On September 30, 2018, an Angel who walked among us ascended to heaven, when Ashleyann Carlson passed away. She was born Ann Hillenbrand on July 1, 1955 to Robert and Elizabeth (Jacobson) Hillenbrand and was raised in Naperville, Illinois. She graduated from Naperville Central High School in 1973 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of New Hampshire in 1976.
Ashleyann’s angelic beauty was only surpassed by her compassion for animals, kindness to people, and love for life. While still in high school, she started competitive horseback riding and rode Show Hunters for over 16 years, claiming 7 New England Champion titles, numerous New Hampshire State titles, several Horse of the Year awards, as well as hundreds of 1st and championship event placings, all while riding her beloved horses: Pegasus, Bear-in-the-Air, and Happiness.
After leaving riding in 1987, she joined Continental Airlines and relocated to Houston, Texas. In 1992 while on a layover in San Diego, seeking to move there, she met her future husband Ted Carlson. Ashleyann and Ted were married on August 7, 1995, and she was a loyal and supportive Navy wife for over 23 years. After 10 years of flying, Ashleyann retired and turned her energy to her true passions of caring for animals and figure skating.
During her lifetime, she volunteered countless hours to animal shelters in San Diego, Colorado Springs, and Norfolk, always filling her home with the unwanted dogs and cats from shelters: the old, the sick, and those with special needs. Ashleyann was a generous supporter of the National Mill Dog Rescue, Mercy for Animals, and the Humane Society International, and in 2017, she established the Phoebe Fund for Spay/Neuter of Norfolk SPCA Shelter Animals.
During her figure skating career, she was a 5-time Gold Medalist and 2-time Silver Medalist in Ice Dance at the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships. She trained at the Sertich Ice Rink in Colorado Springs, and was a member of the 7k Centennial Skating Club. Off ice, she was instrumental in getting solo ice dance events added to the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships.
Ashleyann is survived by her loving and devoted husband Commander Ted Carlson, her cherished sister Beth (Hillenbrand) Jones, her blind Maltese Fancy-Pants, and her paraplegic Boxer-mix Higgins; and they will miss her immensely. She will also be greatly missed by her skating family, her animal rescue family, her Continental Airlines family, and her wonderful California, Colorado and Virginia friends.
Please join the family for a celebration of Ashleyann’s life on Saturday, October 20th at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Mill Dog Rescue, Mercy for Animals, or the Humane Society International.
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