Marilyn Kaye Enns

Marilyn “Kaye” Watters Enns, 82, lifetime resident of Cheraw, Colorado, passed away August 20, 2023, at Crowley County Nursing Center in Ordway, Colorado. Kaye was born August 26, 1940, in La Junta to Melvin “Dutch” and Doris Watters in La Junta, Colorado. She was the oldest of 3 siblings.

She attended Cheraw Consolidated Schools for grades 1 through 12. It was in 2nd grade that she informed her teacher her name was “Kaye.” From that day on she was known as Kaye.

Cheraw Methodist Church held many fond memories for her and was the church where her strong faith began. She was baptized there at the age of 10.

As a 7th grader Kaye had her first chance to be a cheerleader and loved it and cheered all the way through high school. Between cheering and singing in a girls’ sextet in High School, she caught the eye of the love of her life, Ronnie. The story of Kaye, as a freshman, wearing a “red handkerchief shirt” and walking down the halls and attracting the attention of Ronnie, a junior, is one told over and over in her family. That was the beginning of their lifetime romance. They were engaged Christmas Eve of her senior year in high school, and she then married Ronald Karl Enns “Ronnie” the following year, March 15, 1959. At this point, they began attending East Holbrook Mennonite Church where Ronnie had grown up. This was Kaye’s church home until she was no longer able to attend.

They began their family within a year when Donnie joined them. Kathy and Gary followed in the next 2 years and then Sherri 7 years later.

Kaye stayed very busy with her 4 children and their activities. She never missed a child’s activity and made each child feel extra special. She was a partner on the farm with Ronnie in all facets including helping make major business decisions, doing all of the farm and feed store bookkeeping and many other behind the scenes tasks. She was always very involved in the church as youth leader, Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, piano and organ player, women’s ministry, and church leadership. She was involved in many area Bible Studies where she developed many close friendships. In her “spare” time, she would embroider, read, or study her Bible. As the family grew, she was also very involved in the lives of her grandchildren, making sure to teach them how to cook and most importantly can pickles! You can find these recipes in the family cookbook she compiled to keep those traditions alive. Her family and friends reaped the benefits of her wonderful cooking; dinner rolls and pies were her trademark. Too early she lost the love of her life, Ronnie, in 1997. She then filled her time even more so with family, friends, and God.

Kaye loved her family intensely. She was an amazing example of a loving, adoring, Christian woman, wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She spent hours in prayer for them all. She will be missed greatly by those who knew her. “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Mathew 25:21.

We take comfort in knowing that Kaye has left this earth, but her spirit lives on with Jesus waiting for the rest of us to join her. “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2.

Kaye is survived by her children, Donnie (Monika) Enns of Fort Collins, CO, Kathy (Jim) Cavinder of Cheraw, CO, Gary (Elisa) Enns, of Covington, WA, Sherri (Ryan) Brenneman of Longmont, CO, grandchildren Drew (Aleisha) Enns, Kyle Enns, Kevin Enns, Haley Enns, Tiffany (Donnie) Pursel, Derek (Danielle) Cavinder, Justin Cavinder, Dylan Enns, Brandon Enns, Tyler (Moriah) Brenneman and Mikayla Brenneman, great grandchildren, Tucker Rader, Trenton Rader, Lauren Rader, Houston Rader, Jayden Enns, Ezra Enns, and Emersyn Cavinder, and her siblings Joyce (Merrill) Bond and Dave (Kris) Watters and numerous nieces and nephews.

Greeting her in celebration at her eternal home in heaven are her husband, Ronald Enns, parents, Melvin and Doris Watters, in-laws Karl and Mabel Enns.

A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. at East Holbrook Mennonite Church in Cheraw, CO with Larry Evers officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Kaye’s name to Sangre De Cristo Hospice at www.socohospice.org

Online condolences may be made at www.PeacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.