Chelsea Rae Autrey

We are so sad to tell you about the passing of our beautiful daughter, Chelsea Autrey. She was a shining light in our lives and will forever be remembered for her kindness and compassion. She leaves a huge emptiness in the hearts of all of us who loved her. Chelsea Autrey passed away in Denver, CO, in August, 2024.

Chelsea was born in Longmont, CO, on December 16, 1983, to Kerri and Chuck Autrey. From the time she was just a little thing, Chelsea loved to dance – ballet especially. Later, she often said that even though the movements were very precise, ballet was quiet, relaxing, and freed her mind. After graduation from Longmont High School in 2001, Chelsea attended the University of Denver and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Statistics and Finance in 2006. Over the next 18 years, she worked for three global data companies making use of predictive data for marketing.

Chelsea lived in the heart of Denver, right off Colfax and near the Denver Botanic Gardens. Her home was a bit eclectic, just like Chelsea. A carriage house behind the mansion was everything Chelsea needed. She especially liked the small yard so that she could have a garden and a quiet place to sit and hear the trickling of her fountain, a gift from her grandmother. During and after the pandemic, Chelsea enjoyed working remotely from both her own garden and the Botanic Gardens.

Throughout Chelsea’s adult life, she loved listening to music and dancing to music. She attended many local shows and venues, but she really enjoyed traveling to meet friends and enjoy the shows. Red Rocks was the best!! Memphis and New Orleans were two of her favorite cities. Dead & Company, Trey Anastasio, Phish, Gov’t Mule, and Widespread Panic were some of her favorite bands. She knew all the set lists and tried to make sure she had room to dance to her favorites. In June she traveled to New Orleans and stayed at the Famous Pontchartrain Hotel for several shows. One of Chelsea’s favorite songs was Ripple, performed by The Dead. The words are poetic, lending themselves to interpretation. But we believe this song is about the joy of music in the air and how we must all choose our own path.

With a background in ballet, statistics, and finance, you can imagine that Chelsea had a precise plan for almost everything. She told us in 2002 that she was going to find a female, all gray kitty, with green eyes. And she did. Pooh was Chelsea’s faithful companion for 22 years. Pooh was waiting for Chelsea at the Rainbow bridge for many more adventures.

We are blessed to have experienced our kind, beautiful, smart daughter. We are thankful that Chelsea enjoyed so many friends and wonderful adventures. We, Chuck and Kerri Autrey, will try to survive without her in our life. She is also survived by her Grandma, Dolores Forbis, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, great friends, and her husband. We will remember her privately. Hopefully, you like gardens too. Please make a donation in Chelsea’s memory to the Denver Botanic Gardens botanicgardens.org/tribute-memorial-gifts