaside, she developed a real love for lighthouses, her favorite one being at Cape Lookout in North Carolina. On July 29, 2011, after 28 years, Carol retired from the United States Post Office. Now that she and Barry were both retired Barry had worked for Markley Motors, they planned a long wedding anniversary trip for November. It was then that Carol was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They were still able to take their trip, and she started treatment shortly after coming back home. She never gave up, and thanks to the wonderful medical care she received, she was able to live a very full life for nearly two years. In the summer of 2013, however, it became evident that the chemotherapy treatments were losing their effect. She rapidly declined, and in September she went under the care of the local Hospice. She loved her family dearly, and friends will remember her as always having a smile on her face, always a positive attitude. She had a determination that some would call stubbornness. She touched a lot of lives, and will be greatly missed. Preceding her in death were her mother, Jean Owens 1925-1991 and her father, James A. Owens 1924-2004. She is survived by her husband, Barry Peterson; daughter, Tanya Bedan, Tanya's husband, Jeff Bedan and daughter, Amanda; daughter, Tammy Peterson and her daughter, Kristina, and Kristina's son, Nolyn; brother, Jim Owens; sister, Marsha Jewell; and nieces and nephews; many childhood friends still in the area, as well as friends from the post office. A Memorial Service will be held at Bohlender Funeral Chapel on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Reverend Bob Comegys will officiate the service. Memorial contributions can be made to Pancreatic Cancer Research in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Ft. Collins, CO 80524.