It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the death of our niece Charlene Wilson Stevens.
She was born to Esther Chavez and Thomas Wilson on August 8, 1951 in Alamosa, Colorado and was raised in Rawlins, Wyoming.
Charlene was preceded in death by her father Tom Wilson, and husband, Bill Stevens, who was under Hospice Care until May 1, 2021 in Casa Grande, Arizona.
She then moved to Gulf Breeze, Florida with her mother, then again to Ellisville, Missouri with her youngest brother, Robert.
Charlene loved the outdoors. When visiting Alamosa with her maternal grandparents, Abel and Maria de la O (Taylor) Chavez, she liked crossing fallen tress across the river (without falling in) when camping in San Luis; picnics at Cole Park; and picking pinon in the woods. She loved picking vegetables from Grampa Chavez’ garden and Charlene loved cats! She had a few she needed to find homes for when she left Arizona.
While at Rawlins High School, they, as a family, spent a year in Hilo, Hawaii, then returned to finish their high school years. After graduation she went to beauty school in Salt Lake City, Utah and much later married Bill Stevens, her husband of 28 years.
Charlene is survived by her mother, Esther, who will be 92 years young; her oldest sister, Jonnie Wilson and younger brothers, Tom and Robert Wilson. Charlene was an aunt to Marc and Matthew Wilson; Cicily Brenner Hefner and to Sean (Robin) Brenner. She was a great-aunt to their children, Adeline, Bryar, and Esther Hefner; and to Thomas Brenner.
Charlene and Bill did not have children of their own but she helped raise two grandchildren of his five grown children from a previous marriage. It was easy for her to treasure all the children that came her way and how she fit into the family tree.
Esther, Charlene’s mother, came from a large family of ten to which there are now four. She is survived by her Uncle Arnold (Carmen) Chavez, California, Aunt Vera (Richard) Duran, Colorado, Aunt Patty, Alamosa, and a great many cousins.
Charlene’s brother Tom and his sons, Marc and Matthew helped as best they could to get her settled in Gulf Breeze, Florida. She was disagreeable and in a lot of pain fighting long battles with different illnesses before her husband’s time with Hospice Care. So, she decided to move to Ellisville, Missouri with Robert. He too, tried getting her around and physically settled when she ended up in the hospital.
Charlene called her mom on her birthday on Saturday, February 12, 2022 and told her “Thank You” for the heartening kind of messages Mothers and daughters have, and that she would try harder to get better. It was a good call for both of them.
The next day, Charlene took her final breath – she died of COVID Pneumonia and gained her angel wings on February 13, 2022. Charlene fought the good fight and never gave up until the Lord called her home. God is merciful.
We are coming up on Charlene’s one-year anniversary and her family still misses her so very, very much.
Cremation was chosen and a church service was given for Charlene at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in O’Fallon, Missouri.
