Charlotte Grace Simkins

Charlotte Grace Simkins of Montrose was born on March 31, 1938 and passed away on September 22,2025. She was born in Wyoming to Sumpter and Grace Patterson. The family moved to Boulder CO where she grew up and graduated from Boulder HS. She then went to college in Gunnison CO where she majored in music.

She married the love of her life, John (Jack) Simkins on November 28, 1959 in Boulder, CO. They were blessed with 6 children. The family then moved to Montrose, CO Labor Day weekend in 1970. They were a close family who enjoyed family get togethers – there wasn’t a birthday, holiday or any other special occasion that went by without some kind of celebration. The house was full of laughter and family and friends. The parties often extended to the garage where they played pool, poker and sang karaoke. Summers included weekly lunches on the patio with family and friends, as well as BBQ’s, volleyball and other outside games. 

She was a paraprofessional at Northside Elementary for many years and still has kids that she helped thank her for believing in them and making a difference in their lives. She and Jack had a used furniture store for many years as well as auctions. The auctions started out in the back part of Howlett’s furniture on Thursday nights and that was local entertainment for many people. They then moved north of town to a building and continued weekly auctions and the used furniture store there. Antique auctions were held 4 times a year at the Friendship Hall and Charlotte continuef those after Jack passed away until last year when she decided it was too much work. 

She was an avid Rockies and Nuggets fan and loved not only watching the games but going with family to see them live. She loved to gamble, and she and Jack would travel with long time family friends to various gambling places in Colorado, Las Vegas and Deadwood, SD. 

She loved classical music and was a member of the Valley Symphony Orchestra for many years. She played the Bass and only recently decided it was too heavy to lug around, and she couldn’t drive after dark. She inherited her mother’s baby grand piano and enjoyed playing that as well as all of the kids and grandkids. 

She had recently enjoyed a trip to Mexico with several family members – they even got her out into the ocean on this trip. The last 3 years she and her friend Bob would pick up sack lunches for KidsAid and deliver them to the local schools so kids could have meals on the weekends. She enjoyed this very much and it gave her something to do and look forward to. 

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jack, her infant daughter Shawnalyn, her sister Ann, her brothers, Dean and George. She is survived by her sister Sheri Swerdfeger, Children: Jennifer Culver, Randy Simkins, Jill Piatt (Gary), Allison Anderson & Stephanie Tait (Brian). Her grandchildren: Christopher Simkins, Franklin Culver (Ren) , Bradly Culver (Rebecca), Maylee Simkins, Preston Piatt (Leslee), Shelby Piatt, Zachary Passmore and Kylie Grett (Cole). Great Grandchildren: Sabastine Simkins, Anita Miramontes, Michael Culver, Madison Culver, Kaylee Culver, Dax Landen, Lilly Landen, Lane Piatt, Colton Piatt, Preslee Piatt, Harrison Grett and Sullivan Grett. Service for Charlotte with be held Saturday October 18th at 10am at Calvary Chapel and will conclude there.