Donald Ray Carns

by Debra Moorland
(Glade Park, CO)

Glade Park pioneer Donald Ray Carns

December 23, 1929 - November 11, 2008 Donald Ray Carns passed away on November 11, 2008 at his Grand Junction, CO home with his loving wife by his side. Donald was born December 23, 1929 in Denver, CO from the union of Joe and Georgia Boldt Carns. The family soon moved to Glade Park, CO to homestead where they lived until the death of a younger brother, Eugene Alfred. They then moved to the Eastern Slope (Canyon City, CO) to renew their lives. Life went fast during this time and the family returned to Glade Park where Donald and his sister would walk three miles a day to Coats Creek School. At the age of thirteen Donald found himself doing a man's job receiving low pay and little sign of a future, but as luck would have it he was referred by a friend who was employed with Union Carbide. After taking a course at Mesa State College, he was transferred to the Geological Society. In July 1950 Donald married Marie Rambolt in Grand Junction, CO. Donald obtained his pilots license and his Diesel Mechanics license and began working for Caterpillar Tractor for several years, later owning Colorado Drilling Company and retiring by selling 776 acres of oil leases and three producing wells. Donald enjoyed arrowhead hunting, reading the history of the Old West and he and his wife enjoyed several years traveling in their R.V. Donald leaves behind his wife of fifty-eight years; Marie Carns, a sister; Josephine (Ralph) Lawson all of Grand Junction, CO, a brother; Dennis (Robin) Carns of Glade Park, CO and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, November 14, 2008 at Martin Mortuary with interment at Orchard Mesa Cemetery. A public visitation time will be held from 5-7:00 PM, Thursday, November 13, 2008 at the mortuary. Memorial Contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 60307, Grand Junction, CO 81506. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Martin Mortuary.
Published in The Daily Sentinel on 11/13/2008