Mary Ann Denman Campbell

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Death delivered Mary Ann "Mimi" Denman Campbell from the scourge of cancer into the arms of God on Dec. 8, 2012. Born March 29, 1952, in Nevada, Mo., to James H. and Beverly B. Denman, she lived Americana. Teenybopper Mimi loved hanging with her friends at Radio Springs Pavilion and cruising country roads. Mimi cheered in junior high and high school in Nevada and sat on student council. The Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas, awarded Mary Ann her high school diploma in 1970, where she attended her senior year.

Coming of age in the '60s and '70s was a blast, but she recovered. Mary Ann started as a religion major at SMU in Dallas and graduated as a business major from Denver University in 1979. She appreciated the opportunity to use her Finance degree at Alpine Banks of Colorado in the '80s, but teaching sobriety called her.

After earning her Masters in Guidance and Counseling from University of Colorado in 1994, Mary Ann counseled the imprisoned at Limon Correctional Facility and detox clients at Pikes Peak Mental Health. Counseling at TASC taught her compassion. At Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, Mary Ann matched emergency patients with available services.

Her calling went beyond the mental health field. Mary Ann recruited for Colorado Springs School, loving its nurturing environment and the vitality of its students.

Mary Ann taught her family respect for work, love of adventure, and consideration of others. "To get what you want, you have to help others get what they want." She was counselor and confidant to daughters, brothers, sister, niece, and nephews. Proceeding without her requires much.

Mary Ann met God in creation. She loved birds and frogs, beavers working and elk grazing. She hiked, did yoga, and took road trips, never too proud to car-camp.

Daughters Carlin K. Campbell, Colorado Springs, and Casey L. Campbell, Bend, Ore., survive, as do her mother, Beverly, Nevada; brother, John T. Denman, Austin, Texas and his sons, James H. Denman and Thomas Maloney; brother, William D. Denman, Nevada, and wife Joyce, their daughter, Emma and sons, Lucas and Jacob; and steward of her earthly concerns, Steve Campbell. sister, Nancy Denman and father, James H. Denman predeceased her.

A memorial service was held at 2 p.m., Dec. 15, at Fountain Creek Nature Center, Colorado Springs, Colo., and a January service in Nevada, Mo., is anticipated.

Contributions are suggested to Colorado Springs School, 21 Broadmoor Ave, Colorado Springs, Colo., 80906, or Penrose Foundation, 2222 N. Nevada, Colorado Springs, Colo., 80907, or Vernon County People for Pets in care of Jacquin Brown, 14054 E Pawhuska Rd., Nevada, Mo., 64772.