Charlotte E. Bellais

Charlotte Earlyne Bellais, age 86, passed away at her home in Berthoud, Colorado, on October 21, 2025. She was born on May 12, 1939, in Portsmouth, Virginia, at the Norfolk Naval Hospital to Charles Earl Bellais and Dorothy Anna Merriam.

Charlotte graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1957. She married LeRoy Richard Bernhardt on December 4, 1959, and together they shared two decades of marriage before divorcing. She never remarried, instead dedicating her life to God through the Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit.

Charlotte began her career as a telephone operator but spent most of her working life as the bookkeeper for Lee’s Used Cars, the dealership she and her husband built together in Milliken, Colorado. Following her divorce, she also worked for a time as a cook at Windsor Health Care.

Charlotte’s greatest joy was her family. She loved her daughter, Constance, deeply and never missed an opportunity to share how proud she was of her. Before the passing of her beloved son, Jim, Charlotte cherished the time they spent together; her heart never fully healed from his loss. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and had a special love for all of God’s creatures, especially her four-legged companions — her bulldogs, Cali and Sadie, and her Maine Coon cats, Kirby, Tux, and Tabby. She also found peace and joy watching the horses outside her window.

A devoted follower of Jesus Christ, Charlotte spent her life serving her Lord and Savior. She was a faithful member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Windsor, Colorado, for nearly 50 years, where she served on the music team for many years. She was also a member of the Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit for 32 years and volunteered for several years in the Kairos prison ministry.

Charlotte is survived by her daughter, Constance Schmidt (Don II); daughter-in-law, Lynn Bernhardt, stepdaughter Carol Ann Bernhardt-Serna (Lee); grandchildren Karol Gausvik (Paul), Brittany Schmidt-Thorpe (Jovee), Donald Schmidt III (Cory), Haley Schmidt, Elizabeth Bernhardt (Greg), Nyriah Tovar, and Britannia Tovar; as well as many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her son, James Richard Bernhardt; grandson, Daniel; her parents; three brothers; one sister; and her beloved dog, Pepper.

Charlotte will be remembered for her unwavering faith, her deep love for her family, and her gentle spirit that touched the lives of all who knew her.

An open visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 29th, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm at Mark’s Funeral and Cremation in Windsor, Colorado. The funeral service is scheduled for Thursday, October 30th, at 10:00 am at the same venue, followed by a luncheon reception at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Windsor, Colorado.