Colleen Virginia McCreery, 91, quietly passed away while surrounded by her family on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 in her Fort Morgan home. Born on March 21, 1921 to John, Sr. and Pearl Martin, Colleen and her younger brother, grew up in their hometown of Des Moines, Iowa. She married Jerry McCreery, Sr. on June 14, 1941 in Kansas City, Missouri and eventually moved to Colorado where they started a family. Despite the challenges she faced in her life, Colleen always had a heart full of love and laughter. Whether she was working on an airplane assembly line during WWII, running a successful laundry business during the '50s and '60s, traveling the Midwest, or spending time with her family and friends, Colleen had an indelible spirit and strong faith that touched many lives. A member of Fort Morgan's The Sanctuary and its affiliated South of Fifty Club, she was known by many as "The Story Lady". Throughout her years, she maintained a fondness for hats and handkerchiefs, a passion for crafting, crocheting, and ceramics, and a zeal for all things sunflower. Yet, Colleen's greatest love was always her family and pets. Her surviving family includes her brother, John Martin, Jr., his wife Eleanor of Des Moines, Iowa and their family, as well as Colleen's eldest daughter, Shirley Phillips of Greeley and husband Paul. Colleen is also survived by her daughter, Diann Larson of Fort Morgan, and Diann's eldest son, Tate Larson and Linda Reding of Fort Morgan, and their children – Colleen's great grandchildren – Jake Reding, Chase Reding, and Adrianne Larson of Mineral Wells, Texas, and her daughter, Aaliyah Larson, and Diann's youngest son, Casey Larson of Lakewood, his wife Andrea, and their children Brennon Larson, Kyle Larson, and Kendall Larson. Lastly, Colleen is survived by her youngest child and only son, Jerry McCreery, Jr. of Fort Morgan, his wife Heidi, and their two children, Sierra McCreery of Chadron, Nebraska and Cameron McCreery of Fleming and his wife Mickaela. Colleen was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Jerry, Sr. who passed away in 1971. There will be a visitation on Monday, May 21, 2012 from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the Heer & Dahl Mortuary in Fort Morgan. Funeral Services will be Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at the Sanctuary. Interment will follow in the Riverside Cemetery. Memorial Gifts may be made to the local Humane Society.