Orilee Witte

Orilee Louise Witte of Mountain Home, Arkansas, passed away September 16, 2024, in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 65. She was born February 23, 1959, in Delta, Colorado, the daughter of Orion Cowan and Mildred Thompson. She graduated Montrose High School in 1976. Orilee relocated from Montrose, Colorado to Tucson, AZ in 1981, married in October of 1984 to Douglas Witte and gave birth to her daughter Krystal in September of 1985. Employment forced a relocation to Northeastern Arizona shortly thereafter. With an athletically active child, Orilee spent countless hours supporting her daughter, rarely missing an event. When her daughter grew older and became more independent, Orilee began her professional career as a realtor in Snowflake. She later took a position at the Show Low Chamber of Commerce before moving back to Colorado in 2007, amidst her divorce. She continued to reside in Fruita, CO until just weeks before her passing. 

While living in Fruita, she held the position as the Welcome Center Manager at the Visitor Center and truly loved her work. She had a wonderful friend group in Fruita and made plenty more acquaintances.

Orilee would seek out and destroy a good yard sale, could and would talk the twenty-five cent price sticker down to a nickel if allowed to. If a friend or an acquaintance was made, it was likely from rummaging around the same estate table or competing for the antiquities she had such a love and eye for. Conversation was no stranger as she loved to talk, share stories with friends and strangers alike. For as much as she loved people, she also enjoyed being in nature and hiking.

Orilee was surrounded by close family and friends in her final days, reminiscing the past through memories and storytelling. She passed away in the arms of her lifelong best friend, Reta.

Orilee is survived by her daughter, Krystal Nowak (Dennis) 2 grandchildren, 2 sisters Leslie and Shelby, 2 brothers Kyle and Lyle, and her mother, Mildred. She was preceded in death by her step-mother, Ruby and father, Orion.