Charlotte Ann Owens Burrows, born August 19, 1938 in beautiful Bloomington, Indiana to William Hugh Owens and Theckla Margaret Zeller, she was the middle child of and a baby sister to Donald and a big sister to the surprise oops baby ten years her junior: Margaret Jean Owens Gallagher.

Charlotte moved a lot during her childhood, her father, a Lt. Colonel in the Army, taught at universities all over the country to soldiers when they came back from WWII. The family moved often for his work and it created in her a desire to build a home in which she and her children could call their own and experience the stability that she did not experience in her childhood. And she DID it! Our only childhood home was on Krameria Street in Holly Hills. Our back porch, the rose garden and the hanging baskets she assembled and cared for every summer were spectacular.

She became a single mother early on, when it wasn't ok, and when her kids were 5 and 8. She had to pick up the pieces and build a new life with her kids; Donald "Keith" and Kristin Leslie. She successfully transitioned from being a stay-at-home mom and a preacher's wife to a job as a secretary. And all the while she returned to graduate school to become certified as a teacher. She drove her kids to Ohio during the summer months to visit her brother and family. She worked hard to continue her education and certifications and to ensure a secure future for children. On those trips to Ohio, she always told us to stay in the car / don't get into trouble - please, oh please!! Well, we oddly sorta listened to her... Which is not to say we never got out of the car; we both have stitches, memories of broken doors in usual circumstances, we did fall asleep at the wheel on the interstate and definitely ripped a fingernail off at a gas station in the middle of Kansas, etc. She taught us to be strong, self- reliant and hard working people.

She was loyal to her children and those she loved, if you ever crossed her on this subject, you know for a fact that she never forgot and would rarely forgive. It was her greatest strength and also in some ways her greatest weakness.

Charlotte taught school for more than 30 years in the Aurora Public School District. She played bridge (if you play, you know that you now have a shot), had dogs she adored - Colfax, Bo (who was the BEST) and Cheyenne. She missed having her dogs by her side in the last years of her life. She treasured the home she built for her family of three on Krameria street and enjoyed watching her children thrive, marry and have their own children - grandchildren that she so wanted to spoil, decorate cookies & cupcakes with and consistently over-spend on with every toy imaginable. She was not exactly discreet on this subject. Shealy (2003), Camden (2006), Connor (2007) and Meagan (2009) gave Gammy immense joy.  She always welcomed them to her pool at her retirement community, she enjoyed baking with them, reading with them and watching them play sports.

Some of her favorite things included hummingbirds, roses, ladybugs, Ohio, Camp Wyandot, the beach, Ohio State football, Whitney Houston, the Mary Tyler Moore show, fireflies & fireworks, the Hallmark channel, Coca Cola, the Old Timer (no cheese please) at Chilis and potato chips (really any chip ever invented).

She was loved by many; her friends, family and colleagues will miss her greatly. God speed Chotzey!

Charlotte will be laid to rest with her beloved mother and father at the Union Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio. A Denver-based celebration of life will be planned at a later date.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to any non-profit that is important to you personally in her honor.