Marion Ritchey Vance departed a very vibrant life on May 16, 2026, just a month from reaching her 88th year. She was in home hospice care at her at the property developed 30 years ago, with husband John Vance, at 500 County Road 781, (“Mesa Manitou”) in rural Manitou Park, Teller County. Her passing was from a convergence of health problems following a stroke in 2021.

She was proud of being a third-generation Coloradan, born June 19, 1938, in Colorado Springs to parents Beryl Ritchey and Georgie Danks. Her father and grandfather had longstanding dental practices in the city. With parents being avid skiers, Marion, from age 4, became very accomplished herself, even skiing the forbidding “chimney” on Pikes Peak, and later winning ski races at Vail.

Also from early age, she became a noted horsewoman throughout life, working at The Broadmoor Stables, leading trail rides for guests, and competing in horse jumping, 3-day eventing, and other events throughout the region, accumulating many trophies. She was proud, as a woman, to be asked to compete, achieving distinction, one year in trials to select The US Olympic Equestrian Team, at a time when only men were considered. Riding was a major focus of her life in years at her final Manitou Park home. She was especially proud of earning The Dressage Foundation  “Century Award”, as their Century Club Team # 253 for completing a judged dressage performance with combined ages of horse (“Elegance”) and rider equaling 100. She being 78 at the time.

Marion graduated from Carleton College in 1960, with major in Philosophy, then honed her skills as a “Native Speaker” in Spanish language. A major early step in her career in International Development was assignment in Mexico City with the Community development arm of Save the Children. Later assignments were in The Dominican Republic, and Honduras. When The Interamerican Foundation was created as a means of strengthening the US role and relation with Latin America, Marion was named Country Representative to Colombia. Later she became Director for the Andean Region (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia) overseeing grants for ‘grassroots’ community projects of wide-ranging character: aiding a program in Bogota to rescue,  educate and elevate orphan “street children”; assisting women across the region in forming cooperatives to produce and market their wares; aiding small subsistence farmers with irrigation water development. All such things earning a much-needed reservoir of local warmth and regard for the United States. Many of her staff were former “Peace Corps” people.

These project experiences are documented in her book: “Creating Civil Society”.

 Carleton College honored her as “A Distinguished Graduate” and invited her back to conduct a course in International Development to impart her experiences to students.

She returned to the Pikes Peak Region, with husband John, upon their retirements in Washington, DC, to create a home here in 1996. Almost immediately she volunteered to  engage in community projects. She became a founding member of the Teller (County) Historic and Environmental Coalition (THE) and obtained grant funds for  many causes, including: restoration of the Midland RR Depot in Divide, acquisition of Conservation Easements to preserve that exceptional open space ‘viewshed’ from Woodland Park to Divide, and creating a motorists interpretive driving tour to Teller County Historic Sites.

Marion was presented “A Breit Award” (in honor of former distinguished citizen Doris “Dee” Breitenfeld), October 2024, by THE, with the citation “For her many years of dedicated service and leadership of the Teller Historic and Environmental Coalition, and for leading the “Tour Teller” Heritage Tourism Project”.

Though not having children, she was warmly embraced by John’s family from former marriage, as she warmly embraced them. The outpouring of their emotion on her passing is extraordinary. She received their recognition on Mother’s Day, and was always lovingly referred to as “Grandma Marion”. The following are typical expressions of Grandsons that represent the  entire family: “She had so much vigor for life and had the warmest heart. Such an incredible spirit. The loss feels immense”.  And “Grandma was strong, passionate, and lived life to the full. I will miss the strong hugs she gave that made me feel appreciated and loved”.

One can have created no better lasting memories, summary of life, and eulogy, than that.

A Memorial Event, at later date, will be arranged to celebrate Marion’s abundant life by all who knew her.