Rella June Peoples, aged 79, of Walsh passed away peacefully on August 26th, 2024 after a short stay in Southeast Colorado Hospital.  She had been battling various health issues and dementia for many years.

Rella was born August 14th, 1945 to Clarence and Hazel Caldwell in Springfield, Colorado.  She was the third of six children.  She was often called the "nice one' – at least one sibling would like to enlighten a few people.  Rella attended grade school at Mitchell, a little country school just a few miles from home.  She fell, or was rudely assisted (depending on who is telling the story), off the slide one day and walked home with a broken collar bone.  She was tough – and sometimes prone to be just a little bit stubborn.  In 1960 Mitchell school was closed, possibly due to a den of rattlesnakes under the floor or skunks sometime visiting the outhouse.  For whatever reason the "River Rats" were bussed to Walsh.  Shortly before completing her senior year, she and two of her friends headed north to Alaska.  She worked there as a nanny for approximately 1 year before returning to Walsh.  She married Marvin Lee Peoples in Clayton, New Mexico on December 30th, 1966.  They remained in or near Walsh and built their current house in 1972.  On July 17, 1978 she was blessed with a 6 lb. 7 oz baby boy.  She was thrilled and became a devoted mother to Cody.  Soon her house became the gathering place for the neighborhood kids.  There were always drinks, snacks and entertainment at Rella's.  A favorite memory of the boys was playing outdoors in the cold and snow and then walking to her house for chocolate and grilled cheese sandwiches.  Everything tasted better at Rella's.  In 1999 Marvin was diagnosed with cancer and Rella and Cody took care of him until his death on September 20th, 1999.

Rella enjoyed playing board games and cards.  She was the Monopoly queen.  She bested everyone that challenged her, even when they combined their efforts.  They eventually refused to play Monopoly with her.  Rella (or Rell, as many began calling her) was an excellent cook.  Her pies and rolls were simply delicious.  Cody's friends somehow always managed to appear when she was frying chicken, sometimes even whipping into the driveway because they could smell it from the street.  Homemade biscuits and gravy on Sunday mornings usually attracted at least two extra "beggars".  Some of her favorite pastimes were gardening and watching the birds, especially bluebirds and "hummers".  She was naturally artistic and could draw almost anything.  When still in high school she was offered an art school scholarship but declined it.  Drawing was effortless for her.  She felt if they practiced most anyone could do it.  We can't.

Rella worked at a variety of jobs through the years.  Cooking at the Dapron and Rainbow cafes, housekeeping at the hospital., Henderson Ag Services, VFW, Tumbleweed Liquor, W & W Liquor, baby sitting, truck driving and later assisting Dave with his harvesting business.  I believe the one she found most rewarding was being a cafeteria lady.  She truly enjoyed the kids and interacting with them.  She considered helping prank the teachers and staff one of the "perks" of the job.  Her strong work ethic and sense of humor was always appreciated by her co-workers.

While working at W & W, Rell became reacquainted with Dave Miller, an old flame from her younger days. They became inseparable, always laughing and entertaining themselves and others, cruising around jamming with ZZ Top or some outdated county western singer, and pulling what became known as their "geriatric shenanigans".  Their home became the hub for fun cookouts and rowdy, sometimes near endless poker matches.  Many weekends were spent in the mountains telling stories and listening to tall tales around the campfire.  It was never boring to say the least.

On December 6th, 2018, Rella lost Dave to a fatal heart attack.  She had begun to show subtle signs of dementia and his loss seemed to hasten her decline.  Cody cared for Rell at home until a severe fall in their hallway fractured her sternum.  He was no longer able to provide the care she needed and so she was admitted to Walsh Healthcare in 2023.  She was transferred to The Cottage (Alzheimer's Unit) in Springfield in 2024.

Rella was a special lady, sister, aunt and friend.

She will be remembered.

She is already missed.

Survived by:  son Cody Peoples of Walsh, brothers Dall of Elkhart, KS, Dan (Linda) of rural Campo, Rocky of Walsh, sister Lana Caldwell of Walsh and sister-in-law Donna Caldwell of Walsh.  Also, many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Preceded in death by:  parents Clarence and Hazel Caldwell, husband Marvin Peoples, best friend and loving life partner Dave Miller, brother Devon, sister-in-law Linda (Dall) and nieces Dana Caldwell and Pam Acton.