Carol Anne Punkoney

Carol was born in Washington, DC. The only child of Gordon B. and Lillian E. Keith. She graduated from Central High School in Grand Junction, Colorado and married Kenneth (Kenny) Pinnt. Together they had two daughters, Kathy and Bonnie. Kenny passed away in a truck wreck in 1976 that changed their lives and set them on a new path.

Carol had a lifelong love of animals, especially horses and dogs. She enjoyed all things horses, and showed both English and Western, and made sure her daughters had the same opportunity. Carol was a member of the Frontier Belles Sidesaddle Club and a 4H Club leader for horses. Later in life, she and her partner, Leonard Bagwell, owned and operated Hancock Horses Enterprises specializing in roping and show horse prospects; and was active in the Foundation Quarter Horse Registry (FQHR). Carol was a Certified Nursing Assistant and dedicated health care provider working in home health and hospice care, providing love and compassion to many patients and families over the years. She also worked as a vet tech giving animals the same high level of care as her people patients.

Our mother loved to travel. One of her life’s highlights was traveling to Africa with Kathy on a wildlife safari in 2021. She and Kathy went on many adventures together as Kathy pursued her passion as a wildlife photography.

Carol was exceptionally proud of Kathy’s work and achievement as a registered nurse, her photography endeavors, and recent passion with border collies and competing at the Hotchkiss Sheep Camp Stock Dog Trials and the National Western Stock Show. She was also extremely proud of her youngest daughter Bonnie that was Reserve World Champion at Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy Race on her Hancock Enterprises mare Peso; and Bonnie’s advocacy for the Colorado livestock industry. Granddaughter Stephanie’s compassion and care for others was a great source of pride for Carol.

Mom was tough as nails and work extremely hard after Kenny passed away. She worked two and sometimes three jobs at the same time to make ends meet. Her strength, work ethic, and gritty determination has been the bedrock of our family.

Mom never retired, she was always busy! She was still working part-time in home health, and just returned from the National Western Stock Show two days before she passed away. She was so excited about her new border collie, Duke. Duke was qualified for the national sheepdog trials, but was needing to slow down because of his age. Mom had begun taking lessons with Duke with the goal of competing with him in Hotchkiss this spring. Sadly, that won’t happen, but Duke brought her great joy in their brief time together.

Carol is preceded in death by her parents; husband Kenny Pinnt; second husband rancher Bill Punkoney that passed away from a stroke, and partner and best friend Leonard Bagwell. She leaves behind daughters Kathy McNutt (partner David Mills) and Bonnie Eddy (husband Reece), and grandkids Stephanie and Anthony McNutt. Grieving with us are mom’s dogs that were absolutely devoted to her. Rest in Peace Mom, you earned your wings. A Celebration of Life will be held later this spring when the orchard trees are blooming and the sun is shining. Sympathy cards can be sent to Kathy McNutt (PO Box 59, Loma, Co 81524). Memorial donations can be made to the Western Border Collies Rescue (www.wbcrescue.org) in memory of Carol Punkoney.