Cleo Lucille Mitchell Carney

Cleo Lucille Mitchell Carney passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 22, 2010, less than one month shy of her 99th birthday, in Fargo, North Dakota. She was born in Hammond, Illinois to Lura Fern (Lewis) and Jacob Marcus Mitchell. The family moved to Greeley, Colorado before she was two years old, where her brother, Leonard, was born when she was five. Cleo grew up in Greeley, graduating from Greeley High School in 1929. She then attended Colorado Woman's College in Denver, transferring to Colorado Teacher's College (now UNC) where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1933, majoring in foreign languages with a minor in history. Her first job was in a one-room schoolhouse outside of Eckley, Colorado where she taught the first through ninth grades. Later she taught in Kremling, Milliken and Sterling. In 1943 she earned a Masters of Arts Degree from Colorado State College of Education (UNC). As America entered WWII, wishing to be part of the war effort, she began working for the YMCA, which was part of the USO. After training in New York, she was an Assistant Director in Gatesville, Texas then Lajunta, Colorado. During the war she met a soldier, Lloyd Michael Carney, while he was stationed at Fitzsimons Army Hospital. After his discharge from the Army, he followed her to her USO assignments. They were married on October 27, 1945 and settled in Greeley. The couple had two children, Michael and Douglas, and Cleo became a stay-at-home Mom while her husband established a successful construction business. In 1964 she returned to teaching, and taught English, Spanish and French in Greeley Junior and Senior High Schools. She stayed in touch with many of her former students, even those from the early years of her career. Cleo's husband Lloyd, or "Carney" as his friends knew him, passed away in 1971. She continued teaching until her retirement in 1976. She then began exercising her love of travel, visiting exotic locations such as the British Isles, Orient, Scandinavia and Morocco. Her daughter Michael accompanied her on many of these trips. Lasting memories of these adventures included riding in a rickshaw in Singapore, an elephant in Thailand and a camel in Morocco. During these retirement years she greatly enjoyed time with her family, especially her three grandsons. She also became a peer counselor for Weld County Mental Health, and brought much joy and companionship to those who did not have local family to support them. She was an active member of the First Congregational Church, AAUW, Assistance League and her ladies bridge clubs. In 2004, Cleo relocated to an assisted living facility in Fargo, N. Dakota, where she could be close to her son Doug and his family. Later she moved into a nursing home as more advanced care was needed. Her main joy remained being with her family, always looking forward to the times they spent together. A highlight of her later life was the birth of her first great grandchild, Lily, in 2008. Cleo leaves a lasting legacy of love and support for her family, and she will be greatly missed by all that knew her. She lived a long and happy life and was amazed to see the first automobile, airplane, television and then a man walk on the moon. Her parents, husband and brother preceded her in death. She is survived by daughter Michael L. Carney, Salem, Oregon; son Doug (Jo), Fargo, North Dakota; three grandsons - Sean (Lori), Seattle, WA; Jay, Moorhead, MN; and Marcus, Oak Harbor, WA; step-grandchildren- Rob (Kari) Hatfield, Fargo, ND; Jesica Hatfield, Minneapolis, MN; Courtney Hatfield, Fargo, ND; niece Judith (Frank) Marshall, Palm Desert, CA; and nephew Mark (Wendy) Mitchell, Boise, Idaho. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, January 29, 2010 at the First Congregational Church-Farr Chapel with Interment to follow at Linn Grove Cemetery. Visitation Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at the Allnutt Macy Chapel. Memorial contributions can be made to the Humane Society of Weld County (www.weldcountyhumane.org - 1620 42nd Street Evans, CO 80620) or North Range Behavioral Health (www.northrange.org - 1300 North 17th Avenue Greeley, CO 80631).