Carolyn Mcphail-Dunning

Carolyn Elizabeth McPhail-Dunning, 76, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, died February 25, 2017 following a lengthy struggle with COPD and a short battle with pneumonia. She passed peacefully in hospice care with her family beside her.

Carolyn Elizabeth White was born on January 17, 1941 in Hanover, New Hampshire to Marjorie Cookman White and Norman Ford White. She was the third of four children including older sisters Patricia and Marion, and younger brother, Edwin. She is survived by her husband, Gilbert (Gib) Dunning of Loveland; daughter, Heather Elizabeth Beller (Richard) of Fort Collins and son, Christopher Douglas McPhail, of Puyallup, Washington, and grandchildren, Rachel, Wyatt, Meredith, and Hadley Beller.

Carolyn grew up in the 1950's in Manchester, New Hampshire surrounded by a large extended family. In her youth she was a gymnast, and enjoyed skiing in the White Mountains. She graduated from Manchester Central High School in 1958, and attended business school in Boston where she enjoyed working in Harvard Square.

In 1965, Carolyn married Douglas Stevenson McPhail (Steve), who was an Air Force officer. This marriage produced daughter Heather Elizabeth and son Christopher Douglas. The McPhail family was stationed at Air Force bases in California, Texas, and Wiesbaden, Germany, where Carolyn and Steve divorced.

In 1978, Carolyn married John Justin McCarthy (Jack, Mac), who was also in the Air Force. They were stationed in Clovis, New Mexico, and then Cheney, Washington, where Carolyn worked for Eastern Washington University in the Department of Education. During their happy years in Cheney the family was active with the United Church of Christ and Job's Daughters among many other organizations. Following Jack's retirement from the Air Force, they moved to Loveland, Colorado in 1992. They ultimately divorced in 1995.

Carolyn loved exploring the mountains of Colorado and especially Rocky Mountain National Park. She was an avid hiker with the Colorado Mountain Club and met Gib Dunning while hiking a favorite trail. Gib is a veteran of World War II, also with the U.S. Air Force. Carolyn and Gib were married in 1996, and made their home in Drake, Colorado. Of all the places Carolyn lived she was happiest here in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

In the mid 1990's Carolyn worked for the Larimer County Office on Aging, where she helped develop a highly-successful training program to place older workers into the hospitality industry. She was proud to present the program at a national conference in Washington DC in front of more than 700 people. She later worked with the Y.M.C.A of the Rockies, where she planned large-group events until she retired from full-time employment.

Carolyn was proud of her Scottish heritage. She traveled to Scotland where she hiked the 100-mile West Highland Way with Gib, Heather and son-in-law Richard Beller. She returned for her son Chris's destination wedding at an Edinburgh area castle. She enjoyed attending the annual Scottish festival in Estes Park. Carolyn was also a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution tracing her paternal heritage to the Mayflower.

Carolyn became a devoted Grammy in 2003 with birth of her granddaughter, Rachel, and the subsequent births of Wyatt, Meredith, and Hadley. She would happily make the 90-minute round trip from Drake to Fort Collins to babysit, or watch them play sports and perform in musical and theater events. She was a beloved constant in their lives.

Carolyn was impressive with crossword puzzles and rarely found without a book in her hand and an animal by her side. She was also a talented rose cultivator having achieved "Master Gardener" status through Colorado State University's gardening program. Carolyn never met a stranger, and loved to learn people's stories whenever the opportunity arose. We will miss her bright blue eyes, quick wit and generous spirit. But she left a wonderful legacy of love and influence that will live on.

Carolyn's life will be celebrated on Friday March 3, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins. If you would like to make a donation in her name please consider the Larimer County Humane Society or your local animal shelter in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Ft. Collins, CO 80524.