Charlene Elizabeth Ameel, 78, beloved and deep-rooted member of the Creede community, passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 28, 2025. Her multi-faceted involvement and love have been vital to Creede’s ultimate well-being and have stretched across generations. Her passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill.
Charlene had a tenacious, stick-with-it pioneer spirit, an authentic trait passed down through her family. Her grandparents, Lena Pfeiffer Elliott and Thaddeus Elliott, homesteaded along Goose Creek in the late 1800s. The remains of their original cabin still stand, now part of the 4UR Ranch. Since then, her extended family has largely remained in the San Luis Valley, and Charlene carried that deep and unique connection throughout her life.
Born Charlene Elizabeth Nielsen in Del Norte on March 19, 1946, to Richard Nielsen and Pauline Elliot Nielsen, she spent her childhood in Monte Vista. She loved horses and participated in equestrian performances and competitions, including Western Pleasure. She later attended Colorado State University, where she got her degree in teaching.
After a few years teaching in Oregon and California, Charlene moved to Creede with her then-husband, Stephen Quiller, in 1970. Together, they started the Pen & Quill art gallery, and Creede High School hired her as a Home Economics teacher. These first years at the school marked a lifelong passion for helping guide Creede’s youth. In her eyes, every student had a chance for success. She aided them in finding their paths through scholarships and career counseling. She was especially proud of her “Bachelor Survival” class, where she taught young men to balance checkbooks, cook basic meals, mend clothing, and process and package game meat. It is no surprise she was the favorite teacher of many.
When Charlene married George Ameel, she became co-owner of San Juan Sports. The pair made the business a vital part of the community. Over the years, Charlene kept her fingers in many pies. As a lover of the arts, she was the president of the Creede Repertory Theatre’s board of directors and a pivotal member of the Creede Arts Council, where she specialized in managing the National Small Print Show. She attended CAC meetings up until 2025. She was also involved with 4-H, chaired the Health Council and ran the Health Fair, was chair of the Democratic Party, served on the lodging tax board, and was a longtime member of the Creede Community Church. Once, she had five meetings in a single day, all for organizations to benefit the community.
Charlene beat her illness for much longer than anticipated by sheer force of will, a testament to the kind of woman she was. To the end, she approached life with the attitude of “Let yourself be happy and celebrate if you can.”
She is survived by her husband George, son Christopher (Krisen), and grandson Ronin of Creede; her sister Mari (Grover), Regan, Aspen, and Tyler Hathorn of South Fork; and honorary daughters Eryn Wintz and Andrea Briggs.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Creede School Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 429, Creede, Colorado 81130. Please include “Charlene Ameel” on the memo line.
Memorial service TBA.
