Mildred I. Bourne

"Millie"
Mildred Irene Bourne

Mildred Irene Bourne was born on August 23, 1912 in Caddoa, Colorado and was called home by her Lord on March 27, 2008 at the age of 95 years. Mildred was born to a Southeastern Colorado pioneer family and lived to be one of the last of her generation that not only settled Southeast Colorado but survived the Great Depression and the dust bowl. Both events left a lasting mark on Mildred. Her Gill home farm was granted "Centennial Farm" status in 2000. The Gill farm remains within the family today.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents Elmer Dewitt and Dorothy Olive Wans Gill; her husband Samuel M. Bourne, one daughter Bonnie Lou Cline, son in law Joe Cline, her two brothers, James Gill and John Gill and two sisters, Hazel Roesch and Edith Wilson. Mildred is survived by two daughters, Betty Sue (Richard) Fenwick and Marjorie Bourne (Joe) Miller; five grandchildren, Stanley (Lora) Cline, Tami Cline (Burt Farrish), Steve (Jana) Cline, Kristine (Tim) McKay and John (Kathy) Fenwick; eight great grandchildren, Morgan, Mallory and Adrianne Cline, Jackson, Parker, and Sophie Cline, and Nicholas and Megan Fenwick. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and a long lifetime of former students and friends.

Mildred first attended a one room school and graduated from McClave High School in 1930. She received her teaching certificate from Colorado Teachers College (now University of Northern Colorado) and returned to Southeast Colorado to teach in one room schools of Horse Creek and Lubers. She later received her degree from Adams State College in 1960.

She married her high school sweetheart, Sam Bourne in 1935 and they moved to the Bourne farm near McClave, Colorado. Sam always told his children and grandchildren that he married Mildred because she had a job during the Great Depression and she had saved $500 so he could buy a new tractor. She remained on the farm following Sam's death in 1995 until her health required her to move to Weisbrod Memorial Nursing Home in Eads, Colorado in 2003.

Mildred taught first grade in the McClave School District for 20 years. She retired from teaching in 1976. She always greatly appreciated receiving Christmas cards from her former students.

After retirement, she devoted her love to her three great granddaughters who lived next to her and Sam on the farm. Mildred and Sam enjoyed traveling following their retirement, especially the cruises through the Panama Canal and to Alaska. Mildred also toured the Holy Land and Egypt in 1996 where at 84 she rode a camel. Sam and Mildred purchased a home in Sun City, Arizona and thoroughly enjoyed the winters as snowbirds. Mildred made many close friendships during these winter stays in Arizona.

Mildred was a lifetime member of the McClave United Methodist Church and the McClave United Methodist Women. She devoted her life to her Church. Mildred loved to tell stories about cooking and serving meals in the Church basement.

Mildred's sense of humor will be treasured and remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.