LeAnn Thompson Arbaney passed away June 9, 2016, at Heritage Park Care Center in Carbondale, Colorado, after a brief illness. LeAnn was born September 17, 1936, at home in Carbondale, Colorado. She married Vern Arbaney on June 6, 1959. LeAnn and Vern were classmates and attended school in Carbondale form the second grade through high school. She attended Colorado Woman’s College and was a secretary for Robert Delaney for many years until she retired.
LeAnn’s great-great-grandfather, Myron Thompson, came to the Roaring Fork Valley in 1874 and is believed to be the first white settler in the valley. He later homesteaded south of Carbondale where Thompson Creek received its name. LeAnn lived in the home that is now the Thompson House Museum, which is operated by the Mount Sopris Historical Society. Her family operated the ranch that is now the River Valley Ranch housing development at Carbondale.
LeAnn is survived by her husband, Vern; sister Jacque (Art) Russell and brother LewRon (Jackie) Thompson; children Staphie (Steve) Turner of Glendale, AZ, Anthony (Traci) Arbaney of Marion, Illinois, and Alea (John) Brim of Mead, CO; seven grandchildren, Christopher Turner, Sami Jo McIntyre, Nicole Gardner, Bailee Arbaney, Nona Leigh Hove, Morgan Brim and Ashlyn Brim; and five great-grandchildren.
A celebration of her life will be held on Wednesday, June 15th, 2016, at 10:00am at the First United Methodist Church in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mount Sopris Historical Society, Box2, Carbondale, Colorado 81623 or the First United Methodist Church, Box 7, Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81602.