Michelle Rae "Mickie" Archuleta

Michelle "Mickie" Rae Archuleta (née Morgan), age 68, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026, in Thornton, Colorado. Born on October 4, 1957, in Maryland to Francis "Bob" and Josephine "Josie" Morgan, Mickie lived a life defined by love, connection, and a distinctive personal style. Her artistic spirit and vibrant personality emerged early, nurtured by memorable seasons spent on the eastern shores in her youth. She carried that same humor, warmth, and zest for living with her as she moved west.

Mickie’s first marriage brought her to Southern California, where she became a devoted mother to her daughter, Alexandra, and son, Charles “Chas.” She built a successful career in retail fashion, a field that perfectly suited her natural eye for design and her genuine desire to help others feel confident and seen. After relocating to Colorado, she married Richard “Rich” Archuleta, who became her steadfast partner through both sorrow and celebration. She later devoted time to Birthday Smiles, a nonprofit founded by her close friend Rise Justice, reflecting her generous spirit and wish to bring joy to others. Mickie had a remarkable talent for making people feel included, appreciated, and loved.

She expressed her creativity through fashion, visual arts, and gardening, taking great joy in creating colorful, welcoming spaces in her home and garden that often inspired those around her. With a boisterous personality and a gift for entertaining, Mickie filled gatherings with riotous laughter and warmth that drew family and friends close.

Mickie is survived by her loving husband, Rich Archuleta; her son, Chas Oclassen (Tam); her stepchildren, Bryan Archuleta (Annamaria) and Carissa Mendez; and her grandchildren, Ivy and Isaac Oclassen, Antonio and Dimitri Archuleta, Taya Apps (Brandon) and their son Finnley, and Melina Mendez. She is also survived by her mother, Josie Morgan. She was preceded in death by her father, Bob Morgan, and her beloved daughter, Alexandra Oclassen. She will be remembered for her free spirit, her humor, and the genuine love she extended to all who knew her.