July 18, 1918 ~ April 4, 2012
Thelma Jane Waterman, age 93, passed away on Wednesday afternoon, April 4, 2012, at the Colorow Care Center in Olathe, Colo. At her request, private family services were held in Denver, Colo., at the Fairmount Cemetery Little Ivy Chapel, on Monday, April 9, 2012.
Thelma was born on the family farm in Coryell County near Gatesville, Texas, on July 18, 1918, to parents Nathaniel Charles Jaquess and Oma Jean (Moore) Jaquess. She was the only daughter and had four brothers. She spent her childhood in White Hall and Callahan County and graduated from Clyde (Texas) High School in 1936. She worked at various jobs to continue her education and graduated from business school in Abilene, Texas. She met her future husband in Abilene in 1941, before he was sent overseas to fight during World War II. While he was gone, she worked in the accounting department at the W.A. Betchel Co., a large copper mining operation in Clifton-Morenci, Ariz. She moved back to Texas in 1944 to work in the Camp Bowie Regional Hospital keeping medical supply records. The war ended, and on Oct. 14, 1945, she married the love of her life, Gerald Allen Waterman of Denver, Colo. They had two daughters and lived in the same house in Denver for 18 years before moving into their second Denver home in 1964 where they lived for 40 more years. Thelma and her husband worked in the dry cleaning industry for most of their careers, often working six days a week, until they retired in 1980. They enjoyed 15 years of travel, gardening and visiting family and friends. They were season ticket holders and lifelong fans of the Denver Broncos. She was widowed in February 1995 after 49 years of marriage. Thelma moved to Sun Lakes, Ariz., in 2002, to be near family and moved again in 2008 to follow family to Cedaredge, Colo., where she lived independently in her home enjoying the deer and the sounds of Surface Creek in her backyard.
Thelma was an accomplished seamstress all of her life. She also loved her library, camping, shopping, reading, her flowers, cooking, baking (especially cakes) and doing word puzzles. She loved her family and grandchildren dearly. She always considered herself a Texan at heart. She was a lifelong Baptist and a member of the Sun Lakes (Ariz.) Baptist Church.
She is survived by her two daughters, Jane Allene Romatzke (and son-in-law, Ron Romatzke) of Cedaredge, Colo., and Linda Cheryl Lee of Portland, Ore. She had four grandchildren, Tia Capobianco (and husband Tom) of Holliston, Mass., Jon Tyler ("JT") Romatzke (and wife, Kelly) of Grand Junction, Colo., Cassie Lyn Lee of Portland, Ore., and Chanda Lee of Portland, Ore. She is further survived by five great-grandchildren, Addie Jane and Grace Ella Capobianco, Peyton Wayne and Rory Dean Romatzke, and Sarina Faith Espinoza. She also was devoted to her many nephews, nieces and cousins. They will miss her quick mind and wit, her independent spirit and smile, and her love of her family.
Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, her parents and her four brothers and their wives: Willie B. Jaquess, Charlie Jaquess, Joe John Jaquess and Jack Brice Jaquess.
In Thelma's memory, a training fund has been established for the caring staff at Colorow Care Center, who became part of her family in her last months.
Paid obituary
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