Cleone M. Vail

Cleone was married to Bob, the true love of her life for 68 years. They were pen pals while he served in the U.S. Navy. When he returned home from the service, Bob went looking for his pen pal and finally found her at the roller skating rink and, as they say, the rest is history. Cleone eloped with Bob in 1946, but they had to keep the marriage a secret. She was a senior in high school and high school girls were not allowed to be married. Cleone had to petition the school to get permission to graduate. Married life began for the love birds in Emporia, Kansas.

Following the birth of their first son, Ron, they moved to Laramie, Wyoming where Bob attended the University of Wyoming. Bob and Cleone had to make do with a small Quonset hut to start their family. She didn’t even have a stove to cook on, so she traded her new shoes for a two top hot plate and that was the start of her lifelong role as a homemaker. Cleone was blessed with two more sons, Rory and then John.

During the seventeen years they lived in Laramie, Cleone did anything that was needed to keep the family going. She did odd jobs from home so she could protect, nurture and support her growing family. Her number one job was to be a loving mother and supportive wife. Cleone loved her “Boys”.

Once John was in school, Cleone got a job at a local retailer. She was a hard worker and her manager saw Cleone’s potential; he moved her from retail clerk to the business office where her talent with numbers excelled. She became Bookkeeper, Payroll Clerk, and Office Manager.

Bob had been looking for more job opportunities in Fort Collins, Colorado and decided to move the family. Cleone was unsure, but when she told her boss he smiled and surprised Cleone. He told her he had an opportunity to move to Fort Collins for a brand new store and he wanted Cleone to manage the office. The family of five relocated to Fort Collins in 1965. In 1971, Cleone went into the banking industry; she retired from Home Federal Savings and Loan in 1991. Cleone and Bob began their retirement in 1991. They spent the first 5 years traveling across the United States.

Over the years, their lives were filled with family fishing trips, quick rides into the mountains for picnics, trips to Estes Park for taffy and fudge or to listen for bugling elk, countless hours of board games, including Yahtzee (one of Cleone’s favorites) and living room visits with family and friends. Stories were told and retold countless times with love, joy, and humor.

Cleone’s favorite time of year was Christmas - making million dollar fudge, divinity, cookies and decorating! All the while, the family of 5 grew adding 3 daughters-in-law (Bonnie, Debbie, and Jan) and later, 7 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. When Cleone’s children were out of the house, she and Bob bought a home in North Fort Collins and spent the next 46 years there.

Cleone and Bob’s life-long commitment to each other was evident throughout their lives — for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. When Cleone voiced to Bob her fear of dying, he said, “Don’t be. I’ll be waiting at the gate for you.”

Cleone is survived by: son Rory and wife Deb of Camden, South Carolina, son John and wife Jan of Fort Collins; and her special niece Cleone Harder and husband Dave, nephew Ray Moore and wife Dawn. Cleone was preceded in death by her husband Bob (Robert), son Ron(Ronald), sister Ida and brothers Truman and Cleo.

Cleone's family extends their heartfelt gratitude to friends and loved ones who were able to attend her Graveside Service on Monday, July 10, 2023 at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Fort Collins. Memories of Cleone and words of condolence for her family are welcome at www.resthavencolorado.com.

A special note of thanks to the team at Columbine Health & Rehab facility; you have very special teams of people that work very hard. Thank you for treating Cleone with respect, making sure she was comfortable and taking such loving care of her. She wanted you all to know how much you meant to her!