Carol McKinley Obituary

Carol Russell McKinley was born in Brainerd, Minnesota, on June 8, 1934 to Esther and Arthur Dondelinger. She was the second of six children: Marilyn, Bob, Wayne, Roger and Mary Helen. After high school she married John Russell and they had two children: Michael and Debra. Carol and her two children moved to Grand junction, Colorado in 1959 along with Marilyn and her husband, Ken Beck, to own and operate the City Center Motel at the corner of 1st and Colorado. It was during those years that she became known as the "Innkeeper" among her close friends. In 1968, after the sale of the City Center Motel, the Russell family of three pulled up stakes and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where Carol and her brother Wayne and Carolyn Dondelinger purchased the Ramada Inn which they built into a successful business. Several years later they sold the Ramada Inn but Carol was not done yet. She soon went to work for Craddock and Associates and operated the Raintree Inn, as well as, additional hotels in Manitou Springs and Vail. Carol was the consummate hostess. She loved people and people loved her. She drew a crowd and you couldn't help but feel good in her presence no matter the occasion. She was beloved by family and friends alike. She handled all situations with ease and grace never showing the stress that had to accompany her busy life as a mom and successful businesswoman. In 1985, she met and married George B. McKinley. They enjoyed 25 years of marriage and Carol developed a loving relationship with George's four children and grandchildren. George and Carol moved to Evanston, Wyoming in 1988 where George owned and operated the First National Bank of Evanston. In later years they split their time between Evanston and Rio Verde, Arizona. They developed great, warm and loving friendships in both locations. Carol was recently recognized as the 2009 philanthropist of the year by the Wyoming Community Foundation. Carol was a devote Roman Catholic, which gave her great comfort in the time leading up to her death. She had a very giving heart and shared her energy and generosity with many community charitable organizations including the Wyoming Community Foundation, Evanston Community Foundation, Coats and Boots for Children, and St. Mary Magdalene Church. She is left behind by her husband, George B. McKinley; her children: Michael (Lisa) Russell and Debra (Debbie) Hornfeldt her siblings: Marilyn (Ken) Beck, Robert (Bunny) Dondelinger, Wayne (Carolyn) Dondelinger, Roger Dondelinger and Mary Helen Sandoval her step children: Tom (Janet) McKinley, Dick (Carolyn) McKinley, Bob McKinley (deceased) and Ann (Mark) Gianinetti, her grandchildren, Alina (Felix) and Daniel (Kyrsten) Hornfeldt, Nathan (Rachel) Russell, Emily Russell (Graham)Smith and Matthew Russell, Mandelyn, Chelci, Sara, Jason, Thomas, Kathryn, Kade, Hattie and Megan and great grandchild, Ruben. All of whom are blessed to have been touched by her wonderful spirit.