Vonda Lea (Gillham) Carter

Vonda Lea (Gillham) Carter

1929 to 2014

Vonda Lea Gillham Carter, 84, was born in Peetz, Colo. on Jan. 28, 1929 to Emma (Gilmont) Gillham and Claude Gillham. She had one brother, Donald Claude Gillham. Vonda graduated from Sterling High School, class of 1947. She attended Colorado State University from 1947 to 1950 and received her BA from University of Northern Colorado in 1970. Vonda married William Robert (Bob) Carter of Chillicothe, Mo. in May 1950. She lived in Sidney from 1950 until 1962 where the family owned and operated the Plains Drive-in Theatre. As a teacher, she taught music in Peetz from 1964 to 1965, 4th grade at Mountain View Elementary in Longmont from 1970 to 1978 and at elementary schools in the Redmond OR area from 1977 to 1988. She moved to Fort Collins in 1988. Vonda worked summers at the YMCA in Estes Park with the youth program and as a lodge hostess. She taught over 500 children to read, directed her church choirs for 25 years and became the grandchild babysitter extraordinaire! She is survived by 3 daughters: Claudell (Douglas) Greer, Carla (Richard) Boroff, Roberta (James) Shannon. Four grandchildren: Katelynn Greer, Jenna (Matthew) Baumann, Ian Shannon, and Sydney Shannon). She also leaves behind her dear friend Leo Pederson of Estes Park. A celebration of life and memorial picnic (casual attire) will be held at Allnutt Funeral Home in Fort Collins at 11 a.m. Feb. 16, 2014.