Carolyn Audrey Nixon

Carolyn Audrey Nixon passed away peacefully on October 27, 2026 in Arvada, Colorado surrounded by her loving children and their spouses. She was 89 years old. She was born to Esme and Ervin Weimer in Denver, Colorado in 1937 and had one younger brother, Bob, who preceded her in death. She spent her early childhood and elementary years in Denver and southern California. She graduated as salutatorian of her Wheat Ridge High School class of 1955 and enjoyed many reunions with her high school friends over the years. Carolyn completed her first two years of college at CU Boulder. There she began dating Dale Nixon, also of Wheat Ridge. They married in 1957 and had three children: Patty, Karen, and Steve. They lived in southern California for the first two years of their marriage and then moved to Arvada until 1967, when they moved to Longmont as part of the growing IBM community there.

Once her children were old enough to be in school, Carolyn returned to CU to complete her Bachelor of Music Education degree and graduated in 1973. She taught Elementary Music for the St. Vrain Valley School District for 12 years, mostly at Loma Linda Elementary in Longmont. She also served as the Director of Music at First United Methodist Church of Longmont for many years where she directed choirs including Children’s Choir, several Bell Choirs, and Wesley Anns. She was a beautiful soprano who is fondly remembered by many for her annual Christmas Eve ‘O Holy Night’ solos.

In 1986, Carolyn and Dale moved to Tokyo, Japan for two years on an IBM assignment. In Tokyo, Carolyn was very involved with their church and was also a children’s English tutor.

Throughout their lives, Carolyn and Dale enjoyed camping and hiking with the family in their beloved Rocky Mountains. They loved to tent camp and travel, and the family took tent camping road trips each summer, traveling across the US and even through Europe. Carolyn enjoyed traveling throughout her life, making it to all fifty states and to many interesting and beautiful sites across the globe.

Carolyn was a Master Gardener who always grew beautiful gardens at her home. She was active in United Methodist Women and Stephen Ministry and in P.E.O. Chapters FD Longmont and GW Arvada.

In 1994, Dale died unexpectedly, and after many years, she married Wally Wernli who also preceded her in death. Carolyn moved back to Arvada in 2012 where she lived until her passing.

Carolyn is survived by her three children: Patty and Doug Heyes of Kodiak, Alaska, Karen and Walt Hale of Olympia, Washington, and Steve and Dayna Nixon of Arvada; 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. She will be missed dearly by her family who celebrated her long life in a private gathering in the mountains.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers who served Carolyn over the years at the Arvada Meridian and at The Gardens on Quail Assisted Living along with the staff of Bloom Healthcare and Bloom Hospice.

Donations are encouraged to be made in her name to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) or to another charity of your choice.