Longtime Logan County resident Minnie Korrey, 95, died on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at Devonshire Acres in Sterling. Visitation for Mrs. Korrey will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 17, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, July 18, at the Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 19, at the First Christian Church in Sterling, with Fr. Rex Chambers of the St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Windsor officiating. Burial will follow in the Riverside Cemetery.

Mrs. Korrey was born on March 29, 1916, in Kearney, Neb., to George and Anna Mowas Abood.

After graduating from high school, Mrs. Korrey worked at the Kearney Bakery and at the air force base in Kearney, Neb., during World War II.

On Dec. 12, 1946, she married George Korrey in Kearney, Neb.

The couple moved to Iliff where they remained until 2007, when Mrs. Korrey moved to the Coventry Apartments at Devonshire Acres in Sterling.

She and her husband were lifelong farmers in the Iliff community, growing a variety of produce, especially pumpkins, watermelon, cantaloupe, potatoes, tomatoes and sweet corn.

For decades during the school year children would come to the Korrey Farm and pick out pumpkins for Halloween. While George was affectionately known as the "Pumpkin Man," Minnie was also actively involved with the annual event.

Additionally, Mrs. Korrey was employed at the Iliff School in the cafeteria and at Hesteds Department Store in Sterling in the Broadway Plaza.

She was a member of the All Saints Episcopal Church Guild, a 4-H leader for over 10 years, a charter member of the Hearth and Home Extension Club, and a member of the Elks Does and Lionettes service organizations.

Mrs. Korrey and her husband were honored as Grand Marshals of the Logan County Fair Parade in 1988, and they shared the Logan County Pioneer Award at the Lions Club Cowboy Breakfast in 2000.

The Korreys were given the Friend of Education Award by the RE-1 Valley School District in 1989 and Oct. 31, 1997, was proclaimed "George and Minnie Korrey Day" by the mayor of Sterling for the Korreys' commitment to education and as "Pumpkin Heroes" of the community.

A dedicated, enthusiastic and proud fan of the Colorado Rockies, in November 2007 — at the age of 91 — Minnie was named the "9NEWS Colorado Rockies Superfan."

Mrs. Korrey loved to cook and bake for her family and friends, and was especially committed to passing down to each generation the recipes and "secrets" of preparing Lebanese food.

Mrs. Korrey was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, George in 2008; her parents;, numerous in-laws; and her siblings, William Abood, Helen Gamel, Sadie George, Mose Abood, Ed Abood and Kate Gamel.

She is survived by three children, daughters, Janet Couch and husband Michael of Ocala, Fla., and Shirley Magnuson and husband Gary of Fort Lupton; son, John Korrey and wife Janna of Iliff; seven grandchildren, Heidi Korrey Tribbett and husband Mike of Sterling, Lacey Korrey Barnes and husband Brandon of Iliff, Amy Magnuson of Fort Lupton, Jennifer Neveras and husband Gary of Orlando, Fla., Jeff Couch and wife Janine of Tallahassee, Fla., Ann Marie Bennett and husband Andrew of Milliken, Cory Magnuson and wife Billie of New York City, N.Y.; eight great-grandchildren, Taylor Jo Tribbett of Sterling, Joshua Korrey Neveras and Emma Jensen Neveras, both of Orlanda, Fla., Mia Ann Bennett of Milliken, Fiabela Magnuson and Ozzie Magnuson of New York City, N.Y, Georgiana Rousseau Couch, and Charles Logan Couch of Tallahassee, Fla.; one sister, Fern Daley of Omaha, Neb., two sisters-in-law, Mary May and Doloris Korrey, both of Sterling; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials in her honor may be made to the Minnie Korrey Memorial Fund.