Cleo Fae Taplin

Cleo Fae Artz was born an identical twin on July 5, 1926 in Kingsley, Iowa to Fred and Flossie Artz. Cleo had five siblings, brothers Ralph, Ted and Gene, her twin, Theo, and her younger sister, Joan. They grew up on the family farm, just outside of Kingsley. Cleo and Theo graduated from high school just before their 17th birthday. The next year the twins attended business school in Chilicothe, Missouri, graduating from there just before their 18th birthday. They then moved to Omaha, NB, where they worked as secretaries. After World War II ended the twins started dating the Ashton brothers. Cleo married Bob Ashton Nov 2, 1946. In 1952, Cleo, Bob and daughter,Cindy, moved to Denver so that Bob could take a teaching position. Daughter Becki was born in 1953. At that time Cleo was working part time as a secretary for the Univ. of Denver. After Becki's birth, Cleo had several sales positions until after her divorce from Bob in 1959. She then worked for Martin Marietta as an executive secretary. In July 1960, she married Bob Garrison, a widower with three daughters and a son. The following year, Brenda was born – giving them a his, hers, and ours family – a blended family before we knew what they were!
In 1962, Bob Garrison decided to leave his chemical engineering job and go into real estate. Both he and Cleo got their real estate licenses, and in 1963 opened their own company. The marriage lasted until 1971. After their divorce, Cleo worked for Huskin and Company, a real estate development company as a closing agent for several years. She then went to work in the accounting and later the data entry departments for Hamilton Oil Company. In 1985, she married Paul Taplin. She retired from Hamilton Oil in 1987, after Paul had retired from his sales position. Their intention was to move to Florida and golf through their retirement years. Paul's death just 18 months after their marriage kept them from being able to live that dream.
In the years following Paul's death, Cleo did much volunteer work. She also traveled with friends throughout the United States, and to many points in the world. She traveled to visit her far-flung children and step-children. When her last two grandchildren (Jordan and Zach) were born, she stopped traveling so much to help provide day care so the kids' mothers could work outside the home.
Through all her life, Cleo loved to compete at sports – bowling in two leagues, golfing in two leagues, square dancing and ballroom dancing, and playing with two bridge groups. She also loved doing many types of handwork including many beautiful pieces of cross-stitch, embroidery, and crewel.
Cleo was very task oriented. She was always one to walk into a situation, see what needed to be done, and just get to it! Because of that characteristic she touched many lives. If something needed to be done, give her the task, and it would be done quickly and right!

Memorials to the local Alzheimer's Association in lieu of flowers would be appreciated.


Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Hampden Mortuary & Cemetery, Denver, CO.