Colleen Crosby Sheldon

Colleen Crosby Sheldon
June 9, 1957 - April 19, 2024
 
Colleen Crosby Sheldon, 66, passed away peacefully at home on April 19, 2024, after a valiant battle with liver failure. She was born June 9, 1957 in San Jose, CA to Irene and Wilson Gardner Crosby. As the oldest of 6 children, Colleen was adored and looked up to by her younger siblings, KC, Gard, Candi, Lynette, and Leanne.

Since she was a young child, Colleen had a great love of music. As a teenager, she went on tour with the youth symphony to Taiwan as a cellist. For the rest of her life, it was rare to interact with Colleen without the presence of music, whether she was humming a tune, cheerfully singing a church hymn, or had it playing in the background.
 
Colleen graduated from Willow Glen High School and attended Brigham Young University in Provo where she discovered a lifelong passion for nursing and biology. She had grown up alongside the Sheldon family, best friends with Mark. After his return from his mission, Mark’s brother Dave caught Colleen’s eye. They soon became sweethearts and married on May 22, 1976 and were sealed in the Oakland Temple. Colleen and Dave had a beautiful marriage and had many adventures together. Their family is grateful to have witnessed the love and respect they showed to each other. They were true companions in life and will be in eternity.

Colleen was a devoted and caring mother to her six children Stephanie, Melanie, Kimberly, Valerie, Jonathan, and Kellie. She absolutely adored her fourteen grandchildren, who affectionately called her Mom-Mom. She attended countless concerts, recitals, sporting events, and competitions in support of all of them. She prayed for each of them daily. She taught them how to sew, bake, and to be prepared for anything life may throw their way. She instilled in them a love of good stories and music. She made many quilts over the years, which she enjoyed gifting to others as well as displaying in her own home. Colleen made the best pasta salad, 7-layer jello, and twice-baked potatoes and always had sweets nearby. One of her favorite holidays to celebrate as a family was Thanksgiving, where she was known for her turkey butter, delicious pies, and tablecloth that everyone signed each year.
 
Colleen served diligently and faithfully as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for her entire life. Her favorite callings were serving the children of the church as a primary teacher and a cub scouts leader. She loved serving as relief society president and compassionate service leader where she could embody the spirit of service with her sisters in the church. She also served as the young women’s president, as well as in the stake young women’s organization and many times as camp director and camp cook. She was always willing to share her extraordinary knowledge of homemaking and food storage and helped many people navigate difficult times with her compassion and strength. She was always concerned about the masses, but also the individual and gave her whole heart to everyone and to every organization in which she served.

Colleen is so loved and will be deeply missed until we see her again.

Colleen is survived by her husband, Dave; children: Stephanie (Kenny) Richard, Melanie (Bill) Gappmayer, Kimberly Williams, Valerie (Ben) Fowler, Jonathan (Lindsay) Sheldon, and Kellie (Robert) Schmittt; grandchildren: William, Bryce, Victor, Zoe, Holly, Ellie, Logan, Dexter, Rebecca, Axel, Kathryn, Jordan, Henry, and Emma; siblings: Gardner (Tessie) Crosby, Candilyn Crosby (Richard) Snow, Lynette Lindelof and Leanne Lindelof (Wilfrid) Butelet. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister: Irene Crosby, Wilson Gardner Crosby, and KC Hill.
 
Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 29, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the Arvada Stake Center at 7080 Independence Street, Arvada, CO, 80004. All are welcome to attend. Visitations will be held at the same location the day of the service from 9:00-10:30am. The interment will be immediately following the services at Arvada Cemetery.
 
Services will be streamed and can be accessed the day of the service on the Arvada 5th Ward Youtube page (under Live videos): https://www.youtube.com/@arvada5thwardarvadacolorad331