Geraldine Thelma Haulman

If you knew Geraldine Haulman, you knew a woman who was equal parts elegance, adventure, and sheer determination. She lived nearly 96 incredible years, and if there’s one thing she proved time and time again, it’s that life is meant to be fully lived. Whether she was traveling through Europe, treasure-hunting for antiques, or cooking a meal so good you’d swear off restaurants forever, Geraldine did it all with style, grace, and just a little bit of mischief.

Born in 1929, “Geri” was a valedictorian and had big dreams of going to college. She even won a scholarship to the University of Missouri…we think. But thanks to some sort of scandal at the school (details remain murky, but it must have been a good one), her very religious mother talked her out of it. Instead, Geraldine trained to be a nurse, working as a nurse’s assistant while studying to become an RN. But then, Bud happened. Faye “Bud” Haulman swept her off her feet, and in 1950, they got married and started building a life that was anything but ordinary.

Geri and her daughter ran an antique shop for 45 years, turning their passion for beautiful things into a business that kept the whole family busy and always on the hunt for the next great find. Bud mined molybdenum at Climax for 31 years. But their true masterpiece? The home they designed and built together in the mountains near Leadville. That house reflected Geri’s love for elegance, coziness, and connection to nature (and, of course, was a place for many beloved pets to roam).

Speaking of passions, let’s talk about her cooking. If you were lucky enough to have chicken fried steak, or a brilliantly crafted strawberry rhubarb pie (with rhubarb from her own garden!) at Geri’s table, you knew you were in for something amazing. She didn’t just make food, she crafted experiences, whether it was a home-cooked family dinner or something she picked up from her travels and perfected in her own kitchen.

And oh, did she love to travel. Geri wasn’t the type to sit still. She explored every state in the U.S., road-tripping across the country with her family, and when that wasn’t enough, she packed her bags for Europe at least four times. She soaked in the history of the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic, always finding beauty in the details. And let’s not forget that one summer in the ‘60s when the Climax mine was on strike, rather than sit around, she packed up the Jeep, took the family and their pet skunk Sylvester, spending the whole summer camping. Even into her 80s, she still loved riding mountain trails in a Jeep, proving that adventure doesn’t have an expiration date.

Geri was stylish, witty, kind, and fiercely independent. She had an eye for beauty, whether it was in a perfectly curated antique, a well-tailored outfit, or a breathtaking mountain view. She was the type of person who made you feel special just by being around her, and she had a way of making every moment count.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, a brother, her husband Bud, and a long list of cherished cats who are no doubt thrilled to have her back. She leaves behind her daughter Kathy, son Kent, four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, and two devoted cats, Edgar and Smokey, who are probably still looking for her lap.

Geri wouldn’t want a bunch of flowers or a somber goodbye. Instead, if you want to honor her, do something she would’ve loved: take a road trip, read a great book, cook something incredible, adopt a cat (or at least pet one), or just find a way to add a little extra beauty to the world.

A celebration of her incredible life will be announced at a later date. Until then, just know that Geri wouldn’t want us to be sad—she’d want us to live, to laugh, and to always take the scenic route.