Charles A. Carnahan

Charlie Carnahan lost his battle with Cancer and COPD on Thursday, October 2, 2025. He was determined all the way to the end. The last few months have been filled with phone calls, doctor appointments, hospital nights, and many conversations about the good times.

Charlie was born to Allen Charles Carnahan and Freda Esther Ehmann on June 14, 1947 at Presbyterian Hospital in Denver, Colorado. He resided on the family ranch until his death. He attended Kiowa school from first grade to high school where he graduated in 1966. Back then, the elementary was located by what is now Glaser Gas. Classmates remember when a young Charlie, afraid of shots, took off from school the day the nurse made her rounds, only to be found later hiding in the willows on Kiowa Creek. While in high school, he was even a school bus driver, picking kids up along Elbert road.

Charlie worked on the ranch alongside his dad, Allen, and many ranch hands. Allen didn’t use horses on the ranch, but a determined young man bought a horse and led him out his mom’s car window from Kiowa home. That was the beginning of the making of a cowboy. Over the years, Charlie would raise and ride many horses. He loved a good horse. And he rode some bad ones too. He suffered a broken neck in 2010 and when being evaluated in the emergency room, he was quoted to say, “Don’t you dare cut my chaps off!” He didn’t get away unscathed; they did cut up his good green shirt- he still talked about it years later.

Growing up, he raised shorthorn cattle. He was an avid showman and took cattle from Denver to Arizona to California. In recent years, he even told about being hired in the 70’s to haul cattle from Arizona to Denver for John Wayne. He brought many banners and ribbons back home and loved it. As a surprise to Charlie, Larry bought a brand new bobtail truck with side boards to haul cattle to California in. That truck is still used on the ranch. He took care of things well, knowing they would serve him well. That truck has many stories to tell. On one trip to California, the truck broke down somewhere in Utah and he had to unload calves by backing it into an irrigation ditch at his good friends, Gibb Yardleys. Another trip to Arizona found them without gas in the middle of an Indian reservation, having to siphon gas from a native's truck. He told stories of selling bulls pre-cell phone time. Just setting a place to meet and hoping you would both be there at around the same time.

He sacrificed so much over the years, to pour into the ranch and make the legacy what it is today. He was the fourth generation of cattleman on Carnahan Ranches and was so proud of the fifth and sixth generations. Charlie was extremely proud of being the oldest exhibitor at the NWSS. Over the years, he was a true cattleman, keeping the ranch a cow-calf operation. He introduced Salers, Limousine, Simmental and Angus genetics to the ranch herd. He loved weaning time and can be remembered saying, “Boy, they sure look good!”

He told stories of grinding soap weeds to feed cattle in hard times, to feeding loose hay, then loaf stacks to round bales. He had seen many tractors come and go, open-cab to air-conditioned. He saw the ranch move from water wheel and ditch system to hand-move pipe to side rolls to pivot irrigation. Most improvements were made under his management.

Charlie was adamant about having a meal as a family, always having a blessing and thanking the hands that made it and always at 12:30. No matter where they were with work. He never met a stranger. He always made time to talk. With probably over 150 years of service, you can say he dedicated his life to serving others. Many remember him from fair, being a fair board member, running the Sunday foot races with his good friend Sue Link and heading up the Cow Calf program through EDCLA. Charlie was a true servant, always striving to improve the community. He served on the Elbert County Soil Conservation board for 40+ years, state soil conservation for 15 years, fair board for 30+ years, member of Elbert Douglas County Livestock Association for 40+ and an Elder for 50+ years. He hosted soil conservation tours for the local 6th grade kids at the ranch and shared its history to anybody who would listen. From fighting Indians, to floods, to droughts to the CCC camp, Charlie would tell it all.

He always loved taking the grandkids anywhere and everywhere and was always teaching them and loving them. Even if part of why they were there was to lend a hand. He didn't want to stop working, checking cows and putting out salt and mineral up until less than two months before he passed. He didn’t have a hobby, but spent his life working on the ranch. He loved all things ranching from cattle and horses to branding and farming, but most of all he loved working beside his family and friends. He touched the lives of countless people and will be deeply missed by so many.

Charlie is preceded in death by his mother and father, Allen and Freda Carnahan; and cousin Larry Carnahan. He is survived by his wife, Jane Carnahan; and children, Amy (Shane Goss), Chris Carnahan (Ashley), Karen Carnahan and Megan Carnahan; grandchildren Saige, Case and Rye Carnahan and Tryan and Laklynn Goss; and sister and brother-in-law Mary Louise and Loyd Link. He also has many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00pm on Sunday, October 19, 2025 at Kiowa High School, 525 Comanche Street, Kiowa, Colorado 80117. A reception will be held following the service at the Exhibit Hall Elbert County Fair Grounds, 95 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, Colorado 80117.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Charlie Carnahan Scholarship Fund at Farmers State Bank in Kiowa, Colorado.