Connie Lea Perea, 44, of Grand Junction, died April 21, 2008, at St. Mary’s Hospital & Medical Center.

Connie was born Oct. 15, 1963, in Rifle, to Adrian Lee and Betty Ellen (Myers) Gilleland. She spent her childhood in Silt and attended schools in Rifle and Grand Junction.

Connie married Pablo A. Perea Aug. 1, 1980, in Grand Junction.

She enjoyed fishing, playing Yahtzee and working puzzle books. Her greatest joy was her family, and especially her grandchildren.

She was a NASCAR fan, and she loved to gamble.

Connie battled with Huntington’s Disease most of her adult life.

Survivors include her husband; mother and stepfather, Betty E. and Charles Taylor of Grand Junction; son Matthew Perea of Grand Junction; daughter Amanda Archuleta of Hayden; brother Robert Lee Gilleland of Grand Junction; sisters Bonnie Grant of Silt and Rhonda Burke of Horse Creek, Wyo.; and three grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father; grandparents Isabel and Wallace Myers and Leland and Opal Gilleland.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 25, in the Callahan-Edfast Mortuary Chapel. Cremation preceded this service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cycle the Heartland for HD c/o Marie Nemec at 3087 A1⁄2 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81503.

Arrangements are under the direction of Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.