Colleen Eiko Mayer

Colleen Eiko Mayer nee Kinoshita was born in Greeley, Colorado at the Weld County Public Hospital on April 12, 1951. She was the daughter of Carl “Shorty” Kinoshita and Elaine Akahoshi Kinoshita. She was a lifelong resident of Colorado, was married for 53 years to Jeff Mayer, and has one daughter, Kory Castleman, and two grandsons, Roarke and Marcus Castleman. She attended Highland High School (graduated 1969), the University of Northern Colorado, earning a B.A. in 1973, and the University of Phoenix, earning an MBA in 1983. Colleen had an active business career, first working for US West and then Coors. She served both companies as director of Supplier Diversity, creating connections between small women and minority businesses and US West and Coors. She also was a co-founder and vice president of a consulting business, The Knowledge Webb, in 1996. In 2002, she was named the Nelson E. Ball Advocate of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Minority Supplier Diversity Council. Colleen’s passion was her family and her card-crafting. She used to send birthday cards yearly to every member of her extended family every year. She also cherished her time with friends, both her co-workers and her high school classmates. She is also survived by two sisters, Lesli Howe and Jodi Yakel. As she fought through two rounds of cancer treatments, she was unfailingly cheerful, upbeat and loving. She will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Cancer League of CO or the Longmont Humane Society.

A celebration of life for Colleen will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel in Longmont at 10:00 AM. A reception will follow, including a light lunch.