On January 31, 2026, Guiditta Kathryn Rea Spurlin passed. The world is a little brighter because of her joy of color, creative spirit, and kind soul. A passionate, lifelong artist who sought to love and laugh with all she met.
Gudi was a teacher at heart and a lifelong learner with a true joy of learning new things every day. Throughout her life, she enjoyed laughs, memories, and sharing stories of life’s adventures with her family and friends. She always felt fortunate to be able to call so many people all over the world friends and was honored that they shared themselves with her.
For 29 years, she and her husband, Ronald Spurlin, owned Concepts Home Furnishings, allowing them to enjoy more time together at merchandise markets across the country.
After retirement, they were fortunate to move to their cabin in the mountains of Glen Haven, Colorado, and, for a treasured 19 years of their long life together, to enjoy part of the year in the warmer, friendlier surroundings of Kerikeri, New Zealand. She loved having drinks and nibbles with all her Kiwi friends and family, and was able to visit them last year for some much-needed recuperation.
Gudi was born on Feb. 5, 1945, to Thelma Guiditta Binda Rea and Robert Harold Rea in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her early education was in El Reno, Oklahoma. Then she attended Oklahoma State University, where she was a Phi Beta Phi. One-sixteenth Italian by birth, but 90-percent Italian in spirit.
Her younger brother Richard passed before his time. Married for 60 happy years to her high school sweetheart, Ron. Beloved mother to Tobin and Justin. Very proud grandmother of Tobin and Erica’s children, James Robert Spurlin and Alicia Guiditta Spurlin. She treasured the time she was able to spend with them, passing on her love, creativity, joy, and bright spirit for a few weeks every summer at “Camp Moss Haven,” as she called her mountain home.
She will be dearly missed and always loved.
Although she loved bright colors, she asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Glen Haven Volunteer Fire Department or the Estes Valley Land Trust.
A celebration of color and life will be held May 2 at the Glen Haven Town Hall. Please drop in any time between 2 and 4 p.m. to share memories, laughs, and stories. We will be celebrating her life, art, and many creative endeavors. To honor her unique personality and love of color, please feel free to wear colorful, casual attire.
Click here to leave messages for the family and view the donation link.