Carole Lea Flynn

Carole Lea Flynn died at home in Grand Junction on August 7, 2026. Carole was born in Montrose, Colorado on November 25, 1936 to parents Theodore (Ted) and Mabel Colhour. She had two older siblings, Robert Lloyd and Eloise Lorain Colhour. When Carole was a small child the family moved to Hoisington, Kansas to be near her paternal grandparents. The Colhour siblings lived with their grandparents while Ted and Mabel went to Chicago so Ted could learn the electrician trade. The family then moved to Boulder, Colorado where Carole attended school. Carole graduated from Boulder High School in 1954. She married James (Jim) Flynn on her 18th birthday on November 25, 1954 which was also Thanksgiving that year.

Carole and Jim moved from Boulder to Greeley and eventually moved to Grand Junction in 1964 with their four children to chase their entrepreneurial dreams. They purchased the Dairy Queen on North Avenue and Carole worked alongside Jim and their children. Carole was especially thankful to not have to work on the annual Mother’s Day sale, which the rest of the family barely survived.

Carole worked hard all of her life starting as a teen working as a babysitter and at a soda fountain. She was hired by Colorado University library because of her excellent handwriting. After Carol and Jim sold the DQ, Carole worked at Bookcliff Gardens eventually managing their satellite store on Orchard Mesa. She was also Jim’s partner in all of the other Flynn family businesses including mini-storage rentals and a car wash. They owned many retail and residential properties.

Carole and Jim caught the travel bug and traveled to places like the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, Europe, Bali and Singapore. They purchased a second home in Mesquite, NV and spent winters perfecting their golf games. Carole may also have had a “little problem” with the one-armed bandit. She always seemed to know which slots paid the best and claimed to come out ahead.

Carole had many varied interests and talents at which she excelled. She designed and installed the landscape for her homes; she was a talented seamstress and upholsterer; she could knit, crochet, and quilt. She enjoyed home making and baked and canned. But her greatest passion and talent was that of mother and grandmother.

Carole was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings. Her children Belinda Flynn, Cheryl (Paul) Currier, Kelly Flynn and Jim (MaryLou) Flynn survive as well as seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The Flynn family would like to thank Carole’s excellent care team from Must Love Seniors and Hope West. Memorial contributions may be made to Hope West.