Carol Ann Burns

Carol Ann Rickstrew was born to Gene Roy Rickstrew and Etta Lou Buffington and had the good fortune to be raised by her loving stepfather, George Edward Macdonell. Carol loved growing up on their ranch on Missouri Heights with her siblings; Bill and Terry Rickstrew, and Max, Mary Becky Macdonell. She loved horses, the outdoors and competing in rodeos. She graduated from Roaring Fork High School in 1971.

She lived briefly in Eastern Colorado and Nebraska and had two children, Billie Jo and Hugh Luark. She returned to the valley and reunited with her rodeo partner and first date, Stephen Kelley Burns. They married December 26, 1987 and she became mother to Kelley Ann and Byron David Burns. She worked for the Roaring Fork School District for 28 years, retiring as the Transportation Director. After retiring, Carol and her trailing dog Misty could be found in the wild volunteering with Garfield Search and Rescue.

Carol was quick to laugh and knew how to live. She enjoyed running into the kids that rode her bus over the years. Her real joy was to be with her family or out on the mountain riding horseback, snowmobiles, or ATV with Stephen. She often outrode the boys.

Carol left us after giving cancer one hell of a fight. She passed away peacefully in Glenwood Springs surrounded by family. She leaves behind her beloved husband Stephen, children Billie (Rodney) Milham, Byron (Dara) Burns, and Kelley (Roja) Burns, 7 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and more family and friends than we can count. She loved us all to the moon and back.

We’d like to thank the awesome folks at Valley View Hospital and Calaway Young Cancer Center who cared for her throughout her battle with cancer. There will be a Celebration of Life on June 14, location TBD. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Carol’s name to Garfield County Search and Rescue or Calaway Young Cancer Center.