It seemed surprising enough three years ago that Carla would even have a baby. Then it literally became a double shock for her, her husband and family when it turned out to be twins.

The twin girls were born in May, 2005, and Carla’s life took a dramatic turn. From somewhat carefree days of helping Stuart run their business in Telluride and boating, snowmobiling and riding Harleys, she became a stay-at-home mom, completely devoted to caring for the two blonde babies, Summer Rae and Autumn Anne.

For the next two-and-a-half years, the twins were the central focus of her life, until Carla Rae (Hughes) Armstrong died suddenly at her home in Montrose on Dec. 24, 2007.

“If she is heartbroken, it will be because she left the babies behind,” a family member said.

Carla also leaves behind her husband, Stuart Armstrong, owner of Telluride Tire and Auto Service, whom she married in 2002; their daughters, Summer and Autumn; three stepdaughters (Stephanie, Katie and Jenny) and three stepsons (Clayton, Clint and Shane Armstrong); her parents, Raymond and Anne Hughes, of Montrose (formerly of Telluride); brother, Richard Hughes, of Montrose; grandmother, Hazel Hughes, of Montrose; uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews — and one grandson.

Memorial services will be held for Carla Friday, Jan. 4, at 3 p.m., at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, in Telluride; her ashes will be buried at a later date at Lone Tree Cemetery, in Telluride.

Crippin Funeral Home in Montrose is in charge of arrangements.

Carla was born in Telluride Dec. 13, 1967, and lived most of her life there. Her father, Raymond, recalls that it snowed two feet in Telluride that night, making it impossible to get to the hospital in Montrose, and Carla always used to brag that she was actually born in Telluride. Inborn into Carla was a love for Telluride, especially the mountain flowers in spring and family and everything outdoors — skiing with her brother and friends and skateboarding down Dallas at night. She played on all the sports team she could in school, from volleyball and basketball to wrestling, and was a member of Telluride’s ski team, competing in moguls and aerials. She graduated from Telluride High School in 1986 from a class of 13, where she was one of four girls.

“There was never a shortage of dates,” she liked to say.

Anyone who ever met Carla knew how she got her nickname “Magpie,” because she loved to talk to anyone. Carla never knew a stranger, because after meeting her, within five minutes, you were a friend for life.

Carla’s parents were at home in Telluride, too; Raymond worked for the town of Telluride for more than 25 years, and Anne was a deputy sheriff for San Miguel County for several years, and then a deputy marshal for the Town of Telluride, until she retired.
Carla’s favorite recreation was boating at Lake Powell, but jeeping and snowmobiling with Stuart were equally special for her, as was traveling with Stuart in recent years on cruises and trips to Hawaii and Mexico and fishing in British Columbia.

Carla worked outdoors at home, as well. She loved to take care of the lawn, flowers and plants; since moving to Montrose, every winter, she would cut, split and stack wood for her grandmother; in the summers, she would keep friends and family in produce (even sending some to work with Stuart to give away).

She helped Stuart’s father build a fence around the hayfield. “I can recall my father saying he never met a harder-working young lady in his life,” Stuart remembers.
But it was the twins and family at home that surpassed anything else. She took the girls everywhere on the family ranch in Montrose; she had them riding in an ATV when they were three months old (in car seats!) and then walking to her parents’ home nearby as soon as they were able. The twins went along on a cruise to Jamaica when they were nine months old, and on many trips to Blue Mesa and Lake Powell.

Carla never referred to her stepchildren as such; she considered them her own, and was especially proud of Clayton, a sergeant on his second tour of duty in Iraq, and Clinton, a private stationed in Fort Wainwright, Fairbanks, Alaska.

No one will miss her sweet smile and beautiful personality more than her husband and babies. Daddy takes the girls outside every night before bed and finds a star in heaven so they can tell Mommy goodnight and say “We love you, Mommy,” and blow kisses. “We will never forget you or stop loving you.”