Carolyn Colton

Carolyn Sue Cheers-Colton, age 74, passed away Tuesday, July 11, 2017, at her home in Des Moines.

Ms. Colton is survived by her children: Craig Colton (son, Eric), Loretta Cutler (husband, Reginald, Sr., sons, Reginald, Jr. and Ronell), Keith Colton (daughters, Kietta, Chiantia and Shawneesha), James Colton (wife, Erica, daughter, Brianna), and Jonathan Colton (daughter, Kyrsten). She is also survived by her sisters: Mary Minnis (husband, Gene), Barbara Robinson, and Crystal Mikell (fiancé, A.J.). Carolyn had 10 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and was loved by all.

Born July 6, 1943, in Louisiana, MO, she was the daughter of Rev. Roy and Nellie Cheers. As a youth, she and her family relocated to Davenport, Iowa where she earned her degree in nursing from Eastern Iowa College. Carolyn was a veteran of the U. S. Army and was one of the first Women’s Army Corps members in Iowa. She was a Cardiac-Cath Tech for 35 years at the VA Hospital and one of the first African American female letter-carriers in eastern Iowa. Carolyn was very active in the March on Washington and was a member of the Eastern Star. She also was a trailer-blazer in being the first African American female in certain jobs such as Alcoa, WACs, and postal work.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Roy and Nellie Cheers.

Burial with military honors will take place at Iowa Veterans Cemetery, 34024 Veterans Memorial Drive, Adel, Iowa at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 18, 2017. There will be a memorial service at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Union Baptist Church, 1200 McCormick Street, Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Susan G. Komen Iowa, 3850 Merle Hay Rd., Ste. 405, Des Moines, IA 50310.

Condolences may be left online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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