Thelma Willie and Diane McCarty

Thelma Arleen (Lutkemeier) Willie of Longmont passed away on Monday, December 4, 2023 at Alta Vita Memory Care of Longmont, one month from her 100th birthday. Thelma was born January 3, 1924 on a farm north east of Campbell, Nebraska to Carl and O’Tillie Lutkemeier. She had a brother Lloyd, who passed away in 2012.

She went to elementary school one mile from the farm and during this time her teacher lived with her and her family. She went to high school in Campbell NE graduating in 1942. After high school she worked in Hastings NE at Mary Lanning Hospital as a nurse’s assistant. When the Naval Engineering Depot came to Hastings, she helped the war effort there until she moved to Denver CO. In Denver she worked for Silver Engineering Company helping make ammunition for the war. She then worked for the Air Force Finance Center when they opened an office in Denver and worked there until she married.

Thelma met Mildred Willie while working at the Air Force Finance Center and Millie introduced her to her brother Lloyd while on a skiing trip with Millie and several girlfriends. Millie’s Mom insisted that Lloyd go with them to chaperon and Lloyd gladly agreed. Thelma and Lloyd married in 1952 in Denver and they built their home in Westminster CO, in 1954. She resided there when Lloyd passed away in 1993 at the age of 68. In 2005, she moved to Longmont, CO to be near her son Dan where she lived until her death.

She was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Westminster and attended Westview Presbyterian Church in Longmont. She was a loving soul who always said she wished she had been a nurse, and this was evident in how she always helped others. Her care for her children and friends was always at the forefront of her thoughts and actions.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd, her brother Lloyd Lutkemeier, her sister in-laws Mildred Tuttle and Marlene Turley and a nephew Rusty Turley. She was the last of her generation in the family to pass. Sadly her only daughter Diane McCarty passed away 3 days after her death on December 7th 2023.

Thelma is survived by 3 sons, Dan Willie and his wife Dessa, David Willie and his wife Lanette and Dale Willie; 7 grandchildren, Kristin McCarty, Alicia McCarty, Rachel McCarty, Brandon Freel, Aubrey Freel, Alex Willie and Chase Willie; 4 great grandchildren, Haleigh Freel, Hayden Freel, Emmalyn Freel and Morgan Freel; 2 nieces Beverly Anderson and Joyce Swanson and 4 nephews, Rob Turley, Richard Turley, Ron Turley and Randy Turley.

Thelma will be cremated and buried next to her husband at Fort Logan Cemetery. Her family requests that in lieu of flowers that a donation be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org.

Diane Marie (Willie) McCarty passed away on December 7, 2023 in Roseville, California from Parkinson’s. She was born on December 14, 1954 in Westminster, Colorado and was the oldest sibling with 3 brothers. She grew up in Westminster, Colorado. Diane attended Metro State University for her undergraduate degree in Marketing and Mathematics from 1974 to 1978. She then earned her Master's degree in Marketing at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado from 1978 to 1980. She met her beloved husband, Dan McCarty at graduate school. Dan and Diane were married on August 30, 1980 at Phipps Tennis House in Denver, Colorado.

Their careers took them to Fremont, California where Diane started her market research career at Clorox. She was involved in a significant portion of the Hidden Valley Ranch research. Her first daughter, Kristin, was born in Hayward, California. Diane and Dan adventured around California before Dan’s job moved them to Salt Lake City, Utah where Alicia and Rachel were born. Diane started the Salt Lake City chapter of the American Marketing Association as their first president. She also enjoyed teaching skiing at Brighton Ski Resort. She continued her marketing career as their family moved to Woodinville, Washington; Alamo, California; Park City, Utah and Roseville, California where she retired. She enjoyed traveling in her retirement and went to multiple places throughout Europe, Costa Rica, Panama, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Canada. She also loved spending time with animals. Her family always had a golden retriever growing up. Diane greatly enjoyed watching her daughters train and show dressage horses and would travel all over Utah, Colorado and California to watch their competitions.

Her parents were Lloyd and Thelma Willie. Thelma passed away 3 days prior to Diane, just before her 100th birthday. Lloyd was a military veteran and passed away in 1993. She is survived by her brothers, Dan, David and Dale Willie; husband Dan McCarty; her daughters Kristin, Alicia, Rachel and future son-in-law Tyler.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests making a donation to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org.

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Diane Marie (Willie) McCarty passed away on December 7, 2023 in Roseville, California from Parkinson’s. She was born on December 14, 1954 in Westminster, Colorado and was the oldest sibling with 3 brothers. She grew up in Westminster, Colorado. Diane attended Metro State University for her undergraduate degree in Marketing and Mathematics from 1974 to 1978. She then earned her Master's degree in Marketing at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado from 1978 to 1980. She met her beloved husband, Dan McCarty at graduate school. Dan and Diane were married on August 30, 1980 at Phipps Tennis House in Denver, Colorado.

Their careers took them to Fremont, California where Diane started her market research career at Clorox. She was involved in a significant portion of the Hidden Valley Ranch research. Her first daughter, Kristin, was born in Hayward, California. Diane and Dan adventured around California before Dan’s job moved them to Salt Lake City, Utah where Alicia and Rachel were born. Diane started the Salt Lake City chapter of the American Marketing Association as their first president. She also enjoyed teaching skiing at Brighton Ski Resort. She continued her marketing career as their family moved to Woodinville, Washington; Alamo, California; Park City, Utah and Roseville, California where she retired. She enjoyed traveling in her retirement and went to multiple places throughout Europe, Costa Rica, Panama, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Canada. She also loved spending time with animals. Her family always had a golden retriever growing up. Diane greatly enjoyed watching her daughters train and show dressage horses and would travel all over Utah, Colorado and California to watch their competitions.

Her parents were Lloyd and Thelma Willie. Thelma passed away 3 days prior to Diane, just before her 100th birthday. Lloyd was a military veteran and passed away in 1993. She is survived by her brothers, Dan, David and Dale Willie; husband Dan McCarty; her daughters Kristin, Alicia, Rachel and future son-in-law Tyler.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests making a donation to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org.