Creta Mae Mellema

Creta Mae Mellema

Creta Mae Mellema was born Creta Mae Esther in Fort Collins, Colorado on August 29, 1927. Her father, Gordon Esther, was attending college at CSU at the time. Her mother, Dessie Esther’s family had homesteaded in Colorado. At the time of Creta’s birth, Dessie was a housewife and mother of 2 older daughters (Florene and Nancy), with a penchant for raising gardens. The family later moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming where her father worked for the U.S. Postal Service. Her sister Rosaline was born in Cheyenne.

Creta’s early school years were spent in Arlington, NE. Her father Gordon requested a rural route and the family moved to Hays, Kansas during Creta’s early teen years. Creta had fond memories of her life in Hays; ice skating on the river, bonfires and especially dancing. All of the big band routes went through Hays and the kids would love to dance. She loved the movies that they could not wait to see at the local movie theater down town. She worked at the ice cream parlor, was head of the student council, a cheerleader and queen of hearts (prom). Her sister, Rosie, recalled that when she was head of the student council, she didn’t just present issues to the principal, she went to his office and told him what to do and that he usually agreed. Following high school she attended Ft. Hays State College for 1 year.

Creta’s good friend Vivien had moved to Denver to attend the Denver Art Institute and begged Creta to come to Denver. They both attended art school for one year. Vivian got married and Creta attended banking school and worked at Denver National Bank as a bookkeeper. At that time, women weren’t allowed to work upstairs as tellers, but were required to work downstairs in bookkeeping.

Creta met John Mellema at a party in Denver and they married in the Baptist Church in Hays, Kansas on September 11, 1949. The church ladies baked a cake and the reception was held in church basement. John, originally from Sibley, IA., owned his own business, Denver Industrial Sales in Denver. Creta continued to work as his bookkeeper until 1953 and the birth of their first child, Tracy, in 1953. Six years later, beautiful, smiling, blond haired, blue eyed Carrie was brought into this world In November of 1959. In 1962, curly haired, turquoise eyed, John Todd Mellema was born in February.

Creta continued as a house wife and a staunch supporter of the Republican Party, holding caucuses in her home and attending conventions and adamantly attempting to make sure that neighbors, relatives and the league of women voters all agreed with her.

When the children were grown she was the owner and property manager of Virginia Park Apartments.

Her husband John Mellema passed away in May of 1994.

After retirement, Creta used her excessive energy to go somewhere almost every day and stay out until everything closed.

Following a stroke in 2013, she lived with her daughter Carrie and husband, Dave Moore of Franktown, Colorado. She recovered nicely from the stroke but then was later discovered to have a large aneurism which was successfully repaired, but slowed her down. She was still up and moving around until the day of her death on January 5, 2016 in Parker, Co. She was 88.

Creta was preceded in death by her husband, John, her parents: Gordon and Dessie Esther, and her three sisters.

She will be greatly missed by the survivors: Tracy DaVault and husband Tim, Carrie Moore and husband Dave, John Todd Mellema and wife Kathy. She will also be missed by her grandchildren: Charity Padilla and husband Ray, Janie Rasmussen and husband Ryan, Cassie Moore Holt and husband Brian, Danielle DaVault-Phelps and husband Justin and Matthew DaVault; her great-grandchildren, Zachary DaVault and wife Shannon, Shelby and Logan Rasmussen, Colby and Colton Holt; and our new bundle of joy, great-great-grandchild Aiden DaVault

Memorial will be held at Bullock Mortuary in Englewood, Colorado on Saturday, Jan 9, 2016 at noon. Viewing will precede the funeral at 11:00 A.M. Interment will be held at Crown Hill Cemetery in Lakewood at 2:00 pm. Reception to be held at the home of Todd and Kathy Mellema in Littleton.

The family would like to thank Dave and Carrie Moore for the loving care provided over the last 2 ½ years, all of our friends and family for help with the funeral and food, Todd and Kathy for the use of their home, Pastor Joe Beach of Amazing Grace Church and everyone else for their condolences and support.

Family & friends are encouraged to share stories and photograph's of Creta here on her website (click appropriate tab above).