Ann H. Charles

Ann Healey Charles passed away peacefully on April 12, 2026 in Denver, CO at the age of 97. Her three children – Susan, Tom and Karen – were by her side. Ann was under the care and compassion of the staff at Hallmark Nursing Center. Our family would like to extend a special thank you to everyone at Hallmark who loved and cared for her during her residence, especially Candace, Vicky, Lorenza, Luann, Elizabeth and Jill.

Our mom Ann was born on December 22, 1928 in Edgerton, OH to her father, Charles W. Healey and mother, Muriel (Dirrim) Healey. While Mom grew up in the Detroit, MI suburb of Lincoln Park in a house her father built, she spent quite a bit of time visiting relatives in Ohio and Indiana. She especially enjoyed the time she spent with her grandmother, Sarah “Sasie” (Griffith) Healey on her farm. Mom continued to reminisce and tell fond stories of Sasie and all the fun times she had with other relatives. These memories included all her adventures with her younger siblings Carolyn and Bill.

Mom’s parents were part of a wide circle of friends in the Detroit area, many of whom came there from farms to work during the boom times of Detroit’s industrial growth. One set of friends were James and Laurene (Hagy) Charles, the parents of our father. Mom and our dad, James “Jim” Allan Charles, met at an early age and started dating in high school. Dad liked to recount how he saw Mom at church wearing a red dress and it was love at first sight. Jim was the love of Ann’s life. They were apart only for the years of his enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. Ann started her career as an elementary school teacher. Jim and Ann were married on August 18, 1951 and had celebrated their 71st anniversary prior to his passing in 2022. Their first house was in Trenton, MI not far from both sets of our grandparents. We have very good memories of spending time with our grandparents and visiting places such as Elizabeth Park and vacationing at Lake Louise, MI.

In 1967 Mom and Dad started our next family adventure by moving to Vail, CO where Jim partnered with a former colleague, becoming one of the first pharmacists in Vail. He worked at The Rucksack and later ran his business out of the Vail Valley Medical Clinic. Mom worked as a substitute teacher in our schools in Minturn and Vail and helped our dad at his pharmacy. She and Dad also maintained a happy, lovely home in Matterhorn Village (West Vail). Mom imbued us with her love of nature (she had an amazing green thumb), her artist’s eye for beauty, her love of reading, and her enjoyment of music. We all learned to ski, spent many days hiking and backpacking, and adopted our dog Duffy. We all had friends in Vail, Minturn, Gilman and Red Cliff, CO. We have many wonderful memories of living in Vail, back when life in the Colorado mountains was a unique and idyllic experience.

Our parents retired to Loveland, CO in 1986 where they lived in their home for the rest of Jim’s life. Ann continued to indulge her love of flowers and house plants, with a special focus on her rose garden. She enjoyed decorating her home, reading, and as a longtime member of PEO she joined the Loveland HP Chapter. Throughout their lives, our parents also enjoyed traveling – to some foreign destinations, around the United States, and all around their beloved Colorado. Together, they enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and their first great-grandchild. Mom also got to spend happy times with two additional great-grandchildren. Ann and Jim were members of Loveland’s Mountain View Presbyterian Church.

Ann is survived by her three children: Susan “Sue” Charles and her husband Scott Reid of Fort Collins, CO; Tom and his wife Beth (Thoms) Charles of Littleton, CO; and Karen Charles of Denver, CO. Ann’s grandchildren are Jennifer “Jen” Charles, James “Jac” Charles, Allyson Hussey (and her husband Ben Gilliland), and Keith Hussey. Ann has three great-grandchildren: James “Yoshi” Charles, and Quinn and Daphne Gilliland. Ann is also survived by her sister, Carolyn Warmolts of Columbus, OH, as well as 4 nieces and 3 nephews. Ann was preceded in death by her beloved husband Jim, her brother William “Bill” Healey, and her parents Charles and Muriel Healey.

A private family ceremony will be held in Loveland, CO later in 2026. Anyone who wants to remember Ann feel free to donate to a charity of your choice.