Carolyn Ann (Collier) Ohnstad

December 31, 1946 – May 29, 2016

Carolyn Ann (Collier) Ohnstad, 69, of Moses Lake, Wash. passed away Sunday, May 29, 2016 at her daughter’s home in Helena, Mont. She fought a long and hard battle with cancer for over five years.

Carolyn was born on Dec. 31, 1946 to Chester Lee Collier and Jeannette Elberta (Wheeler) Collier in Myrtle Point, Ore. The family later moved to Ephrata, Wash. where she graduated Ephrata High School in 1965. A few years later she married Thomas Doran. They lived in Mobridge, South Dakota, where they trained race horses. They later moved to Ruidoso Downs, N.M. where they worked on the race track and finally settled in Blaine, Wash. where they owned and operated a riding stables. They had two daughters, Debbie and Amy.

When the marriage ended, she moved back to Ephrata and worked at the Grant County Courthouse in the Auditor’s office. She then married Richard Ohnstad and relocated to the Block 40 area of Moses Lake, Wash. in 1979. She worked from home in direct sales with Home Interiors & Gifts and Melaleuca. When her children were grown, she began working outside the home at McCain Foods in Othello and then she took a position at Central Bonded Collectors where she worked until 2011.

Carolyn was involved in raising horses and showing them. She packed her daughters around the Pacific Northwest attending horse shows and clinics. She was a 4-H leader when her daughters were at home and involved in the Grant County Horse Association up until she became ill in 2011. Carolyn was passionate about learning about her animals and shared her knowledge with others. Through the years Carolyn rescued many animals giving some a permanent home and finding great homes for others.

Carolyn is survived by her daughters: Debbie Doran (Alex) Martinez of Moses Lake, Wash. and Amy (Jeff) Whitney of Helena, Mont.; grandchildren Colby (Tori) Whitney of Helena, Mont., Brooke Whitney of Helena, Mont. and Sydnee Martinez of Las Vegas, Nev. and great-granddaughters Leila and Blaire of Helena, Mont. She is also survived by her brother Ralph (Barb) Collier of Ephrata, Wash., two nieces and two great-nieces. She is preceded in death by her parents.

Graveside services will be held at the Ephrata Cemetery on Friday, June 3, 2016 at 2 p.m. A celebration of life reception will take place after the service at 4 p.m. at the Martinezes’ shop at 11804 Rd. 5.6 NE, Moses Lake (for directions call Debbie at 509-750-4232).

In lieu of flowers and gifts, donations can be made in Carolyn’s honor to the Grant County Animal Outreach or to the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation.