Arlene Alice Hall

After being in the hospital for just two weeks Arlene Hall was sent home from Common Spirit-St. Mary Corwin on May 22, 2025 and passed away at her home while in hospice care later that evening. Her son Scott, his partner Gigi and her daughter-in-law Melinda were there by her side as she took her exit from this world. She had been in unbearable pain for much too long a time. Arlene was born in Mount Pleasant, Michigan on February 26, 1937. She had a hard life from a young age but she found the ways in which to survive either from the school of hard knocks or by gaining the tools she needed to navigate the storms. She lost her Mother to tuberculosis as a preteen, was separated from her brother and raised by her Grandma Tarpy, her Mom’s Mom. She told stories about how even though they didn’t have a lot, she felt fortunate to have her independence as a young girl. She loved to bike the neighborhood all day and read books all night, even if it meant sneaking a flashlight under the covers to do so. Though her world was small, she made it big. She expanded her knowledge from a very young age and continued to do so for the rest of her life. She was often one of the most well read and intelligent individuals in the room. She was a good listener and people loved to share in conversation with her, or not at all, as she was as much opinionated as she was researched. She valued her independence more than anything. She met her husband Jim in Ohio and married right out of high school. They started their family right away and raised four amazing children in Ohio: Jim, Vicki, Mark and Scott. In the 1980’s, Arlene and her husband moved west to be where their adult kids had all landed in Colorado. She fell in love with the area. They bought a home just outside of Woodland Park and her first job upon arriving was as a counselor at the Historic McLaughlin Lodge at Cheyenne Village in Manitou Springs where she taught living skills and provided counseling to individuals with learning disabilities. Soon however, she left her calling to help her husband run several different businesses over the years. First they ran a motorcycle shop in Lakewood for a short time, and then a sandwich and sweets store called AJ Sweets, in Manitou Springs. After closing that down they moved to Littleton to operate a franchised Chocolate Factory Store for several years. After years of struggling with their store they sold it and started a T-Shirt Shop in Colorado Springs and then moved it to the Pueblo Mall. They bought two side by side duplexes in Pueblo West and settled in for close to 10 years until they had to close down the T-Shirt Shop after Walmart moved in next door. Arlene continued to work a few years longer at AT&T and during that time they decided to build their own home in Colorado City. They were finally able to look forward to retirement and some R&R at last. Arlene had worked harder and longer than most and she suffered with painful health issues as a result of it. Yet there was a different kind of pain to befall her as well. Too soon in life she suffered the loss of her only daughter, Vicki, her eldest son Jim Jr. and then her husband Jim Sr.. She struggled in relationships and with grief but she loved deeply. In more recent years she became better aquatinted and bonded with her father Russell, her brother Gary, step brother and sister Doug and Debbie and their families. She loved her family and friends and her home in Colorado City where she was determined to stay till the end. She loved the quiet solitude and independence that she had there. She was an alpha, a lone wolf and stubborn as hell. As she became less able to get out and about she enjoyed the mountain scenery and wildlife right out her back door, as well as the calls and visits from family and friends. In recent times she liked taking rides to Westcliffe in the car as it brought back fond memories of happier times of trips taken there with her husband, Jim. Arlene was strong in many ways but her body was worn out. She was strong willed and strong in her faith in God. She had many souls out there waiting to see her again. We didn’t want to see her go and the rapid nature of her end decline was shocking. She will be sorely missed by everyone who loved her so. Thank you to all those who were there when she needed a voice on the other end of the phone, a helping hand around the house, a ride somewhere or a companion on a lonely day. Thank you to the Colorado City Community for making her feel so much at home. Rest in Peace Mom. Preceded in death by Husband, James Allen Hall Sr.; Children, Vicki Thompson, and James Allen Hall Jr.; Great great grandson, Dakota Johnson; Parents, Margaret Evelyn Murphy, Russell Erwin Downhour; Step mother, Gloria Downhour; Grandparents, Grandma Tarpy, Grandma Flo Downhour; Sisters in-law, Jeanne Downhour, Lucy Downhour. Survived in death by, Children, Mark Hall, and Scott Hall; Brothers and Sisters, Gary Downhour, and family, Doug Downhour, Debbie O’Brien, and family; Daughter-in-law, Melinda Hall; Son-in-law, Jeff Thompson, Grandchildren, Tyler Hall, and his sister, Lauren, and Meagan Sokol, and husband, Mark Sokol, Sean Hall, Samantha Watkins, and husband, Raul Watkins, Andrea Thompson; Great grandchildren, Mike Gentry, Keith Gentry, Adam Gentry, Cheyenne Johnson; and husband, Sean Johnson; and great great grandchildren, Vincent Gentry, Zachary Johnson, and Elizabeth Johnson.

Arlene Alice Hall

February 26, 1937 - May 22, 2025