Lela Carruthers

     Lela Sutton Carruthers died Jan. 9, 2019, in Denver. She was born Jan. 22, 1924, in St. Francis, Kansas, and grew up in Wray, graduating from Wray High School.
     She met Dale Carruthers in high school and they married during World War II in San Diego, California, on May 23, 1943. When Dale was discharged from the Navy in 1945, they moved to Holyoke, where they farmed wheat and corn and raised cattle.
    She was beloved by Dale, and they treasured and took care of each other during their 42-year marriage until he left this world in 1985. Lela’s greatest joy was to reunite with him in heaven. Together, they collected antiques and reveled in family dinners, card games and get-togethers.
     Lela worked as secretary to the superintendent of schools from 1960 to 1983. After retiring from serving in public education, she ran for and won a seat on the city council.
    As a lifetime member of the Church of the Nazarene, Lela volunteered her time as a church treasurer, pianist, organist, Sunday school teacher and board member for many years. Lela continued her outreach to the community by crocheting over 6,000 caps for children with cancer at the Children’s Hospital Colorado from 2006 to 2016.
    Lela loved long road trips filled with music and took pleasure in being a holder of history and memories. She avidly read, introduced books to her grandchildren and enjoyed crossword puzzles. She was a wonderful storyteller and had a great sense of humor; people loved her for both.
    Lela and Dale were devoted Christians and built their house to be a welcoming space for the growing Nazarene church in Holyoke. Lela loved the Lord; she was a woman of faith who led her life according to Christ’s principles.
    Lela was preceded in death by her mother, Winnie Stiverson Sutton; husband, Dale; and her brothers, Marquis and Lyle Sutton.
    Her legacy is carried on by her daughter, Sheila and husband Mike; son, Kent and wife Becky; grandchildren, Fonda, Kari, Kevin and Nichole, Cori, and Kala and Louay; and her great-grandchildren, Cheyanna, Kloee, Zachariah, Keenan, Laith and Zaiden.
    A private family burial was held Jan. 11 at the Holyoke Cemetery, and a memorial service was held at First Baptist Church in Holyoke on Jan. 12.
    Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.
    In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in the name of Lela Carruthers be made to First Baptist Church of Holyoke.