Obituary: Neva Nottingham

June 13, 1932 – February 11, 2024

Born in Catoosa, Oklahoma, to Ben and Goldie Snook, my mother moved to Fruita, Colorado, with her parents and eight siblings when she was 5 years old. Growing up, she worked alongside her family in the vegetable fields and fruit orchards of the Grand Valley and attended Fruita Elementary School through the eighth grade. At 14, she moved to Avon to work for her sister and brother-in-law, Arnold Nottingham, where she met my dad, Bill Nottingham. They married in 1950.

In Avon, my parents dedicated themselves to ranching and farming, raising sheep, cattle, chickens, and pigs, doing everything necessary to support and feed their family. My mother especially loved raising the chickens, finding joy in their care. Her connection to the earth was evident in her garden, where she nurtured a variety of vegetables and flowers, and in her home, filled with house plants that thrived under her care. Her skill with plants was remarkable; she had a special ability to make both the garden and indoor plants flourish. Her kitchen was a haven of warmth and creativity, where the bounty of her garden and fresh eggs from her chickens were transformed into meals that brought our family together, creating memories we hold dear.

Facing the pressures of development in 1982, they relocated their ranching operation to Burns, Colorado. My mother continued to play an active role in the ranching operations for many decades and spent her last years enjoying the ranch’s abundant wildlife and birds, showing her deep appreciation for nature and the variety of birds that visited her garden.

My mom was preceded in death by her two sons, Randy and Stephen; her grandson, Nathan; and her beloved husband, Bill. She is survived by her daughter, Susan, of Burns, and three grandsons, Timothy (Kate) of Edwards, Travis (Tory) of Eagle, and Tyler of Denver, along with eight great-grandchildren.

My mother was beautiful and strong and smart and wise. I was very blessed to have her as a parent.