Fern Lela Carlson

Fern Lela (Barnes) Carlson, of Denver, died September 11, 2005. She was born on August 8, 1912, in Ellis, KS, to Elmer and Pearl (Steele) Barnes. She graduated from Longmont High School in 1931, and then graduated from St. Anthony's Nurses School in 1934. On graduation from St. Anthony's, she worked as a special nurse at several small hospitals in Kansas and then returned to Longmont to work at Longmont Hospital where she met Walter Carlson. They married soon thereafter on November 18, 1936. Moving to Denver, she quit working to raise a family and spent 15 years on th ePTA at Steck School in East Denver. Walter died in 1964 and she returned to nursing for several years before retirement at General Rose Hospital. She enjoyed Church Circle and playing bridge in the later years. She also volunteered on the disaster team and ride coordination for the American Red Cross. She pent her later years at a small house in the Corey/Merril area of Denver. She is survived by three children; Joyce Redwillo, of Newport Beach, CA; John Carlson, of Castle Rock, CO; James Carlson, of Denver; and two brothers, Gerald and Clay Barnes. Visitation, Friday, 11 a.m. a Funeral Service following at Noon, both at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 1091 S. Colorado Blvd. Private interment at Foothills Garden of Memory, Longmont. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Central Christian Church, 3690 Cherry Creek South Dr., Denver, CO 80209; and/or the American Red Cross, 444 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203.