Charlene Kay Bish

Charlene Kay Bish, 80, of Longmont, passed away Tuesday, November 8, 2016, at her home surrounded by family, after a courageous fight battling ovarian cancer. Charlene was a native to Colorado, born in Louisville on April 28, 1936 to Camille Borra and Harriett Marie (Thornburg) Spicer.

Charlene was a caring, compassionate, hardworking, kind, resilient, proud, strong, and tenacious woman who always valued family first. She took pride in taking care of others, professionally and personally throughout her life’s journey. She treasured being a wife, mother, and grandmother; a special Mimi to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She attended Sacred Heart School in Boulder and graduated from Bon Ton Beauty School in Denver. On November 13, 1954 she married James Cody Bish Sr. in Boulder. She spent the majority of her beauty career as the resident beautician at Applewood Living Center in Longmont. After retirement she traveled, kept up on pop culture, enjoyed sitting in her favorite chair with her dog Sage, volunteered at Longmont United Hospital where she greeted visitors at the welcome desk and handed out newspapers to patients, tended to her rose garden, enjoyed cooking, and always continued to care for others.

Charlene was preceded in death by her husband James Cody Bish Sr., mother Harriet Marie Spicer, stepfather Harold Spicer, father Camille Borra, brother Charles Borra, and brother Edward Borra.

Charlene is survived by son James Bish Jr. and his wife Katherine Robbins, daughter Colene Bish and her husband Patrick Neff, granddaughter Tiffany Kampmann and her husband Chris and their two sons, grandson Cody Bish, granddaughter Kayla Bish, granddaughter Christina Dodge and her family, brother Frederick Borra, and his family, sister Darlene Kissell and her family, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends.

Visitation is from 4-6 p.m., Monday, November 14, at Howe Mortuary Chapel. Recitation of the rosary will follow at 6 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 15, at St. John the Baptist Church, 323 Emery St. Longmont, CO 80501

Interment will follow in Boulder at Mountain View Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to (RMCA) Rocky Mountain Cancer Assistance, P.O. Box 6625 Denver, CO 80206, www.rockymountaincancerassistance.org, or Halcyon Hospice & Palliative Care, P.O. Box 177, Mead, CO 80542, http://www.halcyonhospice.org/.