Marla Lynn Coleman
December 21, 1967 - February 22, 2024
Marla Lynn Coleman, age 56, passed away in Arvada, Colorado on Thursday February 22nd, 2024. Marla was born December 21st, 1967 in Tampa, Florida, to her parents Clarence (Buddy) Coleman and Linda Brumbeloe.
Marla lived her life to the fullest and she was always looking for her next adventure. Her passions were many, including fostering dogs for the Mile High Lab Mission where she found her beloved pups Oakley and Bodie. Aside from her love for her pups, Marla enjoyed being outdoors. Whether she was enjoying live music at Red Rocks(or elsewhere), hiking, paddle boarding, snowboarding, camping, traveling or having lunch on a patio, this is where she was happiest. Her joy in these activities came from how they made her feel and that she got to experience them with her dogs and the people she loved most. Marla left no stone unturned to make her and other’s lives more meaningful, fun and educational. She left no door closed to all the possibilities in life and always took life to the next level. Marla was a diehard Broncos, Avalanche and Gator fan.
Marla was full of love, which meant she was loved by an extraordinary number of people. She touched every soul she met. She was always happy to see you and would always part ways with an “I love you”. She would never let you go without letting you know how much you meant to her and no one could leave her without doing the same.
Marla attended the University of Florida from 1986 to 1990. She later studied nursing at the Community College of Denver where she received a Nightingale award and became a Registered Nurse. She started her career in 2004 working as an RN in the Intermediate Surgical Care Unit at Lutheran Medical Hospital in Wheatridge Colorado. She also served as a Preceptor and received the Nurse of the Year award in 2007. In 2008, Marla transferred to Saint Anthony’s Hospital to be a RN in the Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit. At St. Anthony’s, she also served as a Preceptor, Rapid Responder, Charge Nurse, Nurse Manager, ICU Float, PACU, and received the National Daisy Award. Marla was an exceptional nurse and caregiver. Not only to her patients, but also to her friends, their families and any friend of a friend. She was highly respected and a mentor to many, if not all of the nurses she trained or worked with, as well as some doctors too. She was a perfectionist and took her work very seriously, as anyone would hope to have caring for us or someone we loved.
Marla leaves behind a cherished legacy. Preceded in death by her parents, Linda Brumbeloe and Clarence (Buddy) Coleman, she is survived by her niece and nephew, Gabi and Landon Coleman. Loved by her extended family, including Uncle Renda Brumbeloe, Aunt Sharon McKinley Brumbeloe, Aunt Bonnie Henderson, and Uncle Jim Henderson, alongside her chosen sister, Carrie Quinn, and her family and many other aunts, uncles and cousins. Marla’s impact resonates deeply with countless others whose lives she enriched with her kindness and compassion.
For those of us who knew and loved Marla, she is not gone. She is the stars in the sky on a clear night and the warm breeze on your face on a sunny day. She is the wildflower you find in open space and the dragonfly that flutters by you or lands on your knee. She is what makes you feel at peace and causes you to smile. We love and miss you Marla, and we always will!
Make a Donation In Honor of Marla
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Mile High Lab Rescue Mission.
