Carolyn Alice Burger

She had a smile that lit up the room. She didn’t greet people with a handshake, she greeted them with a hug. She loved you as soon as she met you. Her love was genuine and unconditional. Carolyn never judged anyone. She saw the best in people. She never missed an opportunity to tell people she loved them. If you loved Carolyn, she loved you back, and you knew it.

Carolyn spent 20 years teaching 3rd, 4th and 5th grades at Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary School. Her students loved her, and she loved them. She inspired many of them to become teachers. She kept in touch with her students, offering advice and encouragement through the years and later attending their high school graduations, bridal and baby showers and weddings. She was an extraordinary teacher. In 2001 she was named Colorado’s nominee for the prestigious National Education Association Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

Carolyn was born in New York City to Ruby Ione McQueen and John Reed. She grew up in San Leandro, CA. As a teenager she loved spending time with her brother, Bruce, and their friends. She was so proud when her brother Ron was born, she charged people a nickel to visit the newborn baby. She was active in Jobs Daughters, Girl Scouts, her church and volunteered for The American Red Cross as a candy striper. After high school she pursued a career in nursing but decided it wasn’t her calling. It was around this time she met Bob Burger, who was serving in the United States Coast Guard. Carolyn married Bob August 17, 1974. The couple moved to Bob’s hometown of Denver, CO on their honeymoon. Two years later they welcomed their first child, Lisa. Two years later came Amy.

Carolyn worked as a merchandise buyer for Joslins Department Store. Bob was in banking.

In 1982 Bob earned a promotion which moved the family to Grand Junction, CO. Carolyn got a job as a teacher’s aide at Thunder Mountain Elementary School. In 1986 she went back to school to become a teacher. She attended what is now Colorado Mesa University. She received the Mesa Exceptional Student Award. She graduated in 1989. Her daughters saw how hard she worked for that degree. She shuttled the girls to practices, lessons and activities in between classes and study groups. Carolyn was an inspiration to her daughters. She supported their dreams and would do anything to help make them come true. She taught them determination, independence and confidence. Her daughters were raised by a loving mother who told them often how much she loved and was proud of them. She was also like a second mom to their friends.

Everyone loved Carolyn, especially Bob, her husband of 49 years. They shared a love of music and entertained the girls on road trips singing along to the Oldies. After retirement, the couple traveled to Europe and took weeks-long road trips all over the U.S.

Carolyn’s favorite trips were to the Denver area to visit Amy, Amy’s husband Kirk, whom she loved as a son, and her precious grandchildren. Madison and Cameron were the lights of her life. She was there the day each were born and strived to be a force in their lives. She was the very best grandma.

Carolyn was a gifted card-maker, quilter and scrapbooker.

She was a member of Eastern Star, Delta Kappa Gamma and Sunset Slope Quilters. She previously served as President of Mesa Valley Education Association and was a Board Member for the Colorado Mesa University Alumni Association. She earned a Master’s Degree from Adam’s State University.

Carolyn is survived by her husband Bob Burger; daughters Lisa Burger and Amy (Kirk) Jones; grandchildren Madison and Cameron Jones; brothers Bruce (Susan) Clayton and Ron (LaLaine) Clayton; brothers-in-law Roy (Debi) Burger and Rick (Lynn) Burger; sister-in-law Tari Burger; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends she loved so much.

A Celebration of Life will take place Saturday, October 28th at 11am, First Presbyterian Church 3940 27 ½ Road, Grand Junction.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to CMU Foundation, Attn: Carolyn Burger Memorial Scholarship 1450 N. 12th St., Grand Junction, CO 81501 or online https://engage.supportingcmu.org/Carolyn-Burger to assist aspiring teachers with their college education.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.callahan-edfast.com for the Burger family.