Zella Marie was born November 16, 1926, to Charles and Mamie Downen in Grand Valley, Colorado. She was the youngest of nine siblings (four sisters and four brothers) all deceased.
She attended Grand Valley High School and married Everett Cargile on January 16, 1943. They had two children. Jerry (Cookie) Cargile of Vernal, Utah, and Penny (Glen) Sykes of Rifle. Everett passed away in 1995, and Zella later married Lloyd Wonderley.
Zella drove school bus for the Garfield RE-2 School District for 25 years. Her route was up Rifle Creek to the Fish Hatchery as well as west Rifle Creek. She was named the first School Bus Driver of the Year for the State of Colorado in 1983. She worked for Sowder Funeral Home for 10 years. For many, many summers you would find her baling hay.
She had a wonderful singing voice and a great "ear" for music. She loved to crochet, embroider, do word search, play solitaire, read, fish, work in her yard, and take care of her small animals.
Zella is survived by her children, Jerry and Penny, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, eleven great-great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law Inez Downen, numerous nieces and nephews along with many friends. We will miss her.
At her adamant request, there will not be a formal service. Remember her in your own way with a hug for each other and your pets, a song, a flower and rejoice that she had 90 great years.
Because of Zella's love for small animals, if you would like to make a donation to the Rifle Animal Shelter, 0569 County Rd. 265, Rifle, CO 81650, it would indeed please her.