Obituary of Mary Charlton Haller

Mary Charlton Haller, age 82, passed away on December 5, 2018 in Colorado Springs, Colorado after a heart-breaking and extended battle with dementia.She was born November 25, 1936 to Evart and Leon (Hawkins) Charlton in Los Angeles, California. Mary grew up in San Gabriel, California. After graduating from Alhambra High School in 1954, she obtained her bachelor's degree in teaching from Occidental College in 1958. She initially taught elementary school in Laguna Beach, California, but shortly thereafter was drawn to the adventure of being a stewardess for Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) based in Seattle, Washington. After a couple of years, she returned to teaching and moved to Portland, Oregon where her sister lived. While in Portland she met her husband, Don Haller, a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. After a short courtship, Don was assigned to Goose Bay, Labrador in Canada. They kept in touch by correspondence and Don flew back cross country several times for weekend visits. They were married on September 12, 1964 in Lake Oswego, Oregon, a marriage that lasted 54 years. Her life as a military wife took her across the United States and overseas, where she continued to teach where she could. She lived in Mt. Clemens, Michigan where her daughter, Nancy Caroline was born; Kansas City, Missouri where daughter, Mary Kathleen was born; Great Falls, Montana where a Southern California girl survived the "great winter" with two toddlers; Portland, Oregon while Don was in Vietnam; Panama City, Florida; Tunis, Tunisia where her exquisite manners made her a natural in the diplomatic world of the American embassy and where she was the only ESL teacher in the American Cooperative School of Tunis consisting of students from 22 different countries; and finally Colorado Springs, Colorado.When she got off the plane in Colorado Springs in 1980 and saw the mountains, she declared that she was not going to move again. She and Don have lived in Colorado Springs for 38 years. Nancy and Kathleen finished growing up, went to college (Nancy graduated from Occidental College), and moved to the West Coast and Kathleen moved to the East Coast.In her 38 years in Colorado Springs, Mary raised her daughters through their teenage years, cared for her parents and then her sister until their passing, obtained a master's degree in special education from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and was a special education and third grade teacher for Falcon District 49. She celebrated her faith in God through her involvement at St. Michael's Episcopal Church. She was also a literacy and ESL volunteer at the local library. She loved reading, singing, musicals and her morning visits to the local donut shop. She is preceded in death by her father; mother; sister, Nancy McCarthy; and nephew, Charlton Martin.She is survived by her husband, Don; her two daughters, Nancy Haller (Terry) Lasseter of Sun Valley, California and Kathleen Haller (Matt) Krebs of Brookeville, Maryland; her foster daughter, Valerie Littlefield of Kingston, Georgia; grandchildren, Nathan and Sara Krebs, and Christopher Lasseter; niece, Sara Martin and her twin daughters, Emma and Hannah of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and nephews, Matthew (Diane) Martin and daughter, Niki and son, Jordan of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and Joseph McCarthy of Colorado Springs. Remembrance Gathering with Reception, 11:00AM-1:00PM, Sunday, August 11, 2019, The Springs Funeral Services-North, 6575 Oakwood Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80923. Come and reminisce with family and friends. A buffet will be provided. Events Remembrance Gathering Sunday, August 11, 2019 11:00AM The Springs Funeral Services - North 6575 Oakwood Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Phone: 719-207-8611