Longtime Monte Vista resident Thomas “Tom” Carroll Templeton, 91, passed away June 17, 2022 at the River Valley Inn Nursing Home in Del Norte.

Tom was born in Hastings, Nebraska on March 21, 1931 to T. Carroll and Gladys Marie Templeton. He grew up in Broken Bow, NE. Tom attended Hastings College, where he graduated with his BA in Business Administration. He married his high school sweetheart, Donna, on August 26, 1951. They had two children and enjoyed a very happy, full marriage for nearly 71 years.

Tom and his family moved to Colorado in the spring of 1964. He worked for several years for J.M. McDonald’s dry goods store, then owned and operated Cinderella’s Shop in Monte Vista for many years. Tom then entered a career at Bank of Monte Vista until his retirement in July of 1997. He was extremely active in the community and sat on several boards, including the Rio Grande Savings and Loan, Creede Repertory Theatre, Carnegie Library, and many others. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge AF&AM Monte Vista #73 and served as Past Master in 1974. Tom was also a member of Monte Vista Rotary Club and served as President in 1979. He was the announcer of the Ski-Hi Parade for many years, served on the Monte Vista City Council, and was a member of the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce, serving as President in 1969. Tom was an active member of the Monte Vista Presbyterian Church and served as a Deacon and Elder. In retirement he enjoyed reading to Head Start children, delivering Meals on Wheels, and driving the bus for the Elementary School in Monte Vista and for Adams State University in Alamosa. His passion in his spare time was playing golf and flying his Cessna 172.

Tom will be remembered for his kindness, humbleness, generosity, and thoughtfulness. He loved his family and friends dearly.

He is survived by his wife Donna Templeton of Monte Vista; his children Cindy Fiscus of Ft. Collins, CO, and Timothy (Kathy) Templeton of Longmont, CO; his grandchildren Ceri (Chance) Middlemist, Lindsey (Russell) Jones, Ryan Templeton, and Tyler Templeton; as well as eight great-grandchildren and three nieces.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Robert C. Templeton.

Cremation was chosen and a Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on June 23, 2022 at the Monte Vista Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to a memorial bench to be placed at Monte Vista Golf Course tee box #9. Checks can be made to the Tom Templeton Memorial Fund.

Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista is in care of the arrangements. To leave online condolences, tributes, and words of comfort for Tom’s family, please visit www.RogersFunerals.com