Charlene Marie Longhorn

Charlene Longhorn, always cheerful, smiled through cancer but sadly passed away on November 15, 2025, at the age of 81. She was born in New Hampton, Iowa, and spent her childhood in Ionia and Nashua, Iowa. There, she met and married her high school sweetheart, Greg. They celebrated their 62nd anniversary before he passed away.

In 1963, with just $500 and all their belongings in the car, along with their toddler, the Longhorn family set off to Denver, Colorado. In 1975, the Longhorn family of four moved to Grand Junction, and in 1983, they settled in Fruita.

Charlene began a 30-year career at the School District 51 Food Service, where she started as a cashier for 2 hours a day. Her hard work, friendly personality, and passion for cooking helped her climb the ranks from cook to manager, and eventually, she became a Field Supervisor for the district.

Charlene was a member of many organizations and left a lasting impression wherever she went. An active and devoted member of Crossroads and Fruita United Methodist Churches, her faith played a significant role in her life. She also devoted time to other faith organizations: Church Women United, The Walk to Emmaus, Daughters of the Nile, and Eastern Star. Involved in many additional organizations, she knew someone in every corner of town. For the past 20 years, she was a regular volunteer at the Fruita Thrift Shop, where she loved making friends and finding bargains. She was also on the thrift shop board for many years and was proud of the money they donated back to the community.

Camping was a tradition in the Longhorn family, and along with fishing and hiking, Charlene and her daughters would spend time crafting and singing around the campfire. Charlene made special meals while camping and even learned to bake cakes over an open fire. She was a lively and energetic person who loved playing games, especially with her family. Playing cards, board games, or fixing a puzzle while watching Hallmark movies with family were frequent activities. An avid bowler, she participated in couples and women’s leagues for most of her life, even traveling to state tournaments. She enjoyed playing softball, playing catch in the backyard, and looked forward to and practiced for her family reunion cornhole tournament. She loved to dance, especially with her best partner, Greg.

This amazing baker and cook was totally in her element in the kitchen. She couldn’t sit still if there was something to do in the kitchen, and when asked what she was doing, she replied, “piddling around the kitchen.” No matter the occasion, she loved making everyone’s favorite treats and meals, whether it was hamburger gravy, Russian tea cakes, homemade ice cream, or a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. She did not prepare just what she wanted. She spent countless hours baking hundreds of dozens of different cookies for her church bazaar cookie walks. During these events, she also collected coffee cans throughout the year to decorate and later fill with all sorts of delicious cookies and had them stuffed in every nook and cranny in the house.

Charlene absolutely adored spending time with her loved ones. She cherished her monthly lunch and dinner dates with her friends and family. But the holidays were her absolute favorite! That’s when her entire family would come together, share a delicious meal, and have a blast playing games, reminiscing, and laughing. Charlene was known as a “mom” and “grandma” to more than just her own kids. Her hugs were always at hand.

Charlene’s memory will live on through her daughters, Debra Harvey, Fruita, and Connie (Brad) Bingaman, Montrose, and her grandchildren, Levi (Sami) Harvey and Timothy Harvey of Fruita, Brandon Bingaman of Plano, TX, Chelsea Bingaman of Montrose, and Tristan (Michelle Rivera) Bingaman USAF Japan. She is also survived by 6 of her 9 siblings, Bill Sinnwell, Cecelia Pitkin, Linda Groen, Mike Sinnwell, David Sinnwell, and Kevin Sinnwell, all of Iowa.

To celebrate Charlene’s life, services will be held at Martin Mortuary at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025. To honor Charlene, attendees are encouraged to wear bright colors and don hats.