Mildred "Mick" Irene Warman

Mick Warman was born Mildred Irene Osteen on April 11, 1923 on the family homestead farm located 16 miles straight south of Walsh, Colorado. At the time, that area south of Walsh was comprised of a community known as Richards, Colorado. Richards was a very small community which, at the time, consisted of a post office and small grocery store, and even a school that offered classes thru the 10 grade. The school also served as home for church services held every Sunday. Mick was the youngest child in a family of nine children, 4 boys and 5 girls, born to Oakley and Effie Osteen. She was born on the farm, in the dugout carved into the side of small hill, which served as their home, complete with dirt floors, few windows, and a front door. In the same year that Mick was born, her father hired a band of traveling “barn building” carpenters to build a large barn on their land. That old red barn is still standing today which is a tribute to the quality of the workmanship produced in those days. Mick’s father, Oakley passed away when Mick was only 3 years old, and so, had very limited memories of him. Mick and her family remained on and worked that farm for a number of years. She and her family were there during the “Great Depression” and the “Dust Bowl” period. The very fact that she and her family survived that period in our history is a real testament to the stamina, will power and overall resolve of, not only the Osteen family, but so many families like theirs, who chose to stay, endure, and ultimately “survive” those very tough and difficult times. But, as she stated to us in notes that she left to us, Mick indicated that although times were tough, and they certainly were not rich, she had a very “happy” childhood. She fondly recalls the times when gentle spring rains would come to the area, which would lead to the opportunity to feast on watermelons from their watermelon patch. She recounted to us pleasant fall days when chores were done, she and her siblings, along with other kids from the area, would play various games such as; ‘Hide and Seek’ and ‘Kick the Can’. In her notes, Mick also noted that, of all of the kids in her school, she could run the fastest. The family has discussed this tidbit of information that she shared with us and, knowing her to not be a “braggart”, we are quite willing take her at her word. So, unofficially, here and now we, her family bestow upon Mick Osteen, the title of the “Fastest kid in Richards, Colorado during the late 1920’s and early 1930’s”. We are somewhat confident that this unofficial proclamation will go quietly unchallenged. When Mick was nine years old, her family was able to acquire a pipe organ, and took lessons from a neighbor, and, as she happily acknowledges, it turned into a lifelong pursuit of enjoyment for her as she continued to play the organ and piano until just a few years ago. In 1938, Mick, her mother, along with her brother, Ike, and her sister, Esther moved to Springfield so that the girls could finish high school. Upon graduating from Springfield School in 1940, she immediately went to work for the local telephone company in Springfield. Mick worked there for 3 years before deciding to further her education by attending college in Anderson, Indiana. The college which she attended was one that was affiliated with her church, the ‘Church of God’. Upon completing her education, she taught school for five years, and where she met and married Glenn Parsons in 1949. Glenn was a construction foreman and carpenter by trade. They relocated to Bend, Oregon where Glenn was the foreman for a local lumber mill. And, it was while living in Bend, Oregon that the first two of their three children were born, Gary Parsons, followed two years later by Debbie. Shortly, thereafter, the family relocated to Rapid City, South Dakota where their youngest child, Cindi was born. Not long after, the family relocated back to Colorado, settling in Denver Colorado. In the years that followed, Glenn’s health began to fail. In order to keep the family finances together, Mick took a position as a receptionist for the Denver Public School system. Following the growth and eventual “moving out” of their children, Mick and Glenn moved to Colorado Springs where Mick also found employment as a receptionist for the El Paso Social Services Office. Unfortunately, her husband’s health continued to deteriorate, and on December 3rd, 1980, Glenn Parsons passed away at the age of sixty-three. Mick remained in Colorado Springs where all three of her children had also relocated. Four years later, following an encounter with a former high school sweetheart, that ultimately led to a courtship and eventual marriage to a life-long resident of Springfield, Clint Warman in 1984. So, after thirty years absence from Baca County, Mick finally made her final move back to Springfield as the wife of Clint Warman. However, their time together was short-lived, as Clint’s health also began to fail. Their marriage only lasted for a brief two and a half years. Clint passed away in the fall of 1986. Mick remained in the home that she shared with Clint until physical deterioration ultimately placed her in the care of the Long Term Care facility located in Springfield. During the thirty some years that she lived out the remainder of her life, she was initially joined by her son, Gary Parsons, then later in 2003, her daughter, Debbie and husband, Monte Barham, seeking to vacate the hustle and bustle of big city life, relocated to Springfield, only to be joined by Debbie’s son, Garret and family in 2007. Mick’s daughter, Cindi also relocated to Springfield in 2010. So, for the past four years or more, Mick has been able to spend quality time and holidays with all of her family, and we know that this was a true source of pride for her, and for us, as well. Mick “Osteen” Warman left us this past Saturday evening, February 7th, 2015. To the very end she remained a source of strength and love to those of us she left behind. Throughout her life, Mick had four great passions which stayed with her to the very end; her faith and Christian values; her family; her friends; and her love of gardening. She was truly a grand lady who chose to see only the “best of attributes” in the people met and knew. Mick greeted everyone warmly and treated everyone she knew with kindness and love. We, her family were so very fortunate to have her in our lives for so long, and although we ultimately know that she is in a much happier place, we will continue to love and miss her every day. The family suggests memorial contributions in Mick’s memory be made to the Springfield Church of God – 900 Tipton St. Springfield, CO 81073 or by way of the funeral home.