Jean E. Garvey

Jean Elizabeth Rommel Garvey was born December 24, 1922 in Kansas City, Missouri to Kenneth Eugene and Juana Grace Rommel. Jean grew up in Kansas City, MO, Lincoln, NE and Colorado Springs, CO. Her father passed away in 1940. She graduated from Central High School and Platte Business College in St. Joseph, MO then went to work for Prudential Insurance Company.

Jean married and had her daughter Lynn, later divorcing and moving back home with her mother Juana and they raised Lynn together. In 1967 Jean, Lynn and her mother moved to Denver, CO. Jean went to work at Central Bank Trust as an Executive Secretary for three commercial loan officers. In 1969 she went to work for The State of Colorado (Dept. of Institutions). Jean and her mother took vacations to Las Vegas, NV and San Francisco, CA and many other places. In 1988, Jeans mother passed away. Jean retired from the State of Colorado in 1991. After retiring she went to work with her daughter and son-in-law Bill Wiles. They traveled for the next few years until Bill’s death in 1995.

During her life, Jean liked to drive her convertible and travel to Las Vegas, Hawaii, Branson, Lake Powell, San Diego, San Francisco, Yellowstone, The Grand Tetons and many other places. She also enjoyed knitting and music. In 2005, Jean moved to Fort Collins to be closer to her daughter. In 2008 Jean had back surgery and went to live with her daughter and son-in-law Ron Brown. They did some traveling and ate at her favorite places; El Burrito (chicken enchiladas), JB’s Drive-In (fried chicken, French fries with ketchup and cherry pie ala mode), and the Outback (for steaks).

On March 6, 2016 Jean fell at home and broke her leg. Even with a successful surgery she couldn’t seem to recover. It was a very difficult 11 weeks and she passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 22, 2016.