Carla Jayne Worley

May 21, 1957 — July 25, 2022

Carla Jayne Worley passed away peacefully on July 25, 2022, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. Carla was born on May 21, 1957, in Monte Vista, Colo., to parents Carl and Audrey Worley. She was the third or middle daughter out of five girls.

After she graduated from Sargent High School, she attended Colorado State University where she attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. She moved to Denver and worked for several years with Leonard Rice Engineers as a water engineer.

In 1984 she moved back to the Sargent community to join the family farming operation with her father and two brothers-in-law and continued farming with the inclusion of her three nephews. From an early age she loved playing in the dirt and water. Carla truly was a pioneering woman in agriculture and in the potato industry not only locally but nationally as well.

She was a member of the Colorado Certified Potato Growers Board of Directors. She served as a Board member on the United States Potato Promotion Board for 12 years including service on the Executive Committee. She served on the Rio Grande County Museum Board of Directors and on the Sargent Community Church Board of Directors and the Pastor/Parish Relations committee.

She inherited her interest and passion for water from her father Carl and when the opportunity arose, she took his position on the Rio Grande Canal Board of Directors, she held that position from 2006-present. She also served on the Rio Grande Water Users Board from 2009-2017. She was a member of the Sub­ District No. 1 Board of Managers from its inception until the present.

Carla, though she never married, lived a full life, never backing down from a challenge. She was instrumental in the start-up and operation of one of the first on-farm tissue culture lab and greenhouse operations in the San Luis Valley, producing disease-free plantlets and mini-tubers.

She got her pilot's license, loved traveling around the country and beyond, she wrote computer programs for the Hi-Land Potato Company. Anything from sitting down and sewing Barbie doll clothes or making clay figurines or working for hours putting a puzzle together, nothing was out of the question.

She loved kids, not only her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, but she always found time to help other kids in the community. She was a 4-H leader for many years teaching youngsters to sew. She also served as the SLV Fair Board manager. She was a volunteer with Kid's Hope helping kids with school work and after school activities.

As a dedicated member of the Sargent Community Church, she enjoyed teaching Sunday school, Bible study, singing in the church choir and worshiping with friends and neighbors.

Carla joins her parents Carl and Audrey in heaven and leaves behind her four sisters: Annette (Tom) Hosmann of Springfield, Mo., Kerry Worley of Creede, Colo., Gail (Bob)Mattive of Monte Vista, Colo., and Yvonne (Lee) Seaman of Highlands Ranch, Colo.

What she cherished most was being Aunt Carla to her nine nieces and nephews and 12 great-nieces and nephews: Matthew (Samantha) Smartt (Dali, Tristin) of Monte Vista, Colo., Christopher Hosmann of Lee's Summit, Mo., Grant (LaRae) Mattive (Lane, Cason) of Monte Vista, Colo., Andrea (Nick) Denning (Brooke, Layla) of Littleton, Colo., Timothy (Alyssa) Hosmann of Lee's Summit, Mo., Marcia (Eric) Stephens (Kimaya, Keiryn, Kalina) currently stationed in Italy, Megan (Brandon) Cleghorn (Hudson) of Monte Vista, Colo., Michelle (Curtis) Jones (Emma, Carson) of Columbus, Ga., and Reid Mattive of Center, Colo.

She wasn't just Aunt Carla to them; she was Aunt Carla to Everyone. We will always remember her energy, her positive outlook on life and her "glass half full and Can Do" attitude.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, at the Sargent Community Church.

Contributions are suggested to the San Luis Valley 4-H and may be made in care of the funeral home office. To express condolences, please visit www.rogersfunerals.com.

Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista is in care of the arrangements.