Colleen Fahrney

Colleen Francis Fahrney went home to be with Jesus on June 6, 2018 at the age of 89.

Colleen was born on November 2, 1928 to Clyde and Olive (Bare) Kipp in Grand Junction. At that time her parents owned Clifton Garage, where her dad was a mechanic. She had 2 brothers, Ray and Rod, and a sister, Jimmie (Virginia).

The family moved around because of the Great Depression, living in California , Utah and in Vallecita, Colorado, her dad (Clyde) worked for the Civil Conservation Core. When they returned to Grand Junction, the family  managed and owned Kipp’s Motel on North Ave (where Village Inn is now). While serving in the Navy during WWII, her brother Ray, introduced Colleen to a handsome sailor mate, Allen Fahrney. They started coresponding and found the love of their lives.

Colleen and Allen married on Novemeber 6, 1946, which was Allen’s birthday. In those days, if you were a man under 21, you had to get parental permission to get married.  Girls on the other hand, could be 18 to marry. Colleen was in her senior year at Grand Junction High School.

While Colleen finished high school, Allen attended Mesa College. That summer, they moved to the Gunnison area and worked on a ranch near Crested Butte, living mostly on trout caught in the nearby streams. Then in transition, their first son Mel, was born in Delta and later they moved to Fort Collins so Allen could attend CSU. After moving back to Grand Junction, a second son Terry came along. Eight years later, a surpirse daughter, Marlene was born.

Colleen was a fulltime  homemaker for most of her married life, though working  a short time at Montgomery Wards. She was involved in many activites at First Baptist Church. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, and made many life-long friends in the Gold Band Sunday School class. She also volunteered as a crisis counselor and at the Rescue Mission.  Colleen loved the Lord with all her heart and was an amazing prayer warrior. She took to heart the passage that says “Pray without ceasing”.

Colleen and Allen enjoyed the outdoors, loved jeeping and rock hounding. When Allen retired, they travelled throughout the west in their camp trailer with their Afghan Hound, Fawnzy.

Colleen was a wonderful Grandma and loved her seven grand-children and twelve great-grandchildren. In Allen’s retirement, they went fishing and had lunch dates with the older grandchildren and often babysat Erin and Mandi.

Even though many health issues plagued her later life, she always remained sweet, kind and loving and greeted everyone with a smile.

Colleen was preceded in death by her parents, Olive and Clyde Kipp, her husband Allen, her brother Ray and her grandson, Matthew.

Surviving family are: sons, Mel (Debbie) Fahrney, Terry (Carla) Fahrney, daughter Marlene (Brad) Loucks, sister, Jimmie Lionberger, brother Rod Kipp and her sister-in-law, Jo Fahrney. Grandchildren:  Alison (Brian) Arcand, Travis (Sara) Fahrney, Lindsay Idler, Hannah (Lee) Mallory, Tarah (J.J.) Salway, Erin Loucks, Mandi (Nathan) Oak and many nieces and nephews.

Great grand-children are Evan, Elaina, Kaela, Deagen, Landon, Hunter, Mattalinn, Lily, Roman, Malachi, Leo and Athena.