Lori Gay Latta Ward

Lori Gay Prussman (Latta) Ward was born on Oct. 17, 1958, in Holyoke, Colorado, to Virginia Braun Prussman and William Neal Prussman. Her love of playing the piano, and singing with a voice beyond her years, began in the third grade. She also played the drums, and got her first drum set while in high school, graduating from Haxtun High School in 1977. Her two favorite music teachers, Mr. Gutierrez and Mr. Hohweiler, inspired and encouraged her to sing and perform at many school and local events. She gave those around her many hours of enjoyment.

Lori was married to Jim Latta in 1977 in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. They lived in Colorado Springs, CO and in Texas, until their divorce in 1984, when Lori moved back to Colorado. Lori graduated from Colorado State University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology. Later, she would come within one lab course from a second Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. Before graduating, she began working with Dr. Malcolm McCallum, of the Geology Department, as an independent contractor doing microscope work, looking for the elusive diamond. After graduation, she continued to work with her ex-professor in his new company HDM Inc. in Loveland, Colorado, doing mineral exploration work.

Her most romantic geological experience included a summer in the Northwest Territories in Canada, panning and doing microscope work, as she continued to look for the next geological discovery of diamonds. She was laid off from this company to her disappointment at the time, but that opened the doors to a job that was beyond her wildest dreams. After a short stent at the CSU Library repairing damaged books, Lori was hired as a process operator by Hewlett Packard, whose semi-conductor manufacturing branch became Agilent Technologies, then Avago Technologies, and now Broadcom. Broadcom is the largest semi-conductor manufacturer in the world.

In 2004 Lori joined the engineering group, as an expert research and development process technician. Her greatest accomplishments while there included setting up documentation for every new standard set by her R&D engineers, and being the “owner” of the electron microscope document, with thousands of examples of what to look for at different stages of the semi-conductor manufacturing process. Lori continued her work there, until her illness forced her to go on extended medical leave, until her passing.

Lori met the love of her life, Warren Ward, in 2003 while both were working in the clean room. They were married on February 14, 2011. They both enjoyed outdoor activities, camping, hiking and gardening. Lori’s love of flowers was inherited from her Grandma Prussman, and mother Virginia. Lori had a bit of heaven growing in both her front and back yards. Just like her grandmother, Lori had a special fondness for Iris’.

Lori is survived by husband, Warren, of Fort Collins, mother Virginia Prussman of Holyoke, brother Bob Prussman and wife, Janell of Fort Collins, sister Shawn Edwards and husband, Tom of Haxtun, mother and father-in-law Stan and Dell Ward of Arvada, brother and sister-in-law Russ and Joette Ward of Brighton, MI, and sister-in-law Noreen Ward of Arvada. Nieces and nephews Kristin Prussman Stouffer (Rick) of Fort Collins, and Jason Prussman of Denver, Ross Edwards (Haley), Grant Edwards (Audree), all of Haxtun, Chloe and Jonah Ward of Brighton, MI, Dominique, Tony, and Nick (Danielle) Greco of Denver, Amanda (Eric) Entzel of Arvada, Ashley and Aubrey Salazar, of Denver.

Lori so greatly enjoyed her great nieces and nephews. She was able to form a bond with each of them that meant the world to her. They include Leah and Amber Edwards, Knox and Otis Edwards, all of Haxtun, and Jacobb Prussman of Denver, Jordan (Caitlin) Stouffer of Fort Collins, and Peyton Stouffer, Guillian Greco, Trinity and Jessie Entzel, Nova and Killie Salazar, of Denver. Lori had one great- great-nephew, Breck Stouffer, of Fort Collins.

Lori passed away on March 22, 2018 after a long, valiant fight against a very rare, uterine sarcoma. Her memorial service will be held on April 21, 2018, at the Haxtun United Methodist Church, Haxtun Colorado, at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers: Donations to the animal shelter of your choice, are requested.