Carla Mae Hoffman

Born: April 21, 1939; Died: January 5, 2011

Carla was the third child of John and Lois Powers. She and her two older siblings, Jim and Jean, were all brought into this world by their maternal grandmother, Ida Mae Stevens, who was the birthing nurse in Julesburg, Colorado. By the time Carla was three, her family moved to Grand Junction, where two more Powers' children were born: Jerry and Judy.

It was a typically lively household, but World War II changed many things. John, at age 34, volunteered to join the war effort when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and was shipped off for a 3 1/2-year tour of duty in the Pacific Theater. During those difficult years, Lois rented the family home for extra income and, at age five, Carla rode the train with her mother and siblings to Salem, Oregon to live with Lois' sister and her family as the nation prayed for a successful end of the war.

So, for a time, there were nine children under one roof, ranging in age from twelve to infancy. One memory Carla recounted of that time was that she "rode for hours" on a stationary bicycle in her aunt's garage, letting her active imagination soar.

When the war ended, and John was safely home, the family moved back to Grand Junction. Carla was always a bright and spunky child, and known to be quite the tomboy and dare devil. There were few boys at school she couldn't beat up, and no tree too tall to climb, or so she thought, until the time her mother made her find her own way down from a particularly lofty branch.

The Powers family moved to Denver in 1948 and, in the next few years, Carla began showing remarkable artistic abilities in drawing and painting and, eventually created an award-winning bronze sculpture of her daughter Regi holding her first-born son, Eric. She loved and excelled in horsemanship and skiing, the latter sport she especially took up with enthusiasm and a sense of adventure. Music was always a part of her life and she loved singing along with her favorite songs.

The tomboy began to transform into a stunning beauty as Carla reached her teen years and adulthood, exceeded only by her generous heart, loyalty, and kindness toward others. Carla and George Rock were married after a four-year engagement, in part, due to George’s peace-time enrollment in the Marine Corps. Carla's courage and love of family were certainly called into play as she and George began their robust family of four children, all born within five years of each other! As her children grew, she was active in PTA and 4-H. She was always proud of her children and their families, and devoted her life to their well-being. They will always be the jewels in her crown.

In her real estate and home construction projects, Carla demonstrated keen business acumen, and provided community leadership as President of the Denver Jaycee-ettes.

Carla loved the writings of Kahlil Gibran and, in particular, his verse about parents and children, "...You are the bows from which your children are sent forth. The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for gladness; for even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable."

Our dear Carla was pre-deceased by her mother, Lois, father, John, and brother Gerald Powers. She is survived by her husband of 14 years, Ray Hoffman and his children and grandchildren; her children, Regina Archer, George Rock IV, Gerald Rock and, James and his wife Heather Rock; her grandchildren Eric and Marie Archer, George Rock V, and Taylor and Connor Rock; her siblings; brother James Powers and his daughters Lyn Hawkins and Samantha Powers; sister Jean Powers and her family, Craig and Brandi Black and their son, Eli; her sister Judith and her husband Erick Leithe and their daughter Kathryn; and friends in Denver, Houston and Seattle.

Passed away on Tues. Jan. 5, 2011. She is preceded in death by her parents and a brother. She is survived by her husband Ray, children; Regina Archer, George, Jerry and Jim (Heather) Rock, 10 grandchildren, siblings; James Powers and Jean Powers and Judith (Powers) Erick Leithe, niece Kathryn Leithe and nephew Craig Black. A memorial service will be Friday, January 14, 2011 at 2:00 p.m at the Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6601 S. Colorado Blvd. Littleton. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Carla's honor may go to Colorado Cancer League. To share a story or memory of Carla, visit www.olingerchapelhill.com