Cartensie J. Lehl 'Carr'

Cartensie Josephine Fitzgerald, ""Carr"" was born to Harry Clifton Fitzgerald and Flora Jane (Hite), on July 2, 1923, in the small town of Buchanan, close to Roanoke, Virginia. She weighed less than 2 pounds, born at home, and the doctor told her mother, ""You won't raise this one"". They placed her on a pillow and put her in the oven of a cook stove. Every time that doctor returned to town, he had to check on ""the miracle baby"". She was little, but she was feisty. She could get into the movies passing as a child years after high school. She had 5 siblings; 2 sisters, and 3 brothers. One sister drowned as a child. She was always the runt of the family but she stood up for herself and was a fighter. She out lived all her siblings except her youngest brother. She married Orville Davis, when she was 21 years old. He was a 29 year old U. S. Soldier. She had one child, Donna ""Dani"", when she was 24. In her late 20's she contracted tuberculosis (TB). She had two ribs and part of a lung removed. Doctors recommended she move to a dry climate area. They suggested an institution called Sunnyrest, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Since she was contagious and had to be institutionalized, she moved to Colorado Springs, and had Donna placed in foster care in Denver, in the early 50's. She was given a bill of health from TB in the mid 50's, and was reunited with Donna. She then divorced Orville. Carr was on Welfare, for a few years. Since she didn't have any working skills, she went to Emily Griffith Opportunity School. She got a job at The Denver Dry Goods Store (an upscale department store). She worked in the auditing department, and continued working at the Denver, until she remarried. She met Daniel ""Danny"" Lehl, in the late 50's. Within the first year of their relationship, Danny asked her to marry him. She told him she wasn't ready to marry again. He asked her when she would be ready and she told him, ""in about ten years."" When he asked her why she thought he would wait that long, she told him, ""If you marry me, you'll be hanging around a lot longer than that"". She married Danny in October, 1969, in Las Vegas, Nevada. They had a great life together, and enjoyed traveling to the mountains and fishing. Carr and Danny were born under the Cancer sign; celebrating their birthdays just 5 days apart from each other. Danny was the seventh son, born on July 7th. He was always lucky, and said marrying Carr, was proof. Carr enjoyed cooking, crafts, and being the happy little homemaker. They moved to Brighton, Colorado, where Danny was born, in the early 70's. In November, 1973, Carr was blessed with her only grandchild, Deanna ""Stevie"". She and Danny nicknamed her ""Peterdinkton"". Who knows where that came from. The three of them spent a lot of time together. Peterdinkton became a great fisherman in no time. She, with Carr, Danny, and the Yorkie, went on many, many camping and fishing adventures. She was always there to care for Peterdinkton when she was ill, with homemade soup and honey with lemon for a cough. She loved to have fun, tell stories, and laugh. Danny passed away from lung cancer, in July 1999. In October, 2008, Carr was blessed with a great-grandchild, Daen Gerardy. Daen called her Granny Carr. Carr was afraid of dogs, but always wanted one. She decided if she got a little dog, she wouldn't be afraid of it. She had her first Yorkie shipped to her from California. She had 3 more Yorkies (one at a time) after that. When Carr was a little girl it was during the depression era, and she never had a store bought doll. She made up for it during the last 20 years of her life, collecting dolls . . . lots of dolls. Carr loved to watch old Black and White movies, westerns, soap operas, and her favorite show was Survivor. She always said that if she were 30-40 years younger, she would try out for the show. Carr had a major stroke on October 5, 2011. She stayed in Long Term Care at the Life Care Center of Littleton, with wonderful care givers, who enjoyed her presence, until her passing. She lived to be 88 years old, and indeed was a ""miracle baby"". A Visitation will be held on Monday, May 21, 2012 from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, with Prayer Service at 10:00 A.M., at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 East County Line Road (one block to the west of South Holly Street), in Centennial, Colorado. Please share your memories of Carr and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook.