The Colorado Springs community and those who knew her across the country are mourning the loss of Julie Anne Miller-Morton, who passed away peacefully on April 30, 2026, after fighting cancer for eighteen months with remarkable strength and grace.
She was 65 years old. Her two daughters, Madison and Makenzie, were by her side when she took her final breath.
Julie was born on February 24, 1961, and spent much of her childhood moving through Ottawa, Lawrence, and Topeka, Kansas, where she became a cheerleader at Topeka West High School.
Her friends there gave her the nickname “Jules,” one that seemed to capture exactly who she was: bright, spirited, and impossible to forget. She went on to attend Kansas State University, where she earned a degree in Business Administration and became a proud member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
She also made history quietly and without fanfare, becoming the first woman in her family to graduate from college.
She married Mark Morton in August of 1982, and together they built a life that stretched across several states. They welcomed their daughter Madison in 1991 and Makenzie in 1995.
The family planted roots in Lenexa and Leawood, Kansas, before eventually heading west through Colorado Springs, Mesa, Arizona, and Windsor and Fort Collins, Colorado.
Julie ultimately returned to Colorado Springs, where she found her community, her close friendships, and the landscape that suited her adventurous spirit perfectly.
Over the years, Julie wore many professional hats. She worked as a buyer and manager at Hallmark, launched her own stationery company, sold real estate, and built an impressive career in new home sales, earning top salesperson honors for multiple years running.
But by her own account and that of everyone who knew her, her most meaningful role was being a mother. She stepped away from her career to raise Madison and Makenzie full-time, and by all measures, she poured everything she had into that calling.
Julie loved the outdoors with a genuine, unhurried enthusiasm. She hiked regularly, with Red Rock Canyon in southern Colorado Springs among her favorites.
She took ski trips with family and friends and enjoyed glamping at Mount Princeton. She was a Girl Scout Brownie leader, organized a girls cheer squad, and showed up consistently for her community in ways large and small. She also had a deep and lifelong compassion for animals.
She fostered pets over the years and adored her miniature dachshunds, Lucy and Louis. She also cherished her “furry grandchildren,” including Ella, Loki, Opal, and Jade.
Those who loved her remember the way she made people feel. A margarita with friends, a hike through red rock trails, a conversation that left you steadier than you were before.
She had a gift for presence, for loyalty, and for the kind of warmth that does not announce itself but simply fills a room.
She is survived by her daughters Madison Prentice and Makenzie Morton, her parents Charles and Karen Miller, her brothers Derek and Steven Miller, and their families.
Two Celebrations of Life are planned: May 17th in Colorado Springs and May 31st in Overland Park, Kansas. Those wishing to honor her memory are encouraged to donate to the Pikes Peak Humane Society at hsppr.org/donate.
Jules, you will be deeply missed.
